“Jo honthon se na keh saka harf
woh bhi toh hai,
jo ankhon se
na beh saka dard woh bhi toh hai,
yaad hai
sab, mujhe yaad hai…’
I
wanted to start this article with a couple of thoughts; the first are the lines
from a song I heard lately which has touched me deeply. Music is such a cruel yet sweet thing; it digs an old dagger on the heart and then another piece becomes the medication to seal the wound again... such is my life!
The second is
appreciation for all those who follow my blog but to a couple of special folks
who asked me ‘so when are you writing next? I
am waiting to read’. I am deeply touched by this gesture because until now I thought I just
write to let go, which I am still doing but today I know there are those out
there who do read me and feel the emotions these words are put down with.
A
special mention to someone who reached out to me acknowledging just how much my
blog meant to her. It was overwhelming and rather like a ‘fairytale’!
To you, I say thank you
but also that my footsteps are mine and my words don’t do justice to the life I
have lived and continue to live, so my words should not be the way you should
look at life or lead yours. I am indeed grateful to you!
I
was looking at my blog and I realize I never wrote about my trip to the UK and
Turkey last year – unbelievable! I am travelling to Islamabad tomorrow and 2
hours is a long enough flight. I hope if I hit the right nerve to write, I will
pull out my laptop and write about that trip. A lot of emotions and feelings
that I did collect and tremendous memories I hold. My photos will speak to this
but I think I should write about it so Insha’Allah soon.
I am travelling for the National
Ismaili games in Pakistan. I qualified as Karachi men’s number 2 in singles;
again, unbelievable! I look back at my
journey of badminton and I don’t think I ever took the game that seriously. Mia
Hamm said “somewhere behind the athlete
you've become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is
a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back... play for
her.” In my case, clearly I replace the words girl with boy and her with
him :p but this is a quote that justifies my badminton journey. I learnt the
game from my best friend and never knew anything but to stand in front at the
net and hit a shuttle that was in my range; anything else he would play it.
Eventually I became the one who would pick everything and got someone to stand
in front. It is indeed a fact that my doubles game is way better than singles
and I am known to smash the person in front on the opposite end. Some may take
that as unfair or whatever but hey! It is a game and not one for the
weak-minded. I often tell people I am coaching that it is about your mind and a
bit of fitness, not power. Manu think badminton is all about smashing; well
that is why experience mostly beats power in the game. Anyways, so I am going
for that tomorrow.
Allah, His mercy and His plans for us
will never be understood by our tiny little intellect. The games were supposed
to be last weekend but were changed. When they got changed, I was like ‘but
why?’. Last weekend, I got shingles and had to be at home for 5 days in
excruciating pain. The pain which is of the nerves is still there but at least
now I am in some shape to travel and grateful that I can stand on court and
last for a match or two. I don’t know the results or what will happen there,
but whatever it will be, I am grateful to be a part of it and if or when I win,
it will be my most courageous and satisfying win. One thing everyone who has
played with me will tell you, there is no match the opponent just wins without
me putting a fight!
I am also going to Lahore for a couple
of days after the event in Islamabad. I am looking forward to that especially. I
have planned to be at the Wagah border of India and Pakistan. It has been a long-standing
wish to go to India but so far life has not allowed that. Let me hope that in
future, an opportunity will take me to that part of the world. I look forward
to capturing many photos on this trip and of course meeting my two friends I made
in December in Islamabad.
Lastly, regardless of what the world
has shown me, the rays of light and hope will always keep me going forward. My dad
taught me never to give up or let life dictate terms so I will fight it,
regardless of how low the path is!
Love & Peace,
Champ
PS: Why do I still use a nickname given to me by a friend who also left a dagger?! - I wonder!!
