Motivational Monday: Happiness

Happiness is one of the most beautiful things in life. It colours life and makes it worth living. It is an important part of life,like a companion. If you carry it with you,then your whole life will never be gloomy. A happy person enjoys life to its fullest.

Most of us however, depend on other things or people for happiness. We just feel we can never be happy alone. Happiness starts from within,its born inside you and it is up to you to either nurture it or let it wither away. Then we'll end up looking for it elsewhere.

Yes there are people and things who make us happy. This is very natural but happiness resides inside you. It is up to you to set your heart to it till you achieve it. Believe me you'll start to see the beauty in things you had never ever notices before and that will trigger the happiness within you.

Its indeed painful when you lose something that gives you joy. But look around,its a versatile world. There are so many potentials that you have some you aren't even aware of. It'll surely lead you towards greater happiness. All you have to do is make an attempt,try hard to stay happy! Happiness is within you!

HANEEM'S DIARY #6: A problem shared

I was busy folding the clothes that I had washed preparing them for ironing. I had been so consumed by it that I barely noticed that the top was quiet-too quiet than usual.
She was lying quietly on the upper bunk. I paused and turned to face her.

'Zahra are u okay?,' I asked breaking the silence.

'Yeah',she replied absent minded.

'Are you sure?'

'For God's sake leave me alone Haneem', she snapped.
I got the confirmation that I needed. Something was bothering her.

'What is the problem?', I asked gently.

The spring of her bunk made noises as she turned her back on me.

'So you won't discuss it with me right?, I understand,' I said quietly feigning hurt.

'Its 'the one',she said as she turned to face me.

'The one?' My memory retrieved the little I knew of the stranger who had become her friend.

'Nini,I'm in trouble',Zahra blurted.

She dropped down to the ground in one swift move. I cleared away what was left of my clothes to make room for her to sit on my bed.

'Wow! Slowdown,how?' I asked as I sat next to her.

'I've finally met someone I'm willing to be serious about but he is a piece of work darling,I don't know where to start from,' she began.

'Bulbul speak English,its like you're talking in parables.'

Bulbul is Zahra's nickname. I rarely called her by the indian name because it sounds funny to me. I used to wonder if it was gotten from the hausa word for balloon, 'bollon-bollo'-which is impossible.

'He is such a party rider-which I can totally relate to because I used to be one- but the things he does at the party...' She nodded her head in disappointment.

'Wait...he told you the things he does?' I asked in shock.

'Yes',she replied curtly.

'Then he is the honest type but are you sure he was not pulling your legs?' I enquired.

'I'm sure!',She snapped. 'Crazy people like me are not so plenty. Its so rare to find someone who goes to parties and just sits there observing everything, Zahra burst out.

'Well that's true but...'

'Can you believe he drinks?' She interrupted with an expression of disgust on her face.

'Drinks? Drinks what?,' I really didn't want to believe it.

'Alcohol of course!,' Zahra blurted.

'Auzubillah(I seek refuge in Allah)!' I exclaimed.

'In his words, "I never get drunk,I only sip a little just to shut my friends up," she said using air quotes.

'What are his intentions over you?' I asked with keen interest.

'We've had a really good start but I'm so confused right now.' She said sadly.

'Ignore the bad habits and tell me what you think of him as a person,' I questioned.

'I think he is very friendly,caring,thoughtful and you won't believe how educated he is islamically. I think that he is around bad influence,that's why he is struggling,' she confided.

'Bulbul,fix him!' I blurted.

'Fix who? Please Nini,where do I start from? I can't do it,' she announced.

'Yes you can! You're the best person for the job. You've helped me clear most of my confusions,this should be easy!'

'No its not!'

'Yes it is! You just need to remind him. He knows what's right and wrong, a little reminder is all he needs.'

'Haneem,why are you here? Why the hell are you studying MCB(Microbiology)?'

'Why is that suddenly a problem?' I asked confused.

'You should be a psychotherapist,you'll be super good!' Zahra suggested jokingly.

'Oh please...!' I sighed.

'Thank you so much darling!' She said as she hugged me.

'What are friends for?'

Letter to the whirlwind.

Dear Whirlwind,
I have come to admire you. The way you go about swiftly and elegantly. I am in need of a friend,one who will just listen to me. So far I have found none,until I came across you. As you elegantly make your entourage dance around me,take my words with you. Take them to your far away home.

The arms I used to run to have become the weapon of my most dreaded monster...a monster of my own making.

The most loving man I had ever known turned cold. He became a different person. I guess he ran out of patience;All the anger he had kept locked up inside came out in the form of a merciless animal. I dare not even call his name. I've lost that right.

The arms that once held me lovingly now turned into claws that would scratch my delicate skin. The melodious voice that pacified me turned into an audacious roar that would bark orders at me. The very sound of his roars sent shivers down my spine. I could never have imagined this side of him.

He had made me so happy and so comfortable. He gave me every thing I had wanted and made all my dreams come true. He pampered me do much that I became too proud. I felt so big and I trampled on his heart. I grew wings-fake wings- and I flied around proudly and trampled on the people precious to me. I lost myself and my sense of direction. I got so high on an illusion. The nostalgia of those days keep me alive. I got so high on an illusion.
I realized my mistakes perhaps too late;I ignored the warnings of my loved ones and my wings failed me at the time I needed them most. The moment that I needed to fly high up in the sky and shout out my remorseful apology to him in the presence of the whole world. My wings broke off and then I realized that they were never really there.
No! He is not a monster. I'm the real monster. I'm the devil because a turned an angel into a cold blooded man. I took away his happiness and I left him filled with anger and pain. Little did I know that I was hurting myself by hurting him.
I'm in excruciating pain seeing him this way. He has lost his smile,that light in his eyes is no longer there. I can feel how unhappy he is. Even in his anger,I see his love and It breaks my heart time and again.
All I have is him. He is everything and I'm nothing without him. He is my home,the place my heart resides. I will stick to him,no matter how hard he tries to shake me off, I will stick to him like my whole life depends on it...because it does depend on him.

P.S: Its a fictional short story. Hope you like it?