Dreams…

Who says they don’t come true?

When I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, the Islamic Art Gallery was closed for renovation. They did have about twenty pieces on display and the first thing that caught my eye in the showcase was Mughal Emperor Jehangir’s ink pot, whose picture I had posted here fifteen months ago! We weren’t allowed to photograph with flash, and unfortunately when we turned off the flash, we also turned off the “auto-focus,” so most of the pictures are blurry.

On display was also this leaf from an album composed for Jehangir’s son, Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan ca 1600-1625. On the left is Emperor Jehangir and on the right is his vizier, Itimad al Daula, a title that was held first by his empress Noor Jehan’s father, and after his death, her brother. I am not sure which one of the two viziers is shown here.

Mujassama e azaadi

I woke up at 6:30 am this morning, opened the curtains and looked down from the seventh floor at the busy street, which is part of the Times Square area. There were several shops with lights & signs turned on already. The one in directly in front of me said, on its left front, “pizza gyro falafel.” I looked to the right front and it said “middle Eastern.” I looked to the left again, “pizza gyro falafel.” I looked under that. It said, “Halal.” There are so many Halal restaurants here it is unbelievable. There are even Halal “chhaabri walas” who sell fastfood on their carts. Yesterday we got chicken pizza at a Halal Pizza & Bakery that’s open 24 hours a day.

We took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty this morning. The ferry was shaking so badly, I got motion sickness. I didn’t throw up but I was nauseated. Still am. We went atop the pbservation deck, the highest point that’s open to public. The security was even more strict than at the airport. Not only did we have to take off our belts, we also had to be “air puffed.” That was the most hilarious thing we’ve seen. Apparently it is a scanner by GE that can detect explosives. First, Mo stepped into the scanner. Red lights went on, an automated voice said, “air puffers on, do not leave until the light turns green.” Mo passed. Then Haiqa entered. As the puffers went on, her hair puff went one foot off her head. It was so funny even the security personnel started laughing. I was last. The air puffers went on. Puff puff! Puff puff! It tickled and I had to pull down to keep my shirt from flying up. Nothing was as embarassing as what a man in front of us had to go through. When he went through the metal scanner (not the puffers), the alarm went off. The security first checked his shorts pockers and then asked him to raise his shirt all the way up and made him turn a complete circle.

Imaan se, security koi nahin hai, bus nakhra hi nakhra hai :|

I am still dizzy from the rocking ferry. I shall go to my room now. Soon we will have dinner at a Halal Thai/Indian restaurant.

The Big Apple

We, sort of, kicked off our vacation tonight by going to Marble Slab and eating ice cream while it rained heavily. Mom had mango with almonds, Mo got vanilla with rainbow sprinkles in a cone (just the way I like it), and I got the same thing in a cup (although I love cones) so Haiqa & I could share it.

We leave for New York City tomorrow morning. The packing is almost complete. My umbrella is still drying from today’s rain, so that, and my tooth brush & hair brush will be put in the suitcase tomorrow morning.

I have good memories of NYC from thirteen years ago.

December of 1995, Daddy had just had his bypass surgery in Florida & we had to stop at the JFK airport in NYC on our way back to Kuwait. It had snowed one day before and it was freezing. I took off my jacket and gave it to Mom who was shivering. We had eight hours to kill there. My Daddy’s friend, Uncle J (the family astrologer, Uncle B’s son, & the brother of Daddy’s best friend who was shot, I think at his shop in NYC… or was it Chicago?) came to see us. He took us out to an Afghani restaurant. Some ethnic musical instrument was being played on tape. The family, Uncle J, and Uncle J’s friend sat at a table. I don’t remember how the food was, but I remember being warm & cozy. I think I had ordered some tikkas. After lunch, we had some tea. The waiter brought out tea and solid sugar cubes. I put a sugar cube in my cup and stirred it, but it didn;t dissolve. Daddy told me that I was supposed to bite on the sugar cube and sip the unsweetened tea, let it sweeten in my mouth before I gulped it down, and keep the sugar cube between my teeth until the tea or the sugar cube, is finished. I remember the traffic was terrible & we were stuck for a long time.

This time, only 3/5th of the family is going to NYC. Mom will be staying at home, and Daddy will be us in spirit.

***

After writing the above post:

I: Yaar kya title rakhoon is post ka? [what should I title this post] How about “NYC, here we come” like you wrote in your e-mail?

Haiqa: How about “vacation?”

I: Yaar please be creative, aisa title to mein khood bhi rakh sakti thi [even I could choose a title like that]

Haiqa: How about “the big apple?”

I: Wo kya hota hai? [what's that?]

Haiqa (stressing): the BIG APPLE!

I: What’s that?

Haiqa: NYC!

I: Waqai? [really?]

Mo: Yes!

Communication (gap)

Mom (washing the dishes): Meher, see if my bedroom wondow is open

I (skipping over the twenty things lying down on the carpet and opening the blinds): It is closed

Mom (extending her neck from over the kitchen sink, squinting her eyes to look at the window 20 feet away): No, I don’t think it is open

I: It is closed

Mom (hyperextending her neck): No, from here it doesn’t like it is open

I: It is closed

Mom: Yes, that’s what I was saying, I can even see from here that it is closed!

I: Sigh!

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Totay

** This break is too short. With only two days left before our trip to New York, there’s so much unplanned. Tomorrow Mo & I are going to buy a map of NYC and look up the details & fares on the metro. I also need to search on NYC to make sure we see all the places that are of utmost interest to me.

** I just watched part of a documentary on the hunting of lions in Africa. A male lion’s worth is all in its mane, which makes it attractive to the lioness as well as the hunter. To prevent extinction, it is better to hunt lions no younger than five years of age, when they have already bred. The blacker the nose of a lion, the older its age. A 5 year old lion’s nose is at least 50% black. However, the hunters are not always able to get a good view of the nose before shooting. Problems arise when the head of a pride is killed, leaving the lionesses to defend the family, only until another pride takes over them. The head of the new pride kills all the male cubs of the pride it takes over, so its own cubs can thrive.

** I persuaded Haiqa & Mo to watch looking for comedy in the Muslim world. It was okay, I liked it. but Haiqa fell asleep watching it :| Also, I have a feeling I missed the deeper message :O Watching the stereotypical Indians & Pakistanis, Mo said, “Americans won’t laugh at these jokes, but we will!” And we did laugh. A little.

** Mo: Look for reviews of “Hitchcock” on bad apple.

I: Where?

Mo: Oh, I mean rotten tomatoes!

** I watched part of Joel Osteen’s sermon on TV. Just before it started, Mo had a craving for Lipton chicken noodle soup, so I went out in the rain to get it for him. I get some dopamine release just by being useful to the kid, mashaAllah :) At Publix, I called him “Which one do you want? Lipton noodle soup with real chicken broth, or Lipton noodle soup with white chicken meat or Lipton extra noodle soup with real chicken broth?” I bought both the extra noodle and plain noodle soup. At home, Mo asked, “Did the extra noodle cost more than the regular?” “No, they were all the same price, why?” “The extra noodle box says to add three cups of water, and the regular noodle box says to add four cups of water!”

** After returning from scuba:

Haiqa: Mo, what should I do with your red shorts? Threy’re on the tub!

Mo: Eeeeeeeeeeeek! Why did you touch my red shorts?

I: You have red shorts?

Haiqa: I just put the scuba bag in the tub and things started coming out!

 

Through the glass door to the porch

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Summer break

I came home today after my last exam of third year. At least I hope it’s my last one. It was a make-up exam & I was surprised to see so many classmates at the testing center. Had I not need o retake this test, last Friday would have been my last exam of third year. The last five days I had been mourning & whining, “Everyone’s third year is over, except for mine! I have to study an extra six days before I get a break!” I remember seeing a classmate’s facebook status, “X is excited to be a fourth year!” & feeling depressed. To my surprise, today X was sitting one seat away from me, taking the make-up exam!

There was a lot of traffic and heavy rain on my way home, but I made it (after having to make an emergency stop because my “low fuel” light started blinking, and right before I reached a gas station, it turned back to normal :O).

Haiqa & Mo are so funny. They have their scuba gear spread out all over the room. Haiqa has been struggling with the technique of “mask clearing” in the bath tub. The poor gal’s so worried, she’s been biting her nails :| However, I am confident of her ability to learn new skills.

Mo & I went to the mall, browsed a couple of books at Barnes & Noble. Actually, we spent more time commenting on the books we had read! There’s one thing we both asked spontaneously, “Who in the world would like to read Johnny Depp’s biography?” We stopped by FYE. I listened to some cool Egyptian songs & introduced Mo to Tarkan, the Turkish singer.

S & M are coming to visit us tomorrow. I am excited! S is so nice. He’s never met us, but everytime he goes to India, he gets us something & mails it to us.

My mom is watching TV right now. I remember my Daddy once saying to me, “It’s not difficult to please your Mom, she never demands anything, it doesn’t take much to make her happy!” Today I put the dishes in place, helped make her tea, gave her medications, and told her about my worries about med school, and she is so happy just being with me!

Praise be to Allah :) I am loking forwrad to the summer break!

Those who can and those who cannot

Twenty-six years of life experience, two different can openers, and I still fail to open a can of tuna fish. I have poked enough holes in the can to drain out the water, but the fish is still inside. Allah Mian, if you are not going to give me a husband who can cook, I am willing to settle for just a cook. Please give him (her?) to me already!

Marble Slab?

Marble Slab is open till 11:30pm. Should I go & satisfy my craving? Or should I study & then go to bed? :O

Hazaron khwahishain aisi…

This is, after all, a diary of desires. Sigh!

From [http://flickr.com/photos/tempest_kat/1481784290/sizes/o/]:

Scribble

I have been extremely stressed out about my upcoming exam on Thursday. Right now I am studying at the library. I mean, I will start studying soon after this short internet break is over. I have been studying all day & this thick cranium of mine hurts. I feel like all the information that goes in my head escapes into the thin air. AlhamduLillah everyone has been very supportive during these tough times. Mom, Haiqa, Mo, C, Uncle S, my friends H1, H2, O, E, and people who know me through this diary, especially J & N. Thank you!

Nothing exciting has happened to me lately, but after the exam I shall write about all the silly things happening to me.

Homework

“No more homework! Homework kills trees!” — read on a patient’s lil brother’s shirt at the ER

Meher is…

… overdue for something big and happy to happen to her.

Quotes of the week

**”You can’t get blood from a stone, and you can’t force loveless people to love you. But you can stop beating yourself up for not being able to “please” them and go on to live a happy and useful life.” – from today’s Dear Abby

**I spoke with my friend X over the phone after a long time.

X: M says that if he can’t marry me, he won’t marry anyone at all

I: You know any desi man who says that is lying. The only two desis who may never get married are you and me.

** In the emergency room:

I: Do you have any medical problems?

Patient: No

I: Nothing? Asthma? Allergies?

Patient: No

(Later)

Dr. A: Do you have allergies?

Patient: Yes, I have had very bad allergies all my life

I (in my heart): Humph!

Silent

“How easy ’tis to sigh and to complain!
All the world weeps to give its woe relief;
But proudly in thy heart conceal thy pain,
And silent drink the poison of thy grief.”

– From Princess Zen-un-Nisa’s “Divan-e-Makhfi”

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Jehangir’s tomb

Every couple of days I search for Lollywood on You Tube in hope of finding old songs that I may have heard in my childhood or teenage. I found this song yesterday. What makes it special is that it is filmed at the tomb of the Mughal emperor Jehangir. The video quality is very grainy, but the minarets and gardens of the tomb still stand out and they looked exactly the same on my visit in 1999. I remember reading somewhere that Jehangir’s tomb is not as magnificent as some of the other Mughal tombs because it was funded mainly by his widow, Noor Jehan, who lost major portion of her income when she lost her title as the Empress of India. His son, who became emperor Shah Jahan after Jehangir’s death, contributed little. There are some accounts that there was a marble screen terrace, now non-existent, connecting the four minarets. One thing that keeps on throwing me off is the palm trees. I remember them being around Noor Jehan’s tomb, not Jehangir’s.

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