Tag: childhood

Remembering Dada…

On February 28, 2015

An atlas cycle. Big One. My Grandpa was tall. Would be somewhere around 6′. He customized his cycle to make space for a small seat to place a tiny toddler on it. Yep, that would be me.

I would sit with my legs stretched out and hands on the bell or on something placed in the basket in front. Being the first-born has a lot of perks. You are the centre of attention. Even more, when you happen to be plump and chubby. Oh, yes I was.

Most of my memories of childhood are centred around my grandparents. I used to tag along with them wherever they went. Places I dream of going now, as a kid I have visited a few of them already. Although I hardly remember any!!

My dada has a big influence over my life. I look through the society from his borrowed glasses. My political or religious views, eating habits, to care about anything other than myself and things which I’m yet to experience are all acquired from the old man.

I don’t know whether its old age or a typical dada, bragging about his grandkids for anything under the sun was what he loved to do. Especially among his friends. Relatives ? Well Dadi handled that.

It has been more than 7 years since he passed away (May Allah grant him Jannat), and a lot has happened since. I’m sure that he would have been proud to see his grandkids just become grown ups.

I remember when he kept the cut-out of a write-up I wrote in The Telegraph as a symbol of his own accomplishment.

He was there when I was a kid who won’t stop crying while going to school for the first time. He was there to bring me my first bicycle. He took me to my first ever boat ride. And perhaps a lot of firsts which I can’t recall now.

Our story was similar to the Dhara ad and as mush as the advertisement is nostalgic, it is a reminder of our relationship as well.

Our story was similar to the Dhara ad

(Pic Courtesy: Youtube Video grab)

I remember him even mocking me when I used to complain about anything to Dadi , turning into a one-step Shammi kapoor doing the same. Or even when I used to cry about anything. I hated it back then. But now, it’s those instances which paint a picture of the old man. Must add, he was famous as “Ashok Kumar” back then.

He taught me a lot of things by not actually pushing me to do any of it. He asked me to bring the newspaper as soon as it dropped in the veranda to make sure I inculcate the habit of reading. He used to take me to the mosques and even though instead of praying, I would be at my mischievous best, he’ll still take me. I remember we used to go to different mosques every friday and on our way back, visit a relative who stayed nearby. It was our ritual.

As we grew up, my sister who used to always listen to him and follow the same schedule as he did and my Brother who from the start itself loved the family business, more than I would ever do, became his new favourites. Or as I used to think. I was an attention-seeking child you know.

I was there when he got really sick. I wasn’t when he breathed his last. I wish, I was.

But I can see a lot of him in the way I see things, understand them and relate the world around me. I miss Dada!

This post was written in association with Indiblogger for HDFClife for their Apne ko apne dum pe jeena sikhao campaign. You can check out the video which brings out the perfect story of how “Apne ko apne dum pe jeena sikhao” by HDFClife.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg8mH2I4VBM

Aaj ki Story: Cricket

By farooq

On June 27, 2013

In Random Philosophy

Kal dekh raha tha twitter par kaayion ko Tennis ke khel me Federer ki haar ka gam manaate hue, kuch aalochak khusi bhi mana rahe the. Wahi, Nadal-federer waali ladaai. Hua yun ki dono hi haar gaye. 🙂

Khair, mujhe isme ruchi nahi thi. Par “tennis” se hamesha sanyog se mujhe ek hi cheez yaad aajati hai. Nahi aap kuch galat andesha na lagayen, waise vichaar nahi vyakt karne wala main yahaan…

Tennis balls se to ham bas cricket me hi khelte the kisi zamaane me. Jee, Tennis ball Cricket keh lijie aap.

Gendbaazi kiya karte the. Technical terminology me , medium rafter keh sakte hain. Zaheer bhai ka milta julta action tha, ye ham socha karte the. Afsos, tha nahi.
Dheemi gend kaafi mashoor thi. Waise dheemi shayad hare k gend hi hua karti thi. Bohoton ko chakma dejaati thi parantu….aur out hone par, “ye kya hogaya? “ waale expression bhi dila jaaati thi.

Par raftaar kam hone ke kaaran aksar ek aad beech ke spell hi milte the. Ya kabhi ek aad over. Wo bhi doston ki meherbaani rahi to. Wicket na bhi loon to economical hi rehta tha.. Ab gend me tezi hi nai rehti thi, to maarna thoda mushkil tha. Line-length sahi tha.
Tailender banke ballebaazi bhi ki kaafi. Square cut kiya karta th, achaa maarta tha. Ye main nahi log kehte the.
Par hota yun tha ki maidan me peeche run banane ke avsar nahi Milte the. Chote ground hone ke kaaran, seema seemit rehti thi.
Fielding kaafi kharab thi., kaafi kharab. Ground fielding khaaskar ke. Kaafi run galaaye hain..
Ek aad baar crucial maukon pe run deke match bhi harwa diya tha team ko. Kaafi gaaliyan mili thi…

Par catch lapak leta tha, kabhi kabar. Ek baar kaafi saleekhe waala catch liya.. Jaisa Pollard ne Dhoni ka lia tha. Uchalte hue boundary par.
Kaafi Waah waahi batori us din. Sabne socha 6 aur Maine bana daala out!! Mahaul jam gaya tha..
Yaad Aate hain kaafi wo bachpan ke Cricket se jude din… Gali me.. Chat par.. Aangan me… Maidanon me… Bas cricket…
Kabhi plastic.. To kabhi cosco.. Kabhi rubber kabhi khanna (yahan ka hard cosco) to kabhi synthetic.. Sabhi gendon se khela hai.. Cricket. Khela hai. Achaa ya bura, abs ach me nai padta farq.
Fir jab jamshedpur choota… Dheere dheere Wo chootta Chala gaya. Bach gayi to mast waali yaaden…

Yun mauke to kayi mile.. Firse khelne ke… Par Wo Bachpan waala junoon nahi bacha.
Busy hogaye doosri cheezon me.

Kabhi in mohalle ke bachon ko khelte ladte Dekhta hoon., bas dekhke khush hojaata hoon.

To ye thi #AajKiStory, jald hi doosri bhi

gali cricket

sunaunga… Achaa Naa lage to bataiega.. Shukriya !! 🙂

Of Rain, Raincoats and Paper Boats…

By farooq

On May 30, 2013

In Random Philosophy

Rain drops are falling. Seems a switch up there, someone forget to turn off. It’s been two days!!! Dude, its summer??!!

Not that I’m complaining.

Thing is, this lad is in the middle of his internship, or Summer Internship. Aren’t you being a big hurdle in the process of his “learning”?? Yes you dear, the one who switched it on.

Now apart from the cribbing, there’s a lot to be admired about this situation. The weather has indeed brought out the romance in me, where I see myself enjoying its beauty like never before.

Enjoying those falling droplets on the dehleez, to the nice patterns they make near the window, to the washed and turned into green leaves looking like they got a makeover, to intentionally getting wet in the rain just to feel the awesomeness coming down from up there all over me, I’m doing it all.

Not just that, it has taken me back in time. Time where, as kids rain used to mean an excuse to miss school. A day off used to mean making paper boats and becoming sailors in the rain-made rivers flowing down the gali. I still remember how boat-races between siblings and friends were so much fun. Even the neighborhood mango-tree was kind enough to drop in a few raw mangoes, which along with salt was a little treat of sorts

Even on days, when school going couldn’t be excused, rain-coats and those amazing stories we had with them can never be forgotten. With bags tucked inside, as if we have a hump, playing on our way to school with the numerous streams of water, was the name of the game. Sometimes, when there was just a slight drizzle an umbrella would replace the raincoat, but definitely not the fun with rain. Opening a wet umbrella on a friend, or to even open it with the press of a button was like firing on with a gun.

Coming back to my little cribbing (Yes, I’m so used to it). Even back then, too much of rain always played spoilsport, especially for cricket-only-playing kids like us. And even when they stopped, the ground was hardly playable. But yes, Football was what we explored sometime, on muddy grounds with rain falling in, those were fun days.

Nostalgia, nostalgia and nostalgia!! Back home, everything takes you back to those wonderful times.

And how different is it now??

Like all non-atheist souls out on earth, praying to the almighty for rains in the midst of summer is a very common occurrence. And this time, when I’ve turned into a Salesman it was an even more of an urgent requirement. Thankfully, it did arrive. Bringing with it relief as well as an added advantage of an excuse for a No-work-scenario. (Now, this excitement of bunking, still brings in joy)

I take a coffee and sit down near the window, looking forward to enjoying the beauty that this weather bestows upon poor souls like us. It is not the one with exquisite and delicate designs that you enjoy the most, but these simple pleasures of a hot cup of coffee and watching beauty unfold before your eyes.

But what you don’t see is, paper boats flowing downstream in the water in our gali. Maybe those video games out there are to be blamed.

Dove- Story about my unimportant hairs

By farooq

On March 15, 2013

In Others

It was just a normal day, of a hectic schedule to round-about classes here and there. Got informed by someone, that there is a package waiting for me. With curiosity, opened the box right away, only to find a beautiful looking white bag. Opening further, to my utmost surprise, it was Dove!! Dove, as in Dove shampoo and Dove conditioner.

And then it struck, I had just playfully applied to free samples for it, to use them and review it. Although, I did felt that they were very generous enough to do so.

To say the truth, I didn’t intend to write any product review for it. Free stuff, use it and enjoy, is what I wanted. But, yet you find me writing about it. no, it’s not about the prize that I might get, for the contest, “beautiful ends to your beautiful braids”, which ultimately some women will win. It’s just a simple review of what I used all these days with the Dove shampoo and conditioner.

To start off, I have never been a big fan of cosmetics, especially hair-care products. It’s not about being a male, but just that the chemicals and stuff have a weird effect. Although, with the kind of lifestyle that we ultimately end up living, it does take up some space. Yes, I should add that I had never used any dove product before, and I used this only because it came for free.

But, I was surprised!! In a pleasant way, of course.

Why ? well http://www.dove.in/en/Products/Hair-Care/Split-Ends-Rescue/Dove-Split-End-Rescue-Shampoo.aspx is the answer for that.

To tell you about my hairs, there’s not much. It’s short and sometimes it grows a little too dense before the barber works around the bush with much difficulty to give it a decent look. It’s not completely curly, nor straight, but uneven with its ends a little weird. With dust and pollution following me, every now and then, over the years, dandruff as well as hair issues been there like forever.

I remember how I used to be the centre of jokes for my hairs in my school. Although, I used to resent them back them, but looking back, it was so much fun. But yes, at the expense of my poor hairs. Poor, lacking moisture and dry as a desert. Some of the many jokes that used to be centered around that time, included, as to the “level of difficulty that the barber will have to give me a haircut”, “how my combs would never be able to withstand usage, once I make them go inside my bush” and of course” getting my hands cut, if I make my hand go through them even once”.

To, technically define my hairs,

–> They are dry lacking moisture.

–> They are thick and wavy.

–> They have unusually weird ends

Now, using Dove has surprisingly brought about little changes. And this includes, the Dove shampoo and Dove Conditioner as well

–> Moisture, a little of it, if not a lot can be felt and they don’t feel dry.

–> The thickness is still prevalent but the waves have somehow become more structured and look neat.

–> And the weirdness in the ends is almost replaced by the changing quality of my hairs.

And believe me, I am sure, when I go to the store to buy out a shampoo. It would definitely be dove.

To learn more about Dove-Split end rescue system, click–> http://www.dove.in/en/Products/Hair-Care/Split-Ends-Rescue/Dove-Split-End-Rescue-Shampoo.aspx

However, if your issues are serious, then you should visit a dermatologist who can help you with your issues.

Pseudo-Optimist

By farooq

On September 10, 2012

In Random Philosophy

Being optimistic is a virtue that only “few” enjoy.

Our life is such that even though we are not among those “few”, we still try to portray ourselves as such. And do a pretty decent job in putting up an “optimistic” face in front of others.

Kudos to people like us, because it is indeed difficult.

Difficult in the sense that our lives are so complex that having problems of various degrees is not a new thing. We all go through them as if they are routine. But we never shy away from thinking that all of this will get over “one fine day”. But we definitely don’t know when will that fine day come into our lives. Do we?

Think about these situations.

1. Exams are due next week. We still haven’t completed our course and we go, ‘we will complete it.’

2. Our team is almost sure of losing. A six or a wicket. And we might just sneak in a win.

3. The next door hottie doesn’t throw a fleeting glance at us, still, we spend hours fantasizing about that first date.

A voice inside our head screams, “Never gonna happen”.

While the other says, “What if, it does?”

Hell yeah, we are Optimist.

Or should we say Pseudo- optimist??

Are we forcing ourselves into becoming pseudo-optimists?? And is this a good thing??

The answer to the above question is a definite “yes”.

Why, do you ask?

Because if we don’t do that, then either we become like those sad pessimists, or simply let negativity get the better of us.

You may believe yourself when you say you may finish your course prior to your exams or you may even get that hottie on a date (That’s a little far-fetched).

And Sports definitely is something where anything can happen. Of course, Langoors catching Angoors, isn’t new as well.

So change your approach, it is great if you are born-optimist and if you don’t then force yourself to become one.

Become a Pseudo-optimist.

Update: So, what’s changed over the years? (I’m updating this after 4 Years and 5 Months)

Apart from looking at what I wrote years earlier and laughing at my own writing, you mean?

Well, I continue to be a pseudo-optimist. Not for the points, I mentioned above. But about life in general. I’ve become more thankful to my past and look forward to future. There is an acceptance of reality, far less pessimism and a little extra optimism.

Hopefully, in a few years’ time, I’ll again look back at this post, and update it with a few more good thoughts.

Now, that’s optimism. Right ?

Childhood

By farooq

On September 10, 2012

In Random Philosophy

Childhood is one of the most treasured phases of our life. Some two days back I went to the mosque for Namaaz. While I was sitting there, some 4-5 kids came and sat beside me, all of them about 7-8 years of age, bustling with energy. I was just watching them talk among themselves and was reminded of my childhood days when I used to throng the mosque in groups.

I stopped myself from thinking more as prayers were about to start.

But once the prayer ended and I got out of the mosque, all I could think of, was about my ‘days’. How I used to be back then, and how time has brought so much of a change in me. I wondered how there used to be nothing other than having some fun on my mind. There was hardly anything to think about.

And now, how one is needed to think innumerable things, from our career to studies to even girls. Each of them have their own distinct importance in your life. And the fact which we cannot deny is, one cannot run away from any of these things.

I long to go back to my childhood but my growing mustache tells me that I cannot! I wish, I had some magic power which would make me a child once again. But wishes remain wishes and this one is too good to be true.

In a year more I’ll even lose my teenager tag, n then it would become a more hectic life full of responsibilities. But I’m trying to be a little optimistic and hope I’ll enjoy my years ahead. IN SH ALLAH!