Sonya Syed

There is something I wanted to clear about my earlier post ‘jab we met’. In the end of the post I mentioned that I wanted to get on euro train to find my Raj. I have received emails from few of female readers who told me that they are also waiting for Raj to come into their lives, so they can live happily after.   I am sorry girls but I have to break it to you, please understand that there is no such thing as Raj- Raj do not exist. Raj and many other characters like him are only in the imagination of a creative director, amazing script and brilliant acting. Do not believe these filmy things, they are only for our entertainment.   I remember once Shah Rukh Khan was asked in an interview about the success of his legendary romantic pair with Kajol, and the reason behind the series of flop romantic films starring Kajol and her real life husband Ajay Devgan.   Shah Rukh responded, ‘camera can only capture acting, it does not have the ability to capture real...

I am truly and humbly grateful to Allah for blessing me every day with a gift of new life, a new opportunity, a fresh start, to be able to breathe in this body for another day and to experience the life around me.   Life is quite similar to biryani, it is a combination of different flavours and ingredients- some are light while others are strong, some are salty while others have savouriness. When all these different flavours combine a delicious dish of life is prepared. This Eid has been very special for me in many ways, first I met my childhood friend after ages and second is celebrating Eid with my other friend and there is one more who is always in my heart. Each of them is unique in her own way and I am the connecting thread. Where this Eid has brought joy and peace, one cannot either forget   or underestimate the loss of our Muslim brothers and sisters who lost their lives in two tragedies during Hajj this year. Neither can we forget the sacrifice our arme...

Painting by South African artist Maria Magdalena Oosthuizen Time does not pass quickly it runs with the speed of light. After a million years today I had a conversation with my kindergarten friend, who is also my first friend after I landed in this world- w e call her Azi. We met in our most beloved school New Horizons and studied together from prep 3 to grade 8. I t was her daddy and uncle who founded that school, and to this family I have the most heartfelt respect because they have given me the most precious gift- a gift of knowledge. We  became friends when we didn’t even know what the word ‘friend’ means.  Azi, ماشا الله is a Professor at one of the UAE’s leading University, following the footsteps of her family. There were so many shared memories between us, that this and hundred other posts would be insufficient.  Every weekend I would go to her place to study, to play, to listen our favourit...

ایک سلام ان تمام شہدا کے نام جنہوں نے اپنے ملک کی بقا اور وقار کے لیے جام شہادت  نوش کیا - الفاظ ختم ہو گئے آنکھیں نعم  ہوگیئں      ....وہ غازی جنہوں نے زخم کھاے الله ان کو جلد صحت یاب کرے    الله ہم سب پر اپنا رحم فرماے اور ہمارے ملک کو اس مشکل وقت سے با حفاظت  نکالے- بیشک وہ ہر چیز پے خدرت رکھتا ہے A Salute, a standing Ovation to all the brave men of our Armed forces who became Martyrs and Ghazis. The one who gave their lives for protecting us nothing can replace them, either in their families or in this country. These and many other names die in the line of duty, a duty to protect us. To us they are only names but to their families, they were living beings, their beloved sons, brothers, fathers and husbands. I know this is not pleasant and that is exactly why I have done it. I want all of us to be uncomfortable. I want you and me to take this country very seriously. What is the real wo...

It was the best title I could give to India. Recently I have developed an interesting hobby of watching international news channels whenever I could. Few weeks ago I saw a report on the wonderful tea which comes from India; an ambitious businessman was declaring his vision of selling Indian tea, fresh and straight from the tea farms, to the world via internet. Yesterday I again saw a report on Indian tea but this time it was far from the perfect picture that was shown earlier. Majority of tea in India is grown in Assam, there are enormous tea estates owned by private individuals. These tea estate owners hire many women, men and even children as their labour; these owners are responsible for giving their workers suitable accommodations, proper salary, health, sanitation and education facilities. However, the reality is farther from the truth. The workers who spent their entire lives on these tea estates to produce the best quality tea for many of the high end companies like Lip...

Disorganized, chaotic, confused, hyper, lost and then found, mismanaged,, unsystematic, too lethargic, lack of focus, concentration time limit is less than 5 minutes, multitasking but failing miserably, too much to do within limited time-frame, running from one point to another, always sleepy, tired, fatigued, 2-3 cups coffee, exhausted after every 15 minutes, too many ideas in mind but no idea how to get express them, backache, gaining weight, no exercise, getting nauseas and sleepy after 5 minutes on treadmill.   This is what I was feeling and experiencing God knows best for many months but didn’t know how to express what I felt. For the last few months I have been constantly complaining of lack of energy and lethargic in managing my daily work, and the best respond I received was that I am suffering from depression and all the above were only its side effects.   ‘I am not depressed- I feel great, I just don’t have energy’. I kept telling my everybody but...

An unfortunate incident took place at Mecca yesterday, many of the worshippers lost their lives in the crane incident and many were severely wounded. There are no words to console the loss which their loved ones would feel. Death is the ultimate truth but if it comes at such a blessed and beautiful place when people are immersed in their love for Allah, praying for His Mercy then the reward of eternal peace is the natural outcome.   Many more prayers for speedy recovery and healing of all those who are wounded.   To Allah belongs the heavens and the earth and everything and everyone in between them, and to Him all shall return..   Sonya Syed, (Day 542).