Responsibility, Price of Freedom

My dad is a very wise man. The kind who will advise you not to drink iced water when you already have a cold and than threatens you by saying, I will not take you to the doctor if you get sick. And yes, we throw it in the sink because lets be honest who wants to have a red blotchy nose and carry a tissue box around.

I say that with utmost pride and respect. But that pride kind of diminishes when he forces the monthly kitchen expenses in your hands. So for this month, my dad had this brilliant idea of handing me the money for our food just so that he can teach us about controlling our expenses and being a little more responsible when it comes to money.

When I first heard that, I was excited. Because that meant, keeping all the money left behind. Now here comes the reality check. Firstly, we are Pakistani which means that when it comes to food, we do not kid around. People have thermals to keep them warm in winter and shorts to keep cool in summers, we have food to survive all year around. Food is sacred.

This basically means that when you are forced to grocery shop, you get all the things you like. I start from the Brownie Cookies, move on to popcorn, chips, noodles, wedges, three different kinds of coffee, two different kinds of Nimko, Chocolate Croissants and two kinds of ice creams. Ofcourse, I do not even glance at the price tags let alone keep in mind the total price of all the junk food I am putting in the trolley. Because dad is paying. Tada !

However, today was such a different scenario. I specifically went to get all my type of food to stock up for the upcoming four holidays we will be getting because of Qatar National Day. I don't know why I am excited, its not like I am in school anymore. Anyway, I gave the serious list to dad so he can buy the things Amma said to buy. I was roaming through the aisles, checking out the new flavours of Peri Peri Sauce and for the first time I saw myself contemplating buying things. And was stuck deciding between two packets of popcorn or two packets of noodles. And the only reason was the money in my yellow wallet which I miraculously have to make last for the rest of the month.

Life is very easy when someone else pays for you. Whether it is socks or a Blackberry Q10. But the minute that money comes in your hands, its not just 4000 QR that you have to spend on food. Its somebody's or your own hard work staring right back at you. Its the responsibility to make sure that you don't waste that money. That at the end of the day, you have 100 QR in your pocket instead of borrowing it from a friend. And that responsibility, my friend, is the biggest buzz killer there ever is.

Like Elbert Hubbard said:

"Responsibility is the price of freedom."

Adieu !
S

P.S. If by any chance you are wondering than, yes, I did buy 70 percent of the junk that I went for. Its still my dads money right now. ;)
P.P.S Abbu, I love you but please, I beg you  to torture someone else with this new technique of yours. I have had my share.

Coffee Rants # 4

You know what happens when you are preparing for an exam, you are 70% prepared, than you find out that the paper is the day after tomorrow instead of the next day. Yes ! You go a little crazy. Not necessarily with happiness considering the fact that you will have to revise everything AGAIN. Well, at least I have something to blog about.

One last exam to go and than I am free for a month. Thank you Allah Mian ! But I am scared of my mom and her constant habit of dragging me into things I do NOT want to do. But as her blood, I kind of have to fill in the obligations, which in simple words means turning dried out burned hair of ten strangers into elaborate braids and Butterfly buns and than listen to them tell me how the braid is not long enough. Yes, people. I can grow hair as I do happen to be the long lost sister of Hermione.

I was really scared of giving these exams, mainly because I have studied nothing in the past two years. And suffered the consequences. But that period is hopefully over. I think of it as a Steve Job or Bill gates period where you are at your lowest and than you emerge as a billionaire or the idea of becoming one. Not that that actually happens. But it feels good to put your mind to something challenging and pouring your sweat over that one problem that you cannot figure out. I have missed that euphoria of studying numbers and equations.

 I always have so many lists and plans to follow whenever vacations come up but only one out of twenty get to see the end. The others just end up as paper and pencils in my drawer instead of a Picasso. So I decided to just go with the flow. Like I already do not do that enough. I need to pick up that pen. And write. Instead of whining about not writing. And I need to sketch. Or attempt at a Husain before the paints dry out. Maybe this post can be a reminder of this.

I was wondering whether we ever find the answers to all our questions. I know that not all the answers are for us to find or understand. But still. Do you ever get to feel like every single piece of thread is untangled in your mind and you understand the way you see ? I guess, we still have this life to know that. I hope I do. I would love to see how it feels, to have everything make sense or at least have an explanation instead of us trying to give justifications.

I am going to go and watch 8 Simple Rules and wait for the coffee to wear off so I can sleep. Don't forget to smile. Life is beautiful. Even if you do not understand it sometimes. Or most of the times.

Adieu !

S

P.S. I will leave you with my favourite song these days which is Tumhay Kesay Batado by Ahmed Rushdi

...SAP...

Inspirations ! Favourites !

I thought of doing something different this time. I love watching people's favourites videos. Its a guilty pleasure. Don't judge. This is a little like that but everything that is me. Some of the things that inspire me and motivate me. Some things that I love and some that I tire off after awhile.

Songs Of The Week:
When it comes to songs, than literally, it changes every week. Or two three days. I find a good songs. Listen to it 24/7 and than tire of it. And throw it out like yesterday's garbage.

Naadan prinday A.R. Rahman Nadaan Prinday

Galaxies by Owl City Galaxies

Blog:

Beanbag Diaries. Beanbag Diaries This blog is run by a girl named Maryam and she is more of a book blogger but I love her Him and I series. I hardly ever like something like that. I just thought that it was something unique and really good. 

Movie:

Anjuman:
There is just something about prostitutes and the life they live that makes me want to understand them and their way of thinking. After watching such movies, I always end up being utterly grateful for where I am.

The actress is very pretty and her acting is pretty good as well. It is way better than I expected. The guy is okay. I am not a huge fan of Imran Abbas.

Book:

Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat. I really like the way he writes. It unwinds your stressful day, bringing smile to your face. It was really nice to read that people other than my country fellow's go through a shitty education system and its utterly ridiculous rules.

Quote:

"Life screws you exactly when you have figured it out" -Chetan Bhagat

Word:
Magnanimous: Very generous or forgiving, noble in mind and heart, magnus is a Latin word meaning great

This word shouts power and greatness to me somehow. I really badly want to use it somewhere and show its full impact. Because the meaning of this word is so powerful and even the pronunciation screams great.

Person:
Flynn Bloom. I don't know why but that kid is the epitome of cuteness. I love Orlando Bloom. That started in 7th grade I think. And than Flynn came along to make him even more perfect. If you can find an even cuter kid, please let me know.

...SAP...

Think Before You Speak

Words. They are one of those things that needs to be taken care of. And needs to be used very carefully. Action does not hurts as much as words do. You hit someone, they hit you back. End of story. But sometimes a single word can destroy you. It can cause you more pain than a tumor or a heart attack.  So when people say think before you speak. They are right. It is the best advice ever. But very hard to follow. Because at time we say things we don't mean. Or things just slip our tongues. As much as we would like to take it all back, the damage has already been done.

I have always gotten in trouble due to my tongue and the fact that I never think before saying anything. Whether it is school or friends, I have damaged a lot of things because of these same words. But I think that I do try to make amends and I have learnt that is better to evaluate what you are going to say before then listen to ten hours of a lecture and then spend ten more hours to make up with a friend. Because I say things I don't mean and the other person does not know that. So they end up assuming things that I never meant and thinking of it very seriously whereas I would not have given it a second thought.

Like Napoleon said;

"Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another."

 Just remember, once words have left your tongue, they cannot be taken back. It is said that two things cannot be taken back. One is words when they leave the tongue of a person and the other is arrow when it leaves a bow.

You see like an arrow, it will take you just a minute to target and shoot but the wound created by it will take weeks or days depending on where and how hard it hit. Saying things is very easy but the mess created by it is very hard to clean. And sometimes it just cannot be cleaned.

My mother always says that a person looks best till he or she speaks. After that, either they will continue looking best or will look their worst. So how you speak and what you speak is what defines who you are. It makes up your personality and whatever you say will tell the other person what you are made up of. Judgement is based on the way people speak. Its like if someone has an accent, you know whether they are from a town or a village. Similarly, what you speak will tell the other person whether you belong to a good family or not.

At the end of the day, words matter a lot. How they should be spoken, when they should be spoken and what should be spoken. Think before you speak because it comes down to this.

...SAP...