A VIEW FROM THE CEMETERY

And there stood I, beside my grave

Watched all them lying, with all but crave
Not always was it a sight to see
While bodies lied there, the souls hung free
And as they entombed, what looked like a boy
His gleaming soul came jumping with joy
And far beyond what we heard was a scream
One struggling to break through like through a bad dream,
And all at once, we stood in vain
Watching the soul suffering in pain
Not unusual it was when we heard him say
He would do better if given one more day,
There was no good but the bitter truth aghast
What all had remained now was him with his past
And behind these walls, were they all lost in the glory
Little did they know, reaching its end is their story!
                               -Zirva Shabbir

BETRAYED BY THE ODDS

All my life, I have always had trouble convincing people and I have always ended up as a liar, not to mention I am a terrible liar. First, I have been through the exasperating interrogations that, seriously I am neither mad nor depressed. But then I don’t blame them, it’s not really helpful to say that you are totally alright when your RB face clearly negates your statement, leaving you looking like planning to land a punch on someone’s face. True, I have landed countless punches on people’s faces in my head but as long as I am not leaving black eyes or bleeding noses behind, I am pretty much covering my tracks.

Second, my sarcasm has brought its own troubles. People don’t usually get it, some get offended. Sarcasm is an easy shot to get away with things you wanna say, especially to the ones who don’t get it. But well, there comes a price. Like when you actually compliment someone, and they “really” know you, they won’t be convinced. And if somehow, miraculously, they are convinced that you sincerely meant it, they would go like “whoa there, how did that happen?” And you eventually don’t feel like complimenting them anymore.

Third, when I have to pretend something, that’s a fail that leaves an impression, and not a very nice one. I know how to smile but let’s just say it’s not my best asset. So if once in a while I might try to betray my mind, my expressions betray me back. You can say it ends up as a lose lose situation every time. In case I have to force a smile, it comes out as so forced, or maybe it doesn’t come out at all, anyway, once again, the person is not convinced that I am actually a nice person who is as betrayed by the rude expressions as much as you were hurt by them. Okay, I might have stretched the truth, a little, at the nice part.

But besides these troubles, there is another struggle I have been through, for a while now; trying to convince people that I don’t study. Now, I might sound like a typical drama queen, and my results might support the statement. Although my graph has been going down and the university had a nice, fun time, messing me up, but my convincing skills improved or so I’d thought. Because this time I had them almost convinced that I am going to flunk and there is no otherwise. And that was no lie. But… I’ll leave it up to you to guess the rest.

Well, I have seen the drama queens who keep ranting about not studying a word. And there is a fine line that differentiates me from people like them. Like, I don’t have a hanging face when I say I am gonna  fail, I laugh when I screw up because I screw up real bad.  And if I do fail, or get bad marks you can see “I don’t give a damn” clearly printed on my face. True, I once made it to the nerdy list, though I was the last in it but who cares? I am probably kicked out from that now.

 But I guess, you can’t always get what you want. People will buy what they see and they certainly don’t see the truth and the odds never come out in my favor and I appreciate that because passing a test you thought you failed, well that is a blessing.

THINK LOGICALLY.

History is repeating itself. They say it’s the worst incident since 9/11. Once again, the name of the entire Muslim community is being dragged through the mud. What they fail to see, is that we have been through much worse. They think those people were killed because of being “gay”. Our more than 160 children were killed, what for? Being students? There is no Anti-American agenda here, there is only anti-Muslim agenda. If any of this were true, if Islam were the religion of violence, if the whole race were the terrorist, use your common sense you wouldn’t even be here today. Your ancestors would have been all dead, there would have been nobody left alive. Islam has been prevailing for 14 centuries, this hasn’t been happening for 14 centuries. This all started in the past two decades or so. Don’t be blinded by everything you see, don’t fall for everything you hear. Islam has nothing to do with any act of violence.

#Orlando

I AM NOT SURE...

I am not sure what to feel when a baby is born today. To feel happy for him or sad. Happy because that's how everyone feels. That is how it is supposed to feel. Sad because he is born in a world full of terror and lust and materialistic, selfish approach. Sad because where ever he'll go, he will be in a constant danger. Sad because he won't be able to feel the peace again. Sad because his parents will be scared to send him to school, to Masajid, to shopping centres and even to parks. Sad because he wouldn't know that brotherhood was actually a thing once. Sad because he wouldn't know that  the stream of blood that flows by, it's not natural but man made. Sad because his every step away from his parents will fall like a bombshell on them. Sad because he would never discover that the hearts that beat so fast today are because of fear and not evolution. Sad because he will be damaged to see what the world is doing to itself. Sad because his high spirits will be facing the boundaries of the worldly pursuits. Sad because he will see the world as a monster, life as just a trial, humans as just vicious creatures determined to tear each other apart. Sad because he would never find out that the villains were merely fictional, gunshots and bomb blasts only existed in movies. Sad because he would never know what his fault was. Sad because he would have no choice. Sad because he would have to accept all this. Sad because he would have to live in a living hell. I am not sure how to feel when a baby is born today!

TYPES OF PEOPLE IN UNIVERSITY (PART-II)

Found someone scary enough in class? Maybe a hothead. You've gotta stand a mile away, for you never know what might piss them off.

Without THE FIGHT CLUB, there can't be any fun. Just give them a stimulus, grab popcorns and enjoy the show.

People don't appreciate originality nowadays. It's hard to find them. But finding the LAME ones is not at all hard. You wouldn't believe your ears when you hear the real them talking.

'Grades', the only thing people actually care about in university. There are few drama queens who would cry after every paper or quiz, about how badly they are about to fail and every result will say the opposite. Then there would be some who are going to tell everyone they scored well. Trust me, nobody cares. Not about your grades. Then there comes a catagory, who would score more than the ones they copied their paper from. And the too cool to care club. The chill party. "Neither prepared nor passing" as simple as that. And then, there is a meanie who would only come around in the time of need and pretend to be your die hard best friend till you are no longer useful to them.

Well, where there are meanies there are the minions. The poor souls everyone takes benefit from.
How can there be a class without having the ONE that everyone hates? That unbearable student makes the class complete, for there is one thing everyone has a mutual agreement on.

The one who is deprived of happiness, always sad about the things that don't even count. Those are the sad emojis of the class.

Figured out who that slow sleepy zombie type creature is in your class? No? It's probably you.
Being thrown into the world of weirdos there is some one so awkward, that stands out as the odd one out.

How can I forget the lame jokers? There is a reason why *SENSE* OF HUMOR is appreciated. Not everyone gets that. But the harder thing is, they don't realize how terrible their jokes are.

Lots of people stalk but its hideous. Those who go by the, "its called STARE AND STALK game", those are the most annoying ones. I mean, come on. For once, leave us alone.

And then there are some with the desperate need for speed. Their day can't just go, or say they can't bring themselves to function properly without satisfying their need. Hope you know what I mean.

Without a grammar nazi, exists no class. Those are the kind of people every NORMAL being tries to avoid. The problem isn't the fact that they correct you, it's the way they do it. Besides that, you just can't finish a statement without them interrupting you, pointing out where you said what wrong.
You've gotta think ten times before saying something and it's better to stay away.

There are the ones who are so lucky to be always on time. Not like they would be there before the class starts, but the quiz and the attendance, damn, how do they do it?

And there is some poor soul who always misses the thing. Gets late and pays for it.

All in all, it's all people. Weird, strange, awkward, bizarre. The common thing about them is that they are all very different, and that's the beauty of it.( other than the part where they get on your nerves and you wanna bash their heads). Enjoy the creepy heads around you and stick to the rule that people are fragile, they'll all die.

TYPES OF PEOPLE IN UNIVERSITY (PART-I)

You know, they say choose a friend wisely. And what's wiser than choosing a friend with a DSLR? If you want to see whether they are loyal to you or to the need of a good d.p every now and then, break the news of losing the camera for good and check how many of them stick around. (Tell you what, not many).

It's not fun to have something and not be able to show it off. Like for every DSLR owner, there has to be a selfie in the mirror or some picture with the camera in hand. Same way it's not great just to be good at studies and not degrade everyone else. Right? After all, "it's not bragging if it's true".

It's not hard to find a sleepy head in any class. In fact, what's harder to find, is someone who stays awake during a whole lecture. I don't think it can be achieved without some kind of dose or something.

Most probably those, who stay awake, are known as the REMINDERS. For they are the ones to remind the teachers of the forgotten quizzes and assignments. Damn those nerds.
Depending upon the field of study you choose, the number of geeks varies. From engineering to BBA, well, you get the picture.

In every class, there has to be a wolf pack. Always together. Well, every wolf pack needs an alpha. And the betas can  be deceptive. Still, having each others' back, resolutions!
And where there is a wolf pack, there is a lone wolf. Spot a corner, spot the lone wolf. True, lone wolves can't survive. Come on, it's university. You can't survive on your own. You have gotta interact.
The made for each others or can say the happily ever afters. Every class has those two, oh, I mean too*. It's fun to spot them, unless one of them is you.

They call it, "the age". Although most of us are too lazy to get all set, like every day. But there is someone who finds the time. The fashion club.You gotta get your everything on point no matter how long it takes. Better late than ugly, right?

And then the show offs. I'd rather THE BRANDED STOCK. Now, what's the point of spending 5k on a suit and not telling anyone? Their everything is branded, from dresses to shoes and bags, even their talks. How about, for the next time you don't remove the tag?
Treat, something everyone asks for. Everyone has been asked for. But the number of treat hoarders doubles in university. For everything, they demand treat. Well, those are lucky who actually get the treat.

The SARCASTIC ones are harder to talk to, for they never answer straight...
(IF YOU'RE NOT ONE OF THEM, NEXT PART WILL TELL)

WHY SO JUDGE-Y?

Ever felt disgusted by a constant gaze? Ever got nervous by a thorough examination of your outfit? 

Ever walked in front of a group as they whisper something to each other and burst out a laughter? 

That feels bad.

So, she wears jeans with hijab? Come on. What’s the point of hijab?

So, his height is short? Well, say no more.

So, she has a solemn face all the time. God ain’t she aggressive?

So, she is fat, they are old-fashioned. Blah, blah.

One word, PATHETIC.

Hijab? Her business.

Too short? Don’t worry, he wasn’t gonna marry you anyway.

Too Aggressive? Who knows, she may bite.

Why, why, why? Why so judgmental?

Let me tell you why.

It’s human nature. But there are categories to that.

One is judging as in, first impression, second impression and all. But one is judging and criticizing and mocking, well if you lie in that category, your life sucks. Wait, if you even have one.

Why do people judge, ever wondered?

It's guilty conscience, it’s the bug inside you.

Admit or not, but it’s the complex inside you, be it inferiority or superiority, both mean the same.

Why do you need to judge others and not yourself?

Because you are too afraid to accept what you’ll find.

That disagreement you have with your soul, that dissatisfaction you have in your heart, that’s the reason you judge.

When you comment on someone, it's more for the sake of convincing yourself. Apparently it seems like gossip. But deep, deep inside, you are trying to convince your heart. You are trying to make yourself feel better about yourself.

You are trying to prove you’re better than them.

But the truth, truth is, you are worse.

Every time you make a judgment, your heart despises you more. You may not be able to see it, but it happens.

That cliché ‘’Don’t judge a book by its cover’’. That is just a cliché.

Covers attract, covers repel. It’s the cover that may lead you into a huge mess and it’s the cover that can keep you from discovering what’s beneath it. Something wonderful. 

After all, if they had judged the oyster by it shell, would they have ever discovered the pearl that resides within?

Judge yourself before you make a judgment on someone else. Your eye can tell a lie. Nothing is what it looks like. The sooner you realize that, the sooner there will be less misanthropes out there.