The wisdom of Syedna Ali (A.S)

Syedna Ali (A.S) was the cousin of Prophet Mohammed (SAW). He was brought up by Prophet Mohammed and he, the Prophet SAW loved to him to a great extent. He taught him everything and according to Syedna Ali, He was to the Prophet as a baby camel is towards his mother. He followed the Prophet's footsteps and as a child, the prophet fed him with his own hands.

Prophet Mohammed SAW had declared during Ghadir-e-khum, while returning from the last pilgrimage (Hajj) "For whoever I am his Master (Moula), Ali is his Master (Moula)"

Syedna Ali - My Master, My Moula.

I'd like to share with you the two wonderful narrations I heard today in the sermon about Syedna Ali and his knowledge.

1. According to the inheritance laws, three persons were supposed to get their shares in the ratio of 1/2, 1/3 and 1/9. The inheritance was 17 camels. When the three people sat down to divide the camels among themselves, they were at a loss. 1/2 of 17 was 8 and 1/2. They couldn't divide a camel! So they went to Amirul Mumineen, Syedna Ali.

Syedna Ali asked one camel to be brought from the Baitul Maal. (State Treasury)

Now there were 18 camels and he divided them among the persons.

1/2 of 18 = 9
1/3 of 18 = 6
1/9 of 18 = 2

Total = (9+6+2=17 camels!!)

Thus he divided the inheritance - 9:6:2 and the 1 camel was returned back to the treasury.

MashaAllah!

2. A man died and his will (Wasiyat) was read. In it he mentioned three things.

He had a daughter and three slaves.

He wanted one of the slaves to marry his daughter and have half his wealth
He wanted one of the slaves to have only half his wealth
He wanted one of the slaves to be killed

He had not mentioned which slave in either of the cases.

So the slaves went to Amirul Mumineen, Syedna Ali and presented their case to him.

Syedna Ali told them that since the man had a daughter, his whole wealth will go to her. If they wanted their share, they would need to kill her.

One of the slaves got up and said "I will go and kill her"
The second one said "I will accompany you, but I won't kill her"
The third one said "How can I kill the daughter of my master. He took care of me and treated me well. I will not take part in this"

It was at that moment that Syedna Ali told them

The slave who was ready to kill the daughter - was to be killed.
The slave who was ready to accompany him - was to get half the wealth
The slave who was not ready to kill the daughter - was to get half the wealth and marry the daughter.

MashaAllah.

May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet and his family, the good, the choosen, the pious.

My God it's tough to get two people married!!

I have become a consultant too early in my life. Gosh, the doubts two people get when they plan to marry is almost hair tearing! I might have celebrated my friend's success prematurely. Man, I have to motivate him to keep thinking positively and picture the happy picture. Doubts about how will I support her, it's going to take me two more years to complete my studies, far distance etc etc.

Seriously everyone in this world should become Forrest Gump!!! - DON'T THINK!

I am on a mission to get three of my friends married. One who happens to be so shy that he won't talk to another girl less even glance at her. Another is this 'full of fears' and thankfully a sweet girl friend who is open to proposals. She is the most easiest to motivate and you feel happy when someone is colaborating.

I know you will ask what are their parents doing? Well they are also searching but you know this age! One listens to friends more than parents. I am doing my best to keep them positive and it's taking every ounce of energy.

Why is the thought of marriage so terrifying that one needs time to think about it? The doubts, fears and insecurities that eat up a person is darn bugging. In a way I realise how my relatives feel when they are talking to me...lol. I guess this is pay-back time.

Anyways, I have done my best and now the rest is in their hands. At the end, if it's in their kismet, takdeer, naseeb - they will marry each other else someone else.

End of file

The changing Indian youth

If anyone of you still thought that India was still traditional and maintained it’s culture especially when it comes to ‘No love between boys and girls’, welcome to the new India, not only urban but rural as well.

Seven years back when I started my degree studies’, talking to a guy friend was frowned upon. Having a group of friends was fine but you shouldn’t be particularly attached to anyone and complete no-no to private calls, meetings etc.

Today, it’s the in-thing to talk about your boyfriend. Descriptive graphics of how the fairy tale began and what are the hurdles that the two have to face – clash in castes, in languages, in religions. How the two meet secretly if they are staying with their parents and how openly they go out if they live in hostel.

During my college days, we used to frown upon the girl flirt. The girls doing their masters were addressed as ‘Didi’ – sister and they used to take care of the first years, fresh out of home. If they found some guy talking too much to a girl, they would talk to her indirectly and give her hints- just because she was away from home and found new freedom, she didn’t have to go the bad way.

Indian upright women are traditional, uphold their culture, their religion, are hardworking in their studies and profession, have good friends and settle for a partner their parents would be happy with. They marry the man their parents select for them, with their approval of course (I’m talking about the positive scenario assuming no coercion); having a boyfriend is beneath them. It’s illicit and it does not go well on the values that they have been brought up on.

After all, if having a boyfriend was an okay thing, then why would the girls hide it from their parents? Why would they feel out of place among good girls who have a clean background? Why the sudden sense of shame when their elders find out about it? Why all the justifications they need to make as to why they have a boyfriend. Why the doubts that they may/ may not marry their boyfriend?

At the moment though, the tables are turning. These forward girls are proud they have someone to call them, pay for their bills and supplement their pocket money. They show off that they are hotter, more in demand then those who don’t have one. They boast of how they met and how he proposed and what all they do. Some girls ditch men regularly and think of them as past-times. ‘Honey, show me the money’ is an unconscious selection criteria.

Observing the girls who have boyfriends, one tends to notice how easy it is for the girls to lie, to go green with envy, to not trust other girls, to have false pride and gossip! They can gossip from anything to everything. The tantrums they throw and the attention they constantly crave. It amazing that their boyfriends don’t see through them. But then these men themselves are of questionable character.

The trend is high in the north and picking up in the south. Today’s 60% of India’s population is getting affected by the western values. Though some still think arranged marriage is better they constitute of a small number of youth. Media, magazines have gradually influenced India’s youth – Media itself has changed from the conservative covers to nude pictures even on daily affairs magazines like India Today. Movies have become sick double meaning films with sodomy jokes the latest flavor.

In rural India, the boys and girls are maturing fast. The misconception that since they are least exposed to the media doesn’t mean they are naïve. As told by a friend of mine, in the villages, the illicit relationships start from 5th standard!! I nearly fell from my chair.

Is this a cause to worry? Will India in another 20 years become another west where the chances of a marriage succeeding after years of living in, is 50%? Will every third child be illegitimate and cities flock with single mothers?

Will being honest to your parents cease and will the Indian values that have survived for so many generations start depleting with this new generation?

A blessed Ramadan

A lot of good things are happening this Ramadan-

A few months back, a friend had called me and requested me to pray for her. Her family was looking into proposals and things were not matching. A proposal she had recieved last year was again back and they were looking into it. A few days back she gave me the good news that her engagement was fixed... to the same guy! :) Alhamdullilah.

Operation marriage - Success. The friend I was helping to get the girl he wanted to marry said yes to him! He is on 7th heaven and well you can guess the rest...

My marketing professor, Prof. Sunil Pevekar (he is from IIMA and a bank of knowledge) submitted a case study abstract to the University of Pennsylvania and it got approved! The case study was based on my Internship trimester project on franchising of pre-school education where I had done a study on their sales structure and success. Prof. Sunil is very glad and he called me and THANKED me! It's the first time, any teacher has thanked me. My throat is chocked with emotions. I pray the case gets prominence so he might get the chance to personally visit Pennsylvania and attend their forum.

and finally, I have still returned alive from the exam hall... hehe

Alhamdullilah, Thanks to God for all the good news.

What am I doing?!!

If there was a fairy and she was to grant me a wish, I'd ask her - "Make me study". Honestly, seriously that is the only thing I want. I want to study. I want to study 12-16 hours a day and learn so much. There is so much in the world to know, to understand, to appreciate and to write about (especially in exams!!)

As you might have guessed, I returned from my exam and what do I say? I am not sad that I won't get through but I haven't done to my best (Get through(pass mark) has never ever been in my vocabulary. It's always 80% and above.) Why?

I don't know.

At one end I fight my 'switch off' mood that comes to me like an enemy just before my exams. I would have worked on a paper the whole trimester religiously but at the end moment, when all I have to do is revise - Bang. The electric current of my brain switches off.

I am honestly tired, angry, and frustrated at myself. It's ok if it happens once and you learn how to handle it but in my case it's a repetitive pattern that I just don't know how to break it.

As of now, while typing this, I realised that the only way to avoid complete black out is to be with my friends and study partner. Even if my mind goes 'Stop', they'll be there to push some bit of information here and there and who knows? I might just achieve my target.

Somewhere I read - United we stand, Divided we fall - so now I'm going into a united strategic alliance with my classmates. I no longer trust my own resources and capabilities. My core compentency will take off when I sign a joint venture, even though I might be the stronger company but I need a partner who back up power for the exams.

How Ramadan changes a person... or brings out the true person

I have been conciously observing myself and my friends ever since Ramadan started. In this holy month, the shetan are chained. They can not tempt men or whisper in their ears to do a bad thing or not do a good thing. This is a blessed month where the true person, the true soul is seen...

In the other months for a person to get up and pray fajr is difficult. He on one hand fights his sleep, his tiredness and on the other, whispers of satan to make him go to sleep. 'Pray later or not pray at all'. In Ramadan though, the person will set the alarm and wake up even before it rings. His heart anticipates that it's time to get up and glorify his Lord.

In other months, telling a lie would come easily and one could walk away without feeling guilty but in Ramadan, one avoids lies. In a situation where he is stuck he will give a vague answer but be conscious that he does not lie.

In other months, if one has not had food he cannot concentrate. His mind constantly rings 'I have to eat! I am hungry!' but in Ramadan, a peace decends on him. His mind is on his work, his prayers, his family...

In other months, being messy, throwing your clothes on the bed thinking you would fold them later or letting the wash basket overflow before doing the laundry would be okay, but in Ramadan, the moment one enters, he consciously keeps his stuff neatly, his bed clean,his cupboard arranged and his clothes washed and pressed.

In other months, one can waste away moments, minutes, hours chatting, playing games, but in Ramadan one prays, reads Quran Shariff, does tasbhi, dua every spare moment, to make use of every opportunity, every second before this month slips away.

In other months, giving charity is tough. One thinks twice before giving but in Ramadan one hurriedly removes not coins but notes to give to a poor soul.

In other months, calling guests, cooking is a once in a while occassion, but in Ramadan, people compete to have rozdars at their home, to eat and drink in their homes, to pray for them and have their past sins forgiven.

In other months, school work, job, career, ambition take the front seat but in Ramadan, it's only God and God alone who is our first thought and last thought.

In other months, it's so hard to complete the Quran Shariff, but in Ramadan it's so easy. People read each ayyat eagerly, knowing one full Quran Shariff sawab has been recorded with every verse read.

Truely Ramadan is the most blessed of the blessed months

The most beautiful of the sacred months
The month when the true and good nature of our brothers is seen

A month I pray that lasts long and it's effects, it's junoon remain with us for the rest of the year, till inshaAllah, next Ramadan. Amin

A sweet proposal

Continuing the topic on marriage, I recieved the sweetest proposal from the sweetest little boy in this world.

"shahra ramadhan mubarak.may Allah bless you abundantly n shower his blessings on u.i am looking for a girl to marry,so i would propose to u first.and if u r to turn me down then which other best person to look for me my partner since u know me well.in fact u r the only girl who knows me?thanking u with the deepest affection and gratefullness."

That is my cute little cousin who is three years younger to me!! Awwww, I mean I know he wrote it out of affection and it's not a real proposal but it still made my day! Murtaza and I became good friends when he started high school and I would tutor him. I left for India soon for my degree and he said he missed his teacher! Once he had a horrible deskmate so I went to his school and talked to his class teacher. She was a kind lady and she got the class rearranged. I didn't tell him that. When he came home the next day he told me "Guess what the good news is?" I just smiled, I knew!

When I returned to Kenya, he was his in 12th and the first thing he wanted was for me to make his study time table. Needless to say, Alhamdullilah he did well - On his own! He is my little brother, my friend, my confidant and one with whom I feel three years younger ;) lol

God bless him and may he find a wonderful partner! Amin.

Operation: Marriage

I am helping a friend of mine get the girl he wants to marry :) and it's fun! I think I should become a marriage counsellor. I mean men can be stuck at the simplest question as to 'Why do you want to marry me?' lol, God help him after marriage.

I sincerely pray she accepts his proposal. It's endearing to see someone so sincere, who wants to marry in order to fulfil his religious commitments and has selected a life partner for her inherent qualities.

It's got me thinking that may be I should start thinking about it too. Not that I have never thought. Even if I don't, I have a truck load of relatives to remind me. I'm Alhamdullilah, content with my life, my studies and my family and friends. Its when I see a little child walking towards his mother that I feel "Awwww" I think children are the tempting carrots for marriage.

I remember I once had a conversation with a friend. I had told her that in a relationship, everything seems magical when you are getting to know each other, you talk about your past lives- right from your childhood to what you aim to achieve in life. And then what? There is nothing more to say and all that excitement will be gone. She told me something that I would never forget: "That is why you should have children. Then each day will be exciting. You will never know what they will do". This was one of the 'wow' moments of my life when I realised something, I had never realised.

I have nothing against marriage. It must be one of the most beautiful relationships one can have. The thought that someone is going to be there for you, for the rest of your life is surely comforting. It's when I see someone getting married, I marvel at their courage. The first thought that comes to my mind is 'Wow, she got the courage to marry!" I actually admire the *courage* a person has to marry. The courage to give someone authority over you, to love you, to hurt you, to accept the responsibilities that come along, the dynamics of juggling home, work, in-laws, friends and your partner! they must be super men and women. My hats off to them.

As for me, let me fly, high and far till I decide, it's time to stop, to find a mate and build a nest.

The beautiful Dua of Shehre Ramadan

This dua is prayed after every fardh namaz. In Mombasa, the dua is heard from the different minarets and it creates a magical moment. Just like the adan's of different masjid's merge into a mesmerising chorus.

Please remember me in your duas...

Ramadan Mubarak :-)

Punishment of the grave

Disclaimer: This post has been the most viewed on my blog. I have simply shared an email that I recieved. After reading please verify from your own searches.

A friend sent me an email below and I can't tell you how distressed and scared I am. The photo's are so terrifying. May Allah Taala protect us from this end and forgive all our sins. Amin.

Email:

On this photo a 18-year old young man who died in one of hospitals of Oman. The corpse of the boy has been dug out from a tomb in 3 hours after his funeral under the insisting of his father. The boy died in hospital and has been buried under the Islamic law and on the same day after obligatory ablution of the body. However after funeral the father has doubted of the diagnosis of doctors and wanted to identify the true reason of his death.

Relatives and his friends shocked when they saw the corpse. He was completely different within 3 hours. He turned grey as the very old man, with traces of obvious tortures and the most severe beating, with the broken bones of hands and legs, with the edges broken and pressed into a body.

All His body and face were full of bruise. The open eyes-showed hopeless fear and pain. The blood obviously attributes that the boy has been subjected to the most severe torture.

Close relatives of the dead man have addressed to Islamic scientists who have unequivocally declared that it is available results of tomb torture which the Allah ( s.w.t) and in the Hadis of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) have warned.

The shocked father of the boy has admitted that his son was spoilt, did not do Solat, and had a carefree way of life, having involved in different sins.

Each died person comes across tests in the tomb for exception Shahids who died in Jihad on the way of Allah. This is first terrible test which the person comes across before the Doomsday.

In Hadis of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w):
- After the death the spirit of died person will return to a body then two Angels will come, Munkar and Nakir, and will ask: "Who is your Lord?" he will answer: "my Lord - Allah ". Then they will ask: "What is your religion?" he will answer: "My religion - Islam". Then they will ask him: "Who that person who has been sent to you?" he will answer: "He is the Prophet of Allah ". Then they will ask him: "How do you know?" He will answer: "I read the Book of Allah and trusted Him.

And then from heavens the voice will come: " My Slave has told the truth, lay it to bed from Paradise and open the Gate of Paradise " - then it will be full of pleasure and he begins to feel paradise pleasure, and his tomb becomes spacious, that eyes can reach.

The Prophet of Allah Muhammad (s.a.w) said about the sinners. After the death the spirit of died person will return to the body then two Angels will come and ask, "Who is your Lord?" he will answer: "I do not know". Then they will ask: " Who that person who has been sent to you?" he again will answer: I "do not know" - and then from the sky the voice will come: "he told a lie, Put him into a box from fire and open before it the Gate of a hell! "-then it will be captured with heat of the hell, and his tomb becomes narrow and the edges will be compressed.

In Hadis it is also said, that Angels will severely beat the sinners during interrogation in the tomb and this torture will be awful. It is informed also, that our Messenger ( s.a.w) supplicated to Allah to protect Him from tortures of a tomb and asked other people to do so.

The history of 18-year old young men is a sign for believers and this is only next fairy tale for whom hearts are sealed by Allah. They look and do not see, listen and do not hear?

This story was translated from other language into English. That's why I apologize in advance for mistakes

Life is truly a box of chocolates :)

Chocolate recieved - 'Shopping before exams'

Tomorrow this time I will be rushing out of the exam hall to attend congregational prayers JIT (Just-in-Time) and what am I upto?? Shopping! Loads and loads of shopping. I haven't shopped like this in a million years.

Before you guys get any ideas, it was all my dear sister. A friend is going to states and so my sis has sent a whole list. Actually her lists consist of 'books and some of my clothes in the cup board'. I mean!! I told her I'd do shopping for her. My bro-in-law is like please do! You have better choice. LOL. Well so I took full advange of being the 'Shopper' and indulged myself into buying what I feel will look good on my sis. I just reached home and like an excited kid opened up all the bags and purchases - I'm still a funky little kid yaar! I bought navy blues and hot reds and mango yellows. I got white jeans!! I bought formals, casuals and after a long time - Skirts! In fact my skirts selection are rather good :). Ok, my sis, the nerdy professor must be reading this and getting a heart attack so I will let the suspense lie till she get's her new ward robe ;) hehe

It's a shopping chain in our family. My darling masi shops for me when she goes to Mumbai or gujrat. Not that I don't have a taste in rida but my masi is constantly travelling hopping on one plane to another and she knows all the colors I have. :) So masi shops for me and I shop for my sis. Anyways, I really think one should go on a spree shopping once a while. They say it's therapy. lol. No don't worry, I am not a shopper leave aside a shopper holic! But my sis beats me to it. She is anti - shopping. If at all she decided to shop, she'd drag me along and she'd drag me to shops were prices are fixed so she doesn't have to hangle. I tell her you should bargain! Sometimes she does get good deals- which so far - has been just once.

As for my studies, they are going on well. I am scared of Advance financial accounting and Corporate tax coz they need a lot of practise (that I haven't done). As for the remaining, I will take it as it comes. Like my study partner tells me "We have survived so far, we'll make it through". Amin to that!

I want to be - Forest Gump

I don't remember when I watched 'Forest Gump' first time. May be a few years back. I was so touched by the movie and the character 'Forest Gump' and how well Tom Hanks had played the role. Well, in the routine course of the day, the movie was soon forgotten until now.

Namrata has a few collection of movies and one of them is 'Forest Gump'. As an ice breaker from studies, I decided to treat myself (I completed one subject! :) ). I watched the movie and wow, what a wonderful film, what a wonderful story.

I like Forest Gump because he is such a simple guy. Everything is just 'I'm Forest, Forest Gump", Mama, and Jenny. I wish I could think like Forest. - He doesn't think. He takes life as it comes, doesn't complicate things, is loyal, loves one from his heart and keeps loving them irrespective of what they do. It didn't matter to him that Jenny didn't stay back with him or that he kept loosing her to her gypsy ways. At the end, his love returns to him.

Forest on his part is so open, child like and lovable. Jenny on the other hand is messed up and her intentions are questionable. E.g., why does she come to Alabama? because she had no where to go - probably wanted to take-it-easy from her night and brawl life. She gives birth to Forest's child but never let's him know. It's only when she finds out she is 'sick with some virus' does she call him. I find her weak, stupid and selfish.

But she looks beautiful to us - why? because we see her through Forest's eyes. The magic of love? From Forest's view, he got his Jenny, after all those years of waiting and he got a lovely child. Patience pays its way. It's almost heartbreaking when she says 'I love you' as she lies in bed, sick.

Watching the movie makes me wish for so many things -

I wish I were like Forest Gump. I wish I had a thinking system just like him. I wish I could be as loyal a friend as him, I wish I could love with his kind of purity, through years and through all partings.

'No Sir, Thank you but not now'

Dexler Information Systems is a growing SAP consulting and training firm. It has grown exponentially for the past five years. Currently it has 100 employees and is looking forward to recruiting 400 more. Their sales is handled by two people only and thus the need for MBA students from a good enough school to help them expand their corporate sales. The reason why they have only two people handling their sales is because business has always come their way. However, they realise that since they want to grow larger, bigger, they have to venture out in the market and find corporates, business interested in their products. In other words, make them interested.

The current and immediate requirement is for around four candidates. We were sixteen and after the pre placement talk, he gave us the choice to decide if we wanted to move further. My friend, Dev in the middle of the PPT( Pre-Placement-Talk) said 'Let's go'. He is interested in core finance. I was thinking

'1. Sales- targets, traffic, unknown people, lots of smiling, a lot of buttering and sleepless nights thinking about 'targets'.

2. Small company - good growth potential. Good learning not only sales but also about SAP through the consultants. Decent pay. Can shift laterally after a year or two in sales.'

Sales - O.K., why not. It'd be fun.
Small company - Nice. Cozy. Lots of learning.

Catch: "We need immediate joinees." Talked to the guy who gave the PPT and asked him if I had a choice to join after 5th term. He said if they would still want people, they'll come to the college else for now, it's immediate.

That pretty much decided it for me. On the way back, Dev and I made a decision to apply to companies only at the end of 5th term. But you know to see a cake and not want to eat it! When we reached college, we talked to one of our friends in the placement cell, he said "There a few very good companies coming so don't miss out on those." I could feel my friend wavering from his stand.

Anyways I am pretty sure I want to join only after 5th term. I'd like to complete my thesis in 6th term. Have three months of research work and paper writing. May be go on field. However, as per the situation, it might be stretching it too far. So well 5th is the least I'm willing to bend to.

No to any companies till then.

My first MBA job interview

Tomorrow is my first MBA job interview at Dexler Information Systems.

Profile : Sales Manager for SAP Products

I have a written test, GD and interview round at the company.

Why I applied for it - It's IT dude! and I have IT background and I learnt how to sell seating in a class room so I thought hey, am perfect for this job..LOL

Actually, I just want to check out the recruitment process and even see how I fit in. I want to know what sort of topics they'd give for GD and what questions they'd ask.

Problem - There are a few students who really want this job and I hope I am not going to eliminate them at any levels. I'm pathetic at maths, avg at GD and so-so in interviews but I still care about the others! hehe :)

Escape route - If I feel they like me, I'm going to ask double the package they are offering. Naughty naughty :). I can already picture their expression - 'Mad or what?!'

Well really, this is not my kind of job i'd LOVE to do. Just going for the 'Interview Exprience'. Let you know tomorrow how it goes.

Best thing out of this - Am reading about SAP, ERP, DB and in turn studying half my syllabus of Database Management Systems :)

My Insititute's Ad!!

I hardly check YouTube and was pleasantly surprised to see an Ad of my Institute. I really liked the way this ad is made. Totally cool. The campus is of Delhi. Now I feel like doing my last trimester in Delhi..lol What say you?

Study Time Table

Well I finally got my time table made :)

Thank God because now I feel all is not lost and I do have time to study and make up. I am falling short by 56 hrs which I will make up during the exam dates. The time table is not out as yet. I have one week to go before the exams begin.

In short - Gotta study hard, fast and 12 hrs each day.

This is one part of the time table. The other one side shows the time and which subject I plan to study. Each subject has it's own file with the syllabus, number of topics to be covered, study material and remarks.

My files are arranged and a few slides that I don't have, have mailed my profs and friends to send them to me. As for books - I think the IIM library will have to do. I have a few and the rest will be lib,friends and net :)

Ambition - What's your ambition?

There are many times I have wondered why I'm not 'Ambitious'. By ambitious I mean that go-get-it feeling, fire-in-the-belly, I'm going to make it etc etc. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd rate myself a 6. I wouldn't want to lay back and do nothing, I do want to do something and do it well so that at the end of the day or life, I can look back and smile contently.

A few of my questions were answered in class. My HR and Organizational Behavior professors would discuss how people are different. You can't expect the same thing from each one. That is why we have job profiles and roles. A painter could not do the work of an engineer. You could train him to be an engineer but he'd be miserable. Same with an engineer. He likes to make stuff, experiment around and debug. He won't be happy as a human resource manager trying to understand people and how they work. He mostly understand programmes or buildings.

Makes sense?

So how is this related to ambition? Well in a way trying to link myself as to what kind of person I am and what role, what job description suits me most. I know instinctively I am more right brain - creative kind but at the same time a good does of left brains (I can count! :) ) Probably, that's the reason why I could fit in any job role yet what I really do want to do is two things:

a) To teach

b) To write

Teaching - I wanted to be a teacher since 12Th grade. I remember the time when we were applying for our under graduation courses for the University of Nairobi, I had kept B.Ed as my first choice. My teachers and classmates were shocked. According to them, teaching was the last thing one selected if they couldn't get into any of the other degrees. They expected me to select Medicine or Dentistry since I was their top student. I decided to let go a that moment. I wanted to be a University professor. If I took up B.Ed I'd be a high school teacher - which is also cool. I think teenagers are adorable, full of energy and creative ideas. Along the way, through my degree, the rush for a career made me forget about teaching. Now, it's all come back. In my mind, I keep thinking of new ways to teach - not the standard classroom teaching, but getting my students on the streets, if I'm teaching them sales, I throw a challenge to them. Have a game - divide the class into teams. Give them a bunch of balloons for e.g. and tell them - Select your target market, make your strategies, and get me the end figure. You have exactly one hour. I picture them running to the streets and actually selling! I strongly believe that would help a student especially one who has never sold a thing in his life, how the whole system actually works. All this is done withing the class hours and at the end, I ask them to write a short write-up and what they learnt using 'Sales Management' language :)

Writing - Writing is a therapy. It helps calm one's racing thoughts, arrange them, express them, move someone to tears, communicate with someone totally unknown yet make them feel, you know them well. It's a weapon through which you could spread your ideas, thoughts, change the way people think, change their perception, make their world beautiful, give them hope. Writing enables millions of people to read and know millions of things. Writing is your way of spreading your knowledge and sharing it with others.

There, the two most attractive livelihood that make me sit up, make me think and make me move. This is how ambitious I am. I could run a business 10/10 or join a firm 8/10 , I could decide a million other things, but in my heart the two most special roles I'd like to play is that of a teacher and that of a writer. 6/10.

Now I ask you - How ambitious are you? :)

End of one schedule...reads 'Start of another!'

This is my crazy crazy schedule which I love apart for Corporate Tax on saturday evening!! Who is the right frame of mind remembers Sections numbers of the Indian Tax Act at 5.30 pm on a saturday?!

Now it's all over. Done. Finito.

I have to now make a new schedule for the next ten days for my exam prep. I think Exam time is the most taxing and well you'd be getting tired of hearing me say over and over.. I become a Zombie. Thankfully my study partner has not yet given up hope on me and is still encouraging me to 'make my mood'.

Ramadan is starting in another 10 days!! Wow so fast... I'm looking forward to Ramadan because I find it the most peaceful month. InshaAllah I will be able to study better too. I wish 11 months in the year were Ramadan and only 1 month a normal month. Crazy? I don't know, I love Ramadan, the adhan sounds from the minerats and the Ramadan dua, prayer 'Allahuma haza shahre-ramadan...'

Sincere prayers for me dear friends! I really need them!!

Next post InshaAllah - My study time table :)

Book Review: The Kite Runner

I got a hold of this book on the streets of Chennai. I had gone to Landmark and Book Paradise but the Rs. 350 price tag was causing a huge dent on my monthly allowance so I thought.. later, later, even though I was dying to read Khaled Hosseini's first novel. Having read his amazing book 'A thousand splendid suns' Lucky for me I got one off the streets and what do I say? I am as usual left shocked, dazed and tearful.

The Kite Runner is the story about Aamir, his story about his childhood in Kabul where his family was his father 'Baba', his servant Ali and Ali's son Hassan who is a year younger than Aamir. Aamir and Hassan grow up together and their childhood is an idealistic one, spent on tree branches, kite flying and story telling. Until, that one incident that shakes up their relationship.

Aamir feels guilty of not having the courage to stand up for his friend cum servant. A timid boy, a huge contrast from him powerful strong father, he resorts to ending his contact with Hassan. Years later, after he leaves for USA to flee from the war in Afghanistan, he is called back. To be good- by rescuing Hassan's son.

Aamir's character come's up as a weak and normal person who can sail in calm waters but when the storm seeps in, he bolts. He is gifted with a talent of story-telling and eventually becomes an author. The novel is like Aamir's personal journal or autobiography and at the end, one is amazed to know that 'Weakness' can become a crime in itself. Aamir has not hurt a soul but the failure to stand up for his friend makes him insomic and he is left with a feeling of cowardice. A terrible feeling to live with.

Hassan on the other hand is the adorable, perfect little boy and gentleman. A man born in a million. He's devotion to Aamir, his faith in God, his love towards his family - wife and child makes you love him and mourn for what happened to him.

Baba comes across as one of the strong men- set in tradition, of honor and courage. A go getter who makes life, gives lives, and questions about the existence of God. He follows the customs of the islamic world, yet does not believe in them. His drinking, and his abominable sin which is the surprise twist in the plot makes one wonder, how could a man do that. How could he keep his one son as a prince, his heir and his other as his servant. The son of a man he himself grew up with and grew to love. It's shocking and disturbs one greatly.

These three characteristics stand out in my mind when I think of 'The Kite Runner'. Among all, Hassan is the character I relate to. He is to me the perfect man who I write of, sincere and dedicated and loyal till the end. He is the best part of 'The kite runner'

At the end of the story we see Aamir struggling to win the affection and trust of Shorab, Hassan's son. Just as Hassan had done for Aamir's. Ironically, the tables have turned and Hassan's words for Aamir 'For you, a thousand times over' were the same words spoken by Aamir for Shorab.

Beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking.