One of my Zia Sahab's favourite

 

Man Walks into a Room

Unfortunately, now wifi is available while in flight. It takes away the pleasure of "me time." I still try to behave. I keep my phone and devices off and read a book. Last week, I was on my way to San Fransico, and as the plane took off, I realized I had no book in my bag. While searching in my bag, my fellow passenger got curious and asked if I had lost something. I said no. I just forgot my book on this damn long flight. She smiled and gave me a book from her backpack. She was a UCSF student. The book was Man Walks into a Room by Nicole Krauss. I thoroughly enjoyed the book on both my lags of flight. She was kind enough to let me keep the book as I was only half done after the first lag. A book is the best gift. What a remarkable novel, despite some slight flaws in the storyline.

Sharing a page here (screenshot).

3 Kahawatain

 

What a beautiful statement

 

Teachers

 

Finest souls

 

On Gintonic

 

Ye baat sahi hai

 

Dunning Kruger Effect

 

So true for Pakistan

It is sad and unfortunate. I am not happy, but it reminded me of my own homeland.

 

Wish

 

Taange wala

 Nowadays, I am reading Mahpara Safdar's autobiography: "Mera Zamana Meri Kahani"

It's a must-read for people who grew up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s in Pakistan. This a remarkable write-up. It's not available in pdf, so I took a screenshot of this small event from her life at Sargodha, where she grew up. The screenshot is not clear; you may need to zoom.

An interesting poll

 You can pick only one answer. 

(I picked C. I debated between A and C)

Hug me as words are not enough!

Hug me, as words are not enough!

مجھ سے لپٹ جاؤ کہ باتیں نا کافی ہیں

 

An experience in "alternative life"

 Lately, I have been interested in "alternative lives." We are hypothesized to simultaneously exit many lives - a kind of Mandela effect.

I have done experiments with hypnotism in the past - and have previously blogged my experiences here. A few examples were experiencing my death in a previous life, my upcoming death in this life, or my life in the ancient Indian era (Vedas time). 

 May read here and here and here and here and here and here and here

I am convinced these are nothing but mind games. They are all good for fun. At heart, I am very agnostic or even atheist.

This time, the psychic made me experience my (one of the) alternative realities. It felt genuine. I see myself buying a mansion kind of house. Various animals are in the backyard, including deer, dogs, and other animals I don't recognize, but they are not attacking me. Dog and deer are friendly. Various people from this life are involved with me. I feel I am in California.

What struck me the most was that a class fellow from my med school - whom I hadn't met in 35 years - and who never crossed my mind was calling me on the phone. The mobile phone is very different from what we use. They are like rectangular boxes. The voice is crystal clear. He welcomes me to the state of California as a neighbor. (Next day, I inquired about his present whereabouts. I shat in my pants when I learned he now lives in California and quit medicine long ago.)

Various people from my life are helping me settle into the new house. Most I know. They are in the same or different roles—my previous yard guy, OR technician from the hospital, a few cousins, and a brother-in-law.

The experience was F***** real.

Every time I go through such a session, I develop massive muscle aches all over the body. Still recovering :)

*

Baalam

‏ازبک اور ہندی زبان کا اک لفظ ہے بالم۔۔!!

‏جو اردو میں بھی مستعمل ہے۔

‏اردو میں بالم کا مطلب "محبوب"

‏اور

‏ازبک میں بالم کا مطلب ہے

‏کہ

‏"مجھے علم ہے"۔

‏دن کے آخر پہ جو اداسی ہے

‏اسکا سبب

‏بالم ہے۔

‏صحرا میں پھول دکھیں

‏باغ صحرا لگے

‏درد ہو

‏سکون ہو

‏خزاں بہار لگے یا بہار خزاں

‏اسکا سبب

‏بالم ہے 

One thing which makes difference

 I have raised two teenagers. People frequently ask me what makes a difference in their upbringing. Good schooling, community, friends, family, and extracurricular classes may play a role. Still, the most significant thing which makes the difference in terms of values and ethics is the dinner table discussion every day. It reminds me of a scene from the movie: The life of Pi.

https://youtu.be/AFl4vlnFuOM