Category Archives: Event

2018, By the roaring waves!, Event, raw and rough

Another gold moment

… except that I haven’t shared the first one yet. But I’m doing it now, okay? Let’s start!

Spoiler: It’s about university. And becoming a gold medalist. Twice.

Okay so remember when I posted that ‘when you’re happy and you know it’ kinda post about happy news and desi reactions and all that? I totally meant to share the news itself as well later but… you know me, and I know me, and well, yeah. So what happened was that I topped from my department in my BA (Honors) course. And then, now that is, I topped again in my Masters. Woohoo, Alhamdulillah!

What were my subjects? Glad you asked. Because it’s funny I never shared anything here. Yikes, I mean. I always meant to, though. Just like how I always meant to write about my vacations last (se bhi last? will have to check) year, about meeting some fav people from the blog, about university life itself, about this and that and everything. I had to write. (And I did, y’know. Just not here. Just not on a paper or a screen.) Also, obviously, I had to write about why I didn’t write any of those or whatever which is getting boriiing now AND ANYWAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS GOLD MOMENT which means this should be a happy post and yayyy virtual cakes and all that. We were talking about my subjects?

My main one was URDU. YEP. Could have you guessed? I actually just tried to master (like, well technically I did just that so yeah?) my own language and I am super happy about that right now. My side subjects (also called minors/ subsidiary subs) were English literature and Psychology. And in the same duration I also did a two-year certificate and diploma course in Persian language. So as it looks, I was completely surrounded (entangled? absorbed?) with languages and literature, and then cultures and histories and zindagis and everything. It was a good time. Wait. I miss university.

But I also can’t wait for the good adventures ahead Inshaa Allah, and some day I’ll update you on that. Sup, you?

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2017, Event

The End

Tomorrow is my last day at university! That is, last class ever. And then I have like (last) five exams (ever) and a thesis to submit and then it’s all O V E R.  Khatam-shudd.

I think… I miss it already. I know I will. Ughsdsd.

 

P.S.

  1. The moon looks stunning sorts atm.
  2. I cannot explain anything about the university feeling yet but it was worth saving hence the post.
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2017, Event

Life of a Happy Girl*

If you’re happy** and you know it and you really want to share it with your family, brace yourselves for comments like:

“What’s the great news? Are you getting married? Already found someone?”

Haha. You really thought I was going to announce just that in front of the entire family?

Then:

“Bohat mubarak ho!! Allah tumharay naseeb achay karay.”

“Ohhh I’m so happy for you! *Insert jhappi* Allah tumhain bohat acha miya de.”

“Haye that’s so wonderful! May Allah give you more success in this life and Hereafter. And may you have a great husband/ married life.”

“I am so happy about your success! Also I was just saying to your uncle that may you get a spouse like —. Then your uncle said, why not a spouse even better than —. I said yes, may so be!”

OH, MY, ALLAH!!! I am looking for presents not husband atm!!

* in a desi aka (blunt stereotype but) obsessed-with-shadi society
** about ANYTHING ELSE LITERALLY
*** not saying these are the only kind of responses cuz there’s an AMAZING variety but you get the point

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2016, Event

Pillow houses

When we were younger, we made these play-houses out of blankets and pillows. There is this small area under a fixed computer table in one of our bedrooms where we would sit, and because it would be so hot we’d also put a portable fan to the side. Then we would close the frontal opening with stuff and take different roles.

A few days ago when my nephew was here, I fixed a pillow house for him. He was sitting by the wall where a rolled carpet stood leaning, and he was sad and angry because his uncle had refused to share the computer with him. I saw that his eyes were brimming with tears—I mean, can you visualize that? A three year old gorgeous guy who is just about to cry? So I came into action and pulled pillows from my bed. Then, with the rolled-carpet as our main pillar, we put a pillow-gate and a pillow-wall, and went inside. Excited as we now were, we played pretend, took pictures, laughed together, and once again a different world was created in our lives: awesome and away.

Just felt like writing it down here. On a side note, Eid Mubarak, you!! 🙂 Also, as 6th September marked my blog’s 6th anniversary, here’s a yayay. *passes balloons*

To be honest, I used to be very passionate about blogging before but now I’m not. I still do love this space like home but things have since then changed. My stats tell me this is only my 10th post for the present year, which, if compared to a yearly average of 80+, is of course amazingly low. HOWEVER, I do believe I will reclaim it soon enough like I want to. Not too soon but still soon inshaAllah. I hope to do that.

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2015, Event

Fifth blogversary! (6/9/15)

Heey.

randomlyabstract turns five today.

it’s kind of a mess right now, tbh. i also deleted the first one i wrote today. but for the sake of all them cool times i’ve had and people i’ve met and things i’ve written and read and enjoyed and the whole journey which helped me know and grow and stuff, here are free imaginary pizzas and desserts and chocolates and balloons!

thank you everyone for being there. please write a nicer celebratory post on yours.

love, Me.

–

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2014, Event, Pakistan

Youth Arts & Literary Exhibition, Khi.

5YALE, the Youth Arts & Literary Exhibition, was held in Karachi yesterday on 13th April 2014, with its superb vision of fostering creativity and ingenuity, and its mission of promoting the Pakistani culture. The event focused on many artistic and creative fields like conceptual photography, painting, poetry, and theater performances. Debates on piracy and plagiarism, literature, and meetings with writers and “Typewriter” kept the audience engaged and awed through 11am to 8pm.

Many artists had their works displayed at the YALE Arts Gallery, and several photographs based on “Mar gaya Insaan (Man has died)” and “Jagenge Zaroor (We will rise)” were showcased in the exhibit hall. Pain, miseries, struggle, and sacrifice were portrayed powerfully through paint strokes and camera films on YALE’s canvas.

Other things like “The Unseen Pakistan” and “Glimpses of Lollywood” showed to the public what potential this land has got, what it has become, and what is still left.

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Even with all that chaos and miseries, Pakistan is a homeland to people who are destined not to give up. These people with their outstanding visions choose to bring back the glory this land deserves. This is what YALE meant to me.

Related link: http://yale2014.org/ –  Artists own rights to their respective works- Photos by me (Maria I) and Khoulah.
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2014, Event, Lala's Wedding Week

Jo khaye wo pachtaye!

This is the last post in the Wedding Week series.

Lalarukh, the first most beautiful and noticeable thing about you, which I like a lot, is your name. And the second best thing I think, is your sincerity and creativity.

You once wrote how fake ‘I understand you’ type phrases are could be, and that one doesn’t actually need them because another doesn’t really understand. I agree with that. Nobody knows anybody very well, they don’t see where we come from, how we think, what we do. But the thing is, Lala, we’re all a bunch of readers and writers. And words are powerful creatures that crawl right inside without us knowing, or knowing still.

I wish for you the best as your ‘real events’ now begin. Have an exciting journey ahead, lots of best wishes and prayers sent your way. ♥

Lalarukh_RAP.S. I wish this was a better last-post-type-thing but I’m almost out of words. Oh, Aiman has to say something:

Lala_A_RASo yes, may Allah bless you both and keep you people happy together, in the best of health, imaan, and everything.

نیک تمناٗوٗں کے ساتھ۔
ھمیشہ خوش رھئے۔
🙂

*sobs, sobs*
**some sad rukhsati songs in bg**
KEEP WRITING HAMESHA.
lotsoflove♥

Thank you all for being a part of this. Your support and presence made this week’s celebration possible. (:
Special thanks to Moniba for painting the header and helping me out in deciding the background, Rexie and Aiman for their beautiful poems, Arindam for his guest post, Sahil, Ahmed Usman, and Mani for the Reblogs and all those who commented, thank you for adding colors here!

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2013, By the roaring waves!, Event

It’s Mae-Mae Time!

‘Look, there’s such a rush! What are those so many people doing over there? That huge group circling that van, what’s all the hip hop for? Or has the vehicle suffered from a serious accident? WHAT ARE THEY ALL UP TO? Oh move aside, I have GOT TO LOOK!’

And lo! A royal cow has arrived in our locality, for tomorrow’s Baqra Eid!!! And oh, not just one, there are four of them!

Its Eid-ul-Adha, or Baqra Eid as we call, the second Eid that Muslims around the globe celebrate (this one after the holy Pilgrimage), in the remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail (A.S)’s exemplary sacrifice.

This event brings a lot of happy (and yummy) moments together, that start even before the day comes, and lasts long after Eid is finally over.

After a long wait when the cattle finally arrives, (not to mention the mandi process since oops, I’ve NEVER been there) that excitement to play and feed and taking them for a walk and then finally having them slaughtered *tears* and then feasting with those DELICIOUS steaks and seekh-kababs and this and that, and that, and that, it’s SCRUMPTIOUS!!

baqraeid

From Shahzeb Hussain Art. Click on image to visit his fan page.

This Eid also brings a lot of cherish-able moments with it, the best of which include those MEGA-RUNS when one of the bechari goats (or in some cases, a wild buffalo) runs away and a crazy crowd start running after it, leaving rest of the world (or women) laughing behind!

Or the other way round.

Or the other way round.

Anyways, I wish you all a very happy Eid! Party hard and don’t forget to care for those deprived.

Eid Mubarak 😀

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2013, Event

Blessings :)

Virtual gulaab jamuns for you all, and chocolate cakes for those who are not-too-fond of mithaais, I become aunt to a super-adorable boy MashaAllah :’)

Congratulations and felicitations to sister and bro-in-law for being blessed with a cuddly, cute little boy! 😀

Gulab Jamun

Gulaab jamuns for all =D

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2013, By the roaring waves!, Event

The news says.

Earthquake hits Pakistan.

The quake struck at 4:29 pm local time (1129 GMT) around 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest Khuzdar in Balochistan province, at a depth of 15 kilometers.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquake of magnitude 7.7, recording its duration as eight seconds.

A small ‘island’ of about 40 square feet has appeared in the sea off the Gwadar coast as a result of the strong earthquake that struck remote southwestern Pakistan. 32 people killed and dozens injured as a result of the tremendous earthquake.

Tremors were felt as far as the Indian capital New Delhi.

Related articles

Updates:

Tremors felt again the other day, more deaths.

 

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2013, By the roaring waves!, Event

Am I in love?

Of course I am!

I am in LOVE with this new background and this new header that Moniba specifically designed for me!

How it happened exactly?

Well, she asked me if I’d trust her with my wp password. I said ‘I think I will’ but then why’d she want? She told me its going to be a surprise – more like a present.

I couldn’t hold on to my curiosity but I couldn’t ask her again after having logged out myself and let her do what she wanted to. Because she had fore written the list of things that she won’t do, which she wasn’t supposed to do. So I slept rather peacefully.

It was after about two hours that I woke up at her call and was told to see my new blog look. If I liked it, it was a present. If I didn’t, I could switch back.

And did I like it? Nah. I fell in love with it! It’s too perfect for my taste, too RandomlyAbstract, Maria-ish it is! (and Moniba-ish too) 😉

I loved my previous, colorful, mustard-pink look too, but I wished to change it. And too afraid to do it myself (and to think how it will look) I had dropped the idea. But she, she did it. So easily, and so perfectly, only after having promised: that she just won’t even think about changing my ‘dear look’.

This post is to thank her, for the most pleasant surprise of the year two zero one three and for her love and her time and for breaking her promise and making me smile! 😀

randomlyabstractjourney

A journey that means.

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2013, Event

Tum Hi Ho..

Sunday night was a Valima ceremony of another relative. We have segregated weddings here, usually, i.e. men and women have separate halls each. This trend is now moving to mixed gatherings, but still persists to some extent.

Anyways, the gathering was pretty …um, grand! And for like thirty to forty five minutes, the couple was busy in their photo shoot by some professionals, in the bridal room. However when they did come out, there was a HUGE celebration. (But what’s the worst part? I, my sister, and my cousin; the three people who were waiting the most for them were not present at that specific second. Anyways we did manage to enjoy rest of the ‘show’..)

So the celebration was – that the entire hall sunk into darkness as lights went out (on purpose) and a white spot light shone over them as they made their way on the ramp towards the stage.

(What I’m trying to say: Pin spot A focused beam of light that shines directly onto an object, like a centerpiece or wedding cake, as a highlight effect.)

A melodious song added ‘music to the event’ and what followed were those artificial, super awesome lights. Yellow, then pink, then red, then blue, then something else and then else. Not that I appreciate the heavy expenditure on the event, but it was surely a show to watch.

(Gobos Circular stencils that are put over a light to project a design or pattern. and LED lights as in color wash.)

They used smoke sprays to add more charm to it while their photographers captured their memories (and poses) and well, this song ‘Tum Hi Ho’ was my favorite part.

Update: The post got featured here: Segregated Weddings – Pakistani Bloggers. (Equally unexpected for me 😉 )

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