INSPIRATIONAL MONDAY

‘Someone else is praying for the things you take for granted.’

In our daily busy minds, we find ourselves so caught up in getting more that we forget to appreciate that which we already have. Most of us, me included take the important things for granted. We complain, make a fuss and even do unspeakable things in our quest to get more. Ambition is good really but ambition if not controlled can have devastating aftermaths. We must find time in our busy minds to be grateful for the little big things. Someone out there is dying to have half of what you already have. Maybe most of us are not opportune to meet people like that but believe me they do exist. While you are at war with your parents over their refusal to get you an iphone 6 someone out there just wants a roof over their heads. While you are planning to buy a new shade of lipstick, someone somewhere just wants water to quench their thirst. Next time you are blinded by your heart to throw a fit over unimportant things, do well to remind yourself that you have the basic comfort in life; you have all and more of another child’s dream. Be grateful, raise up your hands and say a thankful prayer.
However, I am not discouraging you from wanting things, no. It is very normal for us to want things. I am just reminding you not to be blinded by that want and remember to see the beauty in simple things. Have a wonderful day! xx

HANEEM'S DIARY #12: A beautiful life

The exams hit fast. Time passed by so quickly that I had written five out of all the six courses I offer. I hate exams! I’ve always hated it. I can manage the stress from school but exams put me through a different kind of stress. I spend my days and nights reading. The more I read the more I feel like my brain is empty. Thankfully my last paper was only few days away. I desperately wanted to get away from school and relax for a while. I suggested it to my friends but they all had an excuse, I decided to go to the park alone. I hate going out alone but perhaps it was better considering how drained I was feeling.
The closest thing we have to a park in Minna is the ‘Independence garden.’ The garden is way too small and mostly crowded. It’s the only option I have whenever I need nature’s healing. As much as I really hate the limited getaway options Minna (mx) offers me, I do love my birth city!
Luckily the garden was not as crowded as usual. I found my spot-I had discovered it a few years ago- unoccupied. There were people mostly in groups scattered around the small space. The fresh air and the scent of fresh flowers convinced me that I had made the right choice. I sat on the wooden chair in the shade under a big tree. The scents from the flowers immediately worked their magic on me. It was like every little sweet scent took away a fraction of my stress. A much more pleasant thing brought me back from my reverie. A couple were having a picnic under a tree similar to the one I was under. It was such a sight to behold even from a distance. The man dressed simply in a white kaftan while his date wore a beautiful black abaya. They both looked so young and very much in love. My hopeless romantic side saw much more than the basket of fruits on their mats. Alas! My new found entertainment was short lived. The couples started packing up and before I knew it they were up on their feet. It felt kind of disappointing although I was not actually going to stare at them all day. I shifted my attention back to tree under which I sat and immediately drifted off in another one of my endless reveries. I was dreaming about a bed made of roses each with its unique and healing scent, located in the middle of large room with walls that looked like forest vegetation
Assalamu alaikum!” a small voice said.
I looked away from the tree only to see someone I least expected. A tall black beauty looked much more beautiful at close range.
“Wa alaikumu salam,” I replied.
“Is it okay if I take a seat near you?” she asked courteously.
“Yes please,” I beckoned her to seat. She replied with the most beautiful smile revealing two adorable dimples.
“You seemed so carried away when I approached you or are you just that fascinated by the trees?”
“You could say that, but it’s more of a stress reliever right now,” I answered.
“Let me guess,” she said eagerly. “Exam stress?”
“Yes!”
“I knew it! I’m so sorry dear, how are you holding up?” she asked kindly.
“Honestly its killing me!” I conceded.
“Oww! Do the trees help?”
“It actually helps a lot. Mother nature is my best stress reliever.”
“I’m so sorry I interrupted you!” she said apologetically.
“Oh no please don’t apologize! It’s a whole lot more relaxing with company. I’m Haneem by the way and you are?”
“All that noise without introducing myself,” she whispered. “I’m Fawza. Are you a student of FUT?” she inquired.
“Yes, second year, I’m studying microbiology.”
“Ah! I studied sociology in Base University Abuja,” she responded.
“You’re done already?”
“Yes! A lot of people give me that response when I tell them. I finished last year,” Fawza explained.
“It’s just that you look so young. It’s rather impressive!” I acknowledged.
“So do you! Trust me you’ll be done before you know it,” Fawza said cheerfully.
“How old are you Haneem?” Fawza inquired.
“I’ll be nineteen in a few days,” I answered excitedly.
“Really? Well I got married when I was your age. I will be twenty-one in November,” she announced.
“O my God! You’re married!”
“Ah yes! I’m familiar with that reaction also! Don’t tell me you think I’m too young for marriage!” Fawza joked.
“No,not at all! I think it’s beautiful!”
“Aww! That is so nice of you to say!” Fawza beamed.
“I noticed you earlier but I though it was just a date. I had no idea you were married. Most married couples I know don’t really go on dates,” I said.
She smiled. “Here comes the shocker... I gave birth six months ago!” she said excitedly as she showed me a picture on her iphone.
It was a picture of two identical newborn babies each covered in fluffy pink skirt on a pure white blanket. They looked so adorable.
“Ya salam! Fawza you had twins! They are so cute Masha Allah!” I said ecstatically.
“Aww! Thank you dear! Saima and Suhaima really appreciate it. You are such a nice person; I would love to be your friend!” Fawza declared.
“Are you kidding me? I would really like that!” I stated. “Your life looks so perfect to me!” I added.
“Don’t be deceived. There are good days and bad days but Alhamdulillah! Fuad is a wonderful husband and my mother-in-law is so sweet, she does things like taking care of the twins while I go on a picnic,” Fawza grinned.
“Waw!”
“Well, we sort of snuck out!” Fawza said with a wink.
Fawza got a call on her phone. It sounded like she was about to leave.
“I have to leave now,” she said with a frown.”Fuad is waiting for me outside the park. I had a super great time with you Haneem!” Fawza stated with a smile.
We exchanged numbers and said our final good bye as she headed towards the gate. It really wasn’t a mistake coming to the park that day. Mother Nature plus Fawza did me a whole lot of good.



P.S: I would love to hear from you, please do drop your comments. You can also send your suggestions and contributions to meenahtu99@gmail.com. Thank you!

HANEEM'S DIARY #11: The lady in red 2

I went for a tutorial in my neighbour’s room right opposite or hostel. Haneefah was a natural organic chemistry ‘guru’. She made everything a whole lot simpler, so I turned to her when it all started to get complicated. We were in the middle of the tutorial when she decided to change show me a textbook that made it much easy to comprehend all that she has been explaining.
My eyes unconsciously followed Haneefah as she opened the door to her locker, a circular shaped glassy object caught my attention. I had definitely sen it before. It was not one of those things you could easily forget. Haneefah froze when she realized that I had seen the shiny thing. She quickly shut the door tight.
“I am sorry to ask but is that what I think it is?” I asked full of surprise. The expression on her face relaxed, she let out a light breath that suggested that she had been holding it for a while.
“I guess I owe you an explanation now since you’ve seen it,” Haneefah said in a low voice.
“I really did not mean to pry it just caught my attention.”
“It’s okay Haneem it’s not like I can hide it forever. It’s the NALISS best dressed award”
I could not believe what I had heard. How did the award get into her locker? Maybe she knows the lady in red or maybe...I refused to let myself believe that Haneefah could have been the one. She is way too ‘Haneefah’ to have been the one. Don’t misunderstand me though because she is breathtakingly beautiful and elegant but even from the little I know of her, she is not in the category of people to attend the awards; and actually showed up so dressed up and wearing layers of makeup. No way! I’m sure she was helping the owner hide it.
“You know ‘the lady in red?’ I carefully questioned.
She smiled that beautiful smile of hers revealing a set of well-arranged white teeth. “I know her because I am her,” Haneefah replied confidently.
It had been a while I cleaned my ears so I thought the ear wax might have started affecting my hearing. I could not hide my surprise anymore.
“I don’t understand” I stuttered. “You are not among the people I expected to be there!” I stated.
“I know,” she said with a smile. But I went there for to prove something.
“You looked so gorgeous in hijab there is no denying that!” I automatically assumed that was her reason.
Yes I wanted to prove that you can still be beautiful and modest but there is another reason behind it. It’s a kind of provocation. I suddenly felt like I need to prove myself.
“To whom?” I asked in shock.
“It’s a long story!” she said with a sigh. “Most of my friends tend to look down on me because of my quietness. At first I just ignored them but it became so unbearable. I knew from then that I had to leave my shell and prove myself.”
“Do they know that you were the lady in red?” I queried.
“Oh no! not yet. I will do the grand reveal later tonight” Haneefah said with a wink.
“I admire your method of proving yourself! Although I think you need to check those you call your ‘friends’. It’s absolutely unfair to look down on you. I mean even if the whole world is to look down on you they should be the ones to stand by you,” I stated.
“You are right my dear. I really do admire you and your friends, its obviously a healthy friendship,” she said in admiration.
“Too healthy!” I replied jokingly.
“Is it okay if I tell my friends ‘the lady in red’ is you?” I asked anxiously.
“yes it’s okay, I can’t hide the truth forever; but just your friends at least for now, let people keep guessing!”
“Good idea!”

Later that day, my friends and I coincidentally met in Afraah’s room. “Ladies guess what!”
“What?” they all chorused in unison.
“I have the hottest, latest gist that everyone has been waiting to hear” I announced cheerfully. But the looks on their faces was not the kind I had expected. It was more like they had heard something unrealistic.
“The latest gist from you!” Bee said as if she had been given a puzzle that had no answer. “Am I the only one who can’t see the connection between the two?” she asked Zahra and Afraah.
“it’s not just you my dear, I don’t know which stunt Haneem is trying to pull but it’s obviously not going to work.” Zahra replied
“O! So you all think I’m playing right?” I queried.
“Dearest Haneem, I intend no offense but you’re usually the last person to hear of any such thing and I’m sure you don’t care for campus gossip,” Afraah said politely.
“Well as God would have it, if have reliable news from reloadable source for the first time in my life!”
“Spill it!” Afraah said anxiously.
“ I know who the lady in red is!” I said and their eyes brightened.
“Are you serious?” Bee asked.
“Who is it?” Zahra asked impatiently.
“Guess!” I requested in an attempt to poke their curiosity.
“Don’t you dare!” Afraah warned.
“Alright! I’m not really good at the suspense game anyway. You will not believe that the glamorous ‘lady in red’ is Haneefah!
They exchanged questioning glances once again.
“Who is Haneefah?” Zahra blurted.
“ our next door neighbour of course”
“I knew that this conversation was a waste of time,” Zahra said dryly.
“Wait...I’m dead serious, its really not a joke know it’s hard to believe but she is the one!” I said defensively.
“If she’s ‘the lady in red’ then I’m snow white and my seven dwarfs will be here any moment from now!” Zahra replied sarcastically.
A part of me knew something like that might happen so I took a picture of the award before leaving Haneefah’s room.
“How did I get a picture of this then” if said I showed them the picture. Bee snatched the phone from me.
“Ya salam! Afraah exclaimed.
“Oh my God! I can’t believe this” Zarah shrieked.
I told them about her reasons for doing the carpet and they were all as amazed as I was earlier.
“I have always thought that Haneefah is cool but this makes her look a hundred times more stunning to me” Afraah said.
“Me too,” Bee added. “She definitely surprised me in a good way” Bee said enthusiastically.
“She is going to be my new BFF, what is she doing with those girls anyway? Stunning ladies should stick together,” Zarah said feigning seriousness.
"Gerrarahia my friend!"I said with a smile.