chand gharian yahi hain jo azad hain

I was lucky in life to have such cherished moments. 

 Waqt ki qaid main zindagi hai magar 

chand gharian yahi hain jo azad hain

 

Watch, Time and Living

I still kept the watch my father gifted me on passing metric exam

Every morning at 7:30, old Martin would open his tiny watch shop in the heart of the city. At 78, his hands were still the steadiest around. People said he fixed watches the way a healer tends to wounds—with infinite patience.

One rainy afternoon, Daniel, a 32-year-old executive with a face etched in stress, walked in. He dropped his luxury watch on the counter:

“I need this fixed urgently. It’s lost two minutes in a week and I have important meetings. Can you have it ready by tomorrow?”

Martin looked at Daniel first, then at the watch.

“Watches are like people,” he said quietly. “When you rush them too much, something inside starts to go wrong.”

Daniel glanced impatiently at his phone.

“I just need it to work perfectly.”

“It’ll take three days,” Martin replied.

“Impossible! I’ll pay double if you have it ready by tomorrow.”

Martin shook his head and put the watch in a drawer.

“Come back in three days. In the meantime, take this.”

He handed Daniel an old bronze pocket watch. Daniel took it reluctantly—he didn’t have a choice.

Over the next few days, Daniel noticed something odd. That old watch kept time differently: some hours seemed to last forever, others passed in a flash. During boring meetings, the hands barely moved. But when he had lunch with his little daughter, time flew.

On the third day, Daniel returned—intrigued and a bit unsettled.

“This watch is broken. Time moves irregularly!”

Martin smiled.

“It’s not broken. It’s tuned to your soul, not to satellites. It measures time by how you live, not just by numbers.”

He handed back Daniel’s repaired watch.

“This one will lose time again if you keep losing your life.”

Daniel stared at both watches, confused…

“People check the time a hundred times a day, yet never seem to have any,” Martin went on. “Perfect watches on empty wrists.”

“So what do you suggest?” Daniel asked, genuinely interested now.

“Understand that there are two kinds of time: the time that passes, and the time you live. My father told me: a watch can count seconds, but only your heart can count moments.”

“How much do I owe you for the repair?”

“For the watch, fifty euros. For the lesson about time… you pay by living differently.”

Weeks later, Daniel came back and left the pocket watch on the counter.

“Is something wrong? Did it break?” Martin asked.

“No,” Daniel smiled. “I want to buy it. I quit my job in the city. I’m opening my own business here, with hours that let me pick up my daughter from school.”

Martin answered:

“The most valuable watches aren’t sold. They’re passed down. Keep it. One day you’ll realize the most important punctuality is being present when life needs you.”

That winter, Martin passed away. In his will, he left the shop to Daniel with a note:

“To the one who learned that fixing watches matters less than fixing lives.”

Now, if you visit that little shop, you’ll see a sign on the door:

“We don’t sell time. We remind you how to live it.”

Sometimes we need our watches to stop—so our hearts can start beating again.

Childhood Memory

‏ابھی ڈسپوزیبل سرنج نہیں آئی تھیں تو محلے کے ڈاکٹر صاحب کیتلی کے کھولتے پانی میں ڈوبی سوئی کو چمٹی سے نکال کر اس ٹیکے پر لگاتے اور دوائی بھر کے تھوڑا سا ایک نکڑ کی طرف کر کے دو قطرے نکالتے اور کہتے 

" کاکا کچھ نہیں ہوتا سیدھا ہو جا "

شائد آپ بھی شاھد ہوں اس زمانے کے

 

 

Agree!

 

Nostalgic shyr

The below shyr, though out of meter (wazan)- still gives goosebumps. Years ago, it was said by a girl I promised to revisit but ended up cancelling my trip to Pakistan with a petty excuse.

 

 

Mysterious Edinburgh

My all-time favorite city. Wish I can move there...

 

Legend of dreamcathcher

After finishing my residency, I practiced family medicine in far-flung rural towns of the USA for a while. For two days a week, I used to do half a day clinic well deep down in Native Indian reservations.

It was a unique experience. I learned much about their beliefs, lifestyle, culture, and 'mehman-nawazi.' (No wonder they lost their land simply to a turkey).

When I was leaving to return to the East Coast, one of the family offered me a Dreamcatcher as a gift.

Shayed isi dreamcatcher ki badolat mere bohat se khwab pure huwe - who aaj bhi mere paas mehfooz hai

(The below descriptions are taken from the internet)

Long ago, when the world was young, an old Lakota spiritual leader was on a high mountain. On the mountain, he had a vision. In his vision, Iktomi — the great trickster and teacher of wisdom — appeared in the form of a spider.

Iktomi spoke to him in a sacred language that only spiritual leaders of the Lakota could understand. As Iktomi spoke, he took the elder's willow hoop — which had feathers, horse hair, beads and offerings on it — and began to spin a web.

He spoke to the elder about the cycles of life and how we begin our lives as infants. We then move on to childhood and in to adulthood. Finally, we go to old age where we must be taken care of as infants, thus, completing the cycle.

“But,” Iktomi said as he continued to spin his web, “in each time of life there are many forces — some good and some bad. If you listen to the good forces, they will steer you in the right direction. But, if you listen to the bad forces, they will hurt you and steer you in the wrong direction.”

He continued, “There are many forces and different directions that can help or interfere with the harmony of nature and also with the Great Spirit and all of his wonderful teachings.”

All while the spider spoke, he continued to weave his web … starting from the outside and working toward the center. When Iktomi finished speaking, he gave the Lakota elder the web and said, “See, the web is a perfect circle, but there is a hole in the center of the circle.”

“Use the web to help yourself and your people … to reach your goals and make use of your people's ideas, dreams and visions. If you believe in the Great Spirit, the web will catch your good ideas, and the bad ones will go through the hole.” (Note: Some bands believe the bad ideas are caught in the web and the good ideas pass through to the individual. Either account is acceptable.)

The Lakota elder passed his vision on to his people. Now, the Sioux use the dreamcatchers as the web of their life. Traditionally, it is hung above their beds or in their homes to sift their dreams and visions. Good dreams are captured in the web of life and carried with them … but the evil dreams escape through the center's hole and are no longer part of them. (Note: Some bands believe the bad ideas are caught in the web and the good ideas pass through to the individual. Either account is acceptable.)

Lakota believe the dreamcatcher holds the destiny of their future.

Burhape ki do cheezain

 I was in my early twenties, and like any normal young man used to hang out a lot in the evening at the neighborhood corner with other boys.

Ye woh umar hoti hai jab insaan ko apne mustaqbil ki aur naujawani ke 'crush' ki fikar saath saath rehti hai

One thing I still recall (and a lot frequently as I progress towards old age), is an elderly chacha in his late 60s used to tell us

Mere bachhoN, burhape pe insaan ko do hi cheezon ki aarzoo reh jaati hai

Aik purani naukri chahey kitni hi buri kiun na ho

aur

Aik purani biwi, jis ki adat par gai ho aur chahey kitni hi bad-zuban kiun na ho

Nostalgia of old days

 A friend posted this beautiful line during our group chat:

ہم اُس دور کی پیداوار ہیں جب دروازوں پر بیل بجانے کی بجائے دستک دینے کا رواج تھا اور ہر شخص کے دستک دینے کا انداز انگوٹھے کے نشان اور ہاتھ کے دستخط کی طرح مختلف ہوتا تھا۔

We are the generation where tradition was to knock on the door, and each individual has their signature mark of the style of knocking, like a unique thumbprint or hand signature.

*

Once upon a time in Romania

Dostoevsky ne kaha tha: "Sardian un ke liye sard hai, jin ke paas garam yaadain nahi."

I am fortunate to have a lot to be in memories to be nostalgic about all the time. The following text made me very nostalgic about almost 10-12 years ago, in Romania - lost in the woods.

"These pics are so so nostalgic for me. Whenever I look at these, it feels as if I am standing next to you on the road, waiting for the bus. First, right then left side of the road, cool air breezing through. Your nose is turning pink. Then I noticed your shirt cuffs which were out of your jacket sleeves, and u hadn't tied the buttons of the shirt in a sequence (Remember?) Then I undo and do buttons of yr shirt's cuffs and folded extra length of cuffs inside muttering?" Saalon aisay bund keay hain apnay baiton ke shirts ko and now yours" . That sheepish look on yr face is one of my cherished memory. Then u decided we should walk and find the bus (which we had already missed but were not aware of that then)

White sheets

 It was years ago, but I still remember when she said:

"There is something magical about making out between white sheets."

On perfect cleaning

 Meri zindagi main kai shahkar insaan aaye hain. 

Residency ke dino main hamara aik roommate tha - Athar. Ab to uska naam bhi sochta hun to hansi aati hai.

Hum sab ne apne kaam baanth rakhe the. Mere zimme ghar ki grocerry laana, Aleem ke zimme mail collect kerna, Asghar pe khana pakana (kiunke iska kaam mushkil tha to use roommate ki sharing main discount milta)..aur aese dusre kaam hum baant lete.

Athar taqreeban rozana apartment ki aadhi addhi safaii kerta - kabhi poori safaii aik saath nahi kerta - daanista kuch hissa choR deta. 

Hum kehte: "Oh bhai! tera bhi roz waqt zaaya hota hai aur hume bhi koft hoti hai. Aik hi dafa main saari safaii ker le to 4/5 roz ka aaram rahe".

Us ka jawab hota: "Jahan insaan rehte hon, wahan har waqt kuch na kuch be-tarteeb rehna chahiye, werna sab kuch bohat 'fake' lagta hai. Jab tak ghar kuch kuch be-tarteeb rahe, aehsaas rehta hai ke yahan log rehte hain." !!!

Hum us ki mantiq pe sir jhatak dete aur sab kuch wesa hi chalne dete.

Imtihan

 Jab main ne Karachi main "muqable ka imtihan"* (Public Service Commission) paas kiya aur abba ko bataya to abba ne kaha: 

"Beta imtihan to ab shuru huwa hai!"

(I very quickly resigned and never pursued a career in it)

* Found this term always funny

Roz ka aik imtihan

 Meri umar koi 16-17 baras hogi. FSc ka imtihan de ker farig tha. Aik din Amma ne kaha jao nana ke baal ketwa ke le aao....

Jese hi hum bazar ke nukkaR pe paunche, aik shaks apne bete ke saath khara khubsurat bansuri (flute) baja raha tha, bete ke haat main aik takhti thi jis pe likha tha: "Humare hunr ke mutabiq kaam nahi mil raha: bansuri suniye aur kuch madad kijye".

Nana ne jeb se 5 rupe nikale aur bete ke haat main thama diye - Us zamane main 5 rupe bohat hote the - aur ye wahi 5/10 rupe the jis se nana ne baal katwane the.

Main ne nana se kaha: "Ye kiya kiya nana ji!'

Nana bole: "Imtihan tha. Shukar karo kaam theek ho gaya"

Main bola: " Nana imtihan kesa?"

Nana ne jawab diya: "Insaan ki zindagi main roz aik imtihaan likha hai. Koi aesa kaam jo tumhari zimmewari na ho, magar jis se kisi aur insaan ka faida ho, woh kaam saamne aa ke khaRa ho jaaye. Wohi insaan ka imtihaan hai. Aaj ke imtihan se bach nikle."

Is baat ko 30-35 baras guzar gaye - magar aaj bhi roz imtihaan main fail ho jaata hun.

in the box

 All my life I was fascinated with out-of-box thinking, but when I started my fellowship - one of the teaching attendings said a beautiful thing, which always makes me smile: 

"I am not here to teach you out-of-box thinking. I am here to tell you what is inside the box - that is more important. I don't think anything else matters!"

Square is Actually a Circle

I have talked about my Maths teacher, Sir Zaheer many times on this blog (here, here).


Aik din Sir Zaheer class main aaye aur board pe ye jumla likh diya (Un ki entry class main aksar dramaii hoti thi)

" A square is a circle"*

Hum sab zor se zor se hasne lage.

Phir unhone ne board pe 2/3 pictures banaii aur wazeh kiya: "Square is actually a circle which get attached to two perpendicular surfaces at an appropriate distance". 

Hume kuch samjh aaya, aur kuch nahi.

Sir Zaheer hamesah math ko zindagi se joR dete. Kehne lage: "Hum sab bhi circle hain, jo zindagi ki chakki ke do pattoN main phans ke square ban gaye hain. Hum sab aik dusre ka izhaar hain. Jese square circle ki aik shakal hai. Jese tum sab apne parents aur tumhare parents tumhara izhar hain. Dekhne main shaklain alag alag magar hum sab aik hi golaii ka izhar hain. Mard aurat aur aurat mard hi ka parto hai.

(Hum sab hunaqqoN ki tarah un ka chehra dekhte rahe)

Zindagi bhar, Sir Zaheer ki aesi kai batain bohat yaad aain. Suna hai: ab bhi - federal 'B' area - ke usi makan main rehte hain

* Later I learned: Square is a circle is one of the most mysterious concepts in maths. Some think it can be done, some think it is impossible. Now it is more of a metaphor and a generalized concept.

Practicing Profession

Aik din Karachi main kisi kaam se Lee Market jaana huwa - peeche se koi juloos nikal paRa aur saara transport band ho gaaya.

Aik makrani baloch bhai ki Gadha gari saRak kinare khaRi thi - main ne kaha Guru Mandir tak choR do, us ne shayed 23 rupe maange - main ne kaha 15 rupe dunga - wagera wagera (ab woh negotition yaad bhi aati hai to hasi aati hai)

Us ke baad us ne jis maharat se Jalse jaloos ke beech se - mujhe Guru mandir paunchaya hai - main hairan reh gaya. Guru mandir paunch ke main ne kaha - yaar kamal ke aadmi ho ; gadha gaari motorcycle se tez chalate ho. Makrani bhai ne jo jawab diya, woh aaj bhi meri rehnumaai kerta hai. Usne apne makhsoos makrani lehje main kaha: "Apun gaaRi roz chalata hai, mehnat aur piyar se chalata hai - aur maze le le ke chalata hai"!

Mera nahi khayal kisi MBA ki kitab main, profession practice kerne ki itni saada defination kabhi likhi gai ho gi!

Aik Anokhi Dua

Insaan ko zindagi main baRe ajeeb ajeeb log milte hain. Hamare nana ke aik achhe dost the - hum unhe bhi nana kehte the. Un ki zindagi ka ziyada hissa East Africa main guzra tha - is liye angrezi ziyada bolte the. Aik din ab yaad nahi kiya baat hui ke mujh se bohat khush huwe. Main ne un se kaha, 'nana koi achhi si magar mukhtalif si dua dain" . Unho ne angrezi main kaha:

"We all die one day. I pray the day you die you have no despair around you"

(Hum sab ne aik din marna hai. Magar jis din tumhe maut aaye khuda kare tumhare aas paas maayyusi ka koi saya na ho)

Tab naujawan tha - baat be-maani lagi. 
 - Ab lagta hai ke is se ziyada khubsurat dua ho nahi sakti.

Lal Chand, sitare aur bachpan ki aik adat

Kal raat poora chand girhan tha... aur poora lal chand - lal aasman ke saath.

Aesa chand girhan main ne kabhi nahi dekha..

Aese main meri nazar aas paas ke sitaroN pe pari
- sitare yun ubhar aaye the jese chand ke dukh pe woh bhi ashkbaar hon

Aese main mujhe bachpan ki aik purani adat yaad aa gai..

Jab dadi kahani suna ker ghar ke aangan main hame sula deti - charon taraf andhera ho jaata to main chand sitaroN ko tikti baandh ker dekhta rehta aur kuch der baad yun mehsoos hota jese aas paas ka sara mahol dab gaya ho - aur main sitaron aur chand ki aagosh main khalaon main uth gaya hun.

Jab pehli baar disney gaya - aur phir Kennedy Space Center gaya 
- to bachpan ka woh nazara phir saamne aa gaya.

Aap bhi kabhi sitaroN ko, chand aur space ko aese dekhne ki koshish kijye..

- aap ko mehsoos ho ga, aap is kaainaat ka hissa hain - aur ye aik bohat hi khubsurat aehsaas hai

On Tasneef-o-ta'leef (Writing & Editing)

When I was in pre-medical college, I developed an intense love of Urdu literature which persist till today (I still ask myself why I didn't do Masters in Urdu literature when I had time and was in heart of Karachi). One day I asked my Urdu teacher: "Sir main likhna Chahta hun" (Sir I want to write).

He replied with enormous love: "Zaroor likho! aaj se likho - magar ye jaan lo ke likhne se ziyada ye janna zaroori hai ke kiya nahi likhna - tasneef achhi cheez hai - magar taleef ka hunr us se bhi ziyada zaroori hai - Jese zindagi main ye janna itna zarooori nahi ke kiya kerna chahiye - bulke ye janna bohat zaroori hai - ke kiya nahi kerna chahiye". 

(Please write. Start writing today. But please understand that it is more important to know what not to write instead of what to write. Writing is a good thing but the art of editing is way more important. Alike in life, it is more important to know, what not to do than what to do".

It was such an important lesson I carry with me till today.