Hazār Afsānah 2 - Build Bridges Instead Of Walls and You Will Have A Friend :)

So where did I leave you ? Oh yes, when Tariq met Raiza.


Did I tell you about the scenery when he first set his gaze upon her ? It seemed like this was part of Mother Nature's vicious plan - for Tariq to finally fall in love. The waves a beautiful colour of turquoise like the green of an emerald mixed with the blue of a loving sky. One could bear witness to the sea world living its life while looking up at its audience on the cliff. The skies wore the cloak of blazen orange and pink like it had a mind of its own. The trees on the cliff swayed in their green gusto and the grass paid homage in the direction of the sun. It was the season of spring and the trees bore fruits and the grass were laden with their jewels.
Set in the breathtaking city of Khorramshahr, this cliff was the meeting point for many a lonely soul.


Let me introduce you to Raiza, the ravishing daughter of Nader Shah - the Shah of Iran. No one knew about the personal life of the Napoleon of Persia. He was a man of many words when it came to protecting The Kingdom but till date, no one knows who Raiza's mother is. Legend has it that the side outlet of Saadi Street was an area of great shame from where Raiza's mother hails. Overflowing with destitute women who were abandoned by their husbands or lovers, they sold their mind, soul and body for means to get by their gruesome lives in the Harem.


The Shah was a great lover of song and dance, quite contrary to Islamic beliefs. He hosted a concert every Saturday evening to commemorate the last day's devotion and the onset of the weekend. The entire Kingdom came together in the amphitheatre next to the Palace in Shiraz. Folklore quotes that Maliheh (means beautiful in Farsi) reigned not only the concerts and the hearts of the people but also the breath of the Shah. Mali, he'd call her; had the eyes of a deer, alabaster skin, lips as soft as the feather of a peacock and a sharp, straight nose which gave her angular features. Mali's fingers were thin and graceful and her body was curved and slender. She moved with the grace of a ballet dancer and broke the hearts of many with her every blink. The Shah had fallen deeply in love with her and it is said that she wore real diamonds and emeralds gifted by the Shah. These jewels are now treasured in the basement vault of the Central Bank at Ferdowsi Street, Tehran.


One evening, the Shah felt mischievous. He sent his messenger to the Harem with a scroll that read:


"Never has Persia seen a carnival; I will bring it true,
To make this a night to remember, I am inviting you.
Bring with you, your finest jewellery and your moves of sway,
Tomorrow will decide who reigns my heart on this very day."


Maliheh read this scroll with great interest and set it to fire. She was humiliated that the Shah would want to witness the sway of other women. The time had come to plot and plan, the Shah had outgrown his huge shoes and Maliheh knew how to make sure he stumbles.

Eager to know what happens next ?! Ill be back soon, love.


Bittersweet,
S

Hazār Afsānah 1 - Green Greener Greenest :)

“Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves... for growing up.”
- The Wonder Years.


Every once in a while, we traipse into memories that make us who we are today. It could be a song, a poem, a verse, a phrase or even a silence. Here's to a song that reminds me of one of my favorite couples. The song goes like this:

"Will you stay with me, will you be my love

Among the fields of barley

We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky

As we lie in the fields of gold"

This is a story about Raiza and Tariq. 

Tariq was a lover, never one to doubt the way or wills of God, he followed his heart and his mind told him right against wrong. While Raiza was a free spirit. She did exactly what she wanted, when she wanted and with the people she wanted to be with. Tariq was a gifted singer and in his free time, sang at an Arab lounge, "Azizam". He sang love ballads, Arab dance tunes as well as soulful music. His friends often coaxed him to quit singing and go out with them, sit around roadside cafes, smoke Shisha and eye young, beautiful Arab women. But Tariq was different. He did not appreciate objectifying women and was taught better by his mother. 

One evening, Tariq drove to his favorite place in all of the city, a cliff overlooking the Persian Gulf. He sat there singing 'Fields of Gold' until he heard a girl ask, "Why did you stop?" He set his eyes on the girl and was at a loss for words. Had he ever seen anything more beautiful ? Like the moon has stepped down from the sky to speak with him ....

More on this story, in my next post.....

S

If Only !!

by Swati Pillai on Sunday, 02 November 2008 at 14:42.

The phone rang and It was Him .. A Mental note to bar his calls .. I picked it up and he said he needed my help ..

I thought it was just one of those days when Rizwan wanted money for his sick, disgusting needs .. To inject himself and lie in a pool of himself until someone sympathized and cleaned him up and put him on his bed .. I hung up on him .. The same old filmy thingie .. Hello , Hello , I cant hear u rizaaa !! n plat .. hung up ..

Newspaper next day " Rizwan Mohammed, Son of Oil Merchant Mohammed Bros., found in his pool with froth dripping out of his mouth " with a ghastly pic alongside ..

I knew him since i was in 10th grade as an acquaintance, the handsome boy with the dishevelled brown hair, the awesome clothes and the lady's man. Back then, I wouldve given an arm and a leg to be his best budd .. Not so much later ..
We grew up together .. he always took care of me .. kept away the big bad bullies .. he'd say "She's my girl" and he loved me like his very own sister .. the love i never received from my own brother was fulfilled by this guy who just breezed into my life .. We would hang out every day and talk into the late hours at nite .. Id sit on his bike and he's take me around wid pride .. He showed me what the city was outside the sheltered arms of my parents .. He taught me how to stand up for myself and fight for what's right .. In the darkest of nights, He was my brightest star .. We would sing hindi songs and embarrass our friends .. he would drop me to college sometimes and pick me up as well .. He was the brother i never had .. My protector , My shade .. What ever i dreamt of in my brother ..
I went to his house one day .. i found his pent house unlocked and in a mess .. which was completely unlike him .. and then i saw Him .. wide eyed and crazy like he couldnt control himself .. Veins popping out of his arm as he injected himself .. a growl of an animal and then a sound of relief .. i watched in horror wishing he would breathe .. He saw me n tears stung his eyes .. "Na betaa .. Koi na" he cried .. I was too stricken .. Abu uncle came .. He sat me down n told me that this happened everyday .. Abu uncle brought me coffee and sat by my side .. Rizwan realized what he had done and from me, he tried to hide .. I just stared into his bloodied eyes and screamed into his face .. Do u wanna shame your family and also number ure days ? "Nah baba" he said to me .. "This is all I have .. How else will i pay for all the love i never had .." His dad was always busy and his mom he never knew .. But he went to the mosque every friday and to his faith he stayed true .. He never got the love he deserved and never knew how to ask .. He never thought it right to let people know his heart of glass .. was shattered and hopes abolished of every little dream .. Because he was all alone even when he sat by me ..
I knew what he did was wrong .. so i bid good bye and came back home .. I spoke to the skies at night and asked them what to do .. I got my answer in a heartbeat that I must never let him do .. That which i felt was wrong cos I loved him dearly so .. My Protector, My Shade, My big Bro .. I yelled at him whenever I knew he was doing wrong .. But he thought i was a broken recorder singing the same old song ..
We drifted apart slowly when hearts grew further away than distance .. But we knew if he called me and said he needed me, Id be there for him that instant .. But i knew he would never call .. The male ego never does .. To call a woman who left your side and never said it but bid you good bye ..

And then one day, I found out from a common friend that Riza dint have money any more .. His father had stopped the flow when he heard about my fears .. Abu uncle had told him what happened and his father withdrew with shame .. He said he had no son who had blackened his name .. And so Riza was borrowing hoards of money from anyone who would lend a penny .. His Pride, Ego, Self esteem, All dust in front of money .. And he called twice since and asked me - Beta do u have any to spare .. I got mad at him and yelled "Riza dont u dare !!"

And so i detested his calls .. My Bro .. My Protector .. My Shade ..

And now he's with the stars .. Shining down brightly on me .. But where was I when he needed his Sister, His protection , His shade .. I was cowering in my cowardice away from the brother I had made ..

This is not for you to know that I repent every single day .. This is for u to know that u do have a say ..

To help the life of those you love when u know its goin down da Drain ..
We have all lost ones we love dearly and this is no different .. Its the same Pain ..
Would u wanna look back and say Oh God What Was The Gain ?


My dear Riza .. I think of u every 30th of last month .. I know I wronged u .. and Im So Sorry ..

If Only Riza, Id answered your call .. If Only ..

I Love You .. My Protector, My Shade .. And Most Of All, Alwayz- My Bro !!!

I Love you and I Miss you,
Beta ...

The Einführung !!!

A sweet friend of mine was deeply saddened by the fact that I have a privatised blog. Being a fiercely private person, I am uncomfortable sharing my personal thoughts on a mysterious forum.

At the behest of this loving girl, I have decided to create another blog. This one will include stories and the whims of my imagination. Arati (the loving girl) and I share quite a few parallels. Hailing from similar Malayali families, we both are born on the same day of the same month of the same year, just ten minutes apart. We often complete each others sentences and conclude songs the other is humming.

Also, Prathiba Meenakshi has been my confidante for the past seven and a half years. We share a common love for every little thing that is Middle Eastern. The music, the  people, the landscapes, the culture, the clothes (not burqas, manteaus, hijabs, chadors or abaayas) and of course, the hummus, mint tea and shishas. I am quite sure all my stories will include an element of the Middle East and so, it will also touch a part of you, Pebby !!

I hope you don't get too bored reading this, but if you do, feel free to visit Prathiba's blog and rant about your feelings there ;)

Spreading smiles,
Swati.