by Saima Siddiqui
Shajeeah: Vot's up yaar
Kunza: Noting much, you tell... you tell.
Shajeeah: You vanna have a piece of my samosa ?
Kunza: No tank you, I just had some lassi.
Shajeeah: Ishtop it man, you are embarashing me... you know ve do not talk like dis...
Kunza: Ok, no really, people are gonna think we just got off the boat...
(they both laugh)
Kunza: I'm gonna grab some coffee... what kind do you want ?
Shajeeah: Hazshel nut yaar... light and shweet...
Kunza: (laughs and shakes her head) Here are the keys, start the car... it's kinda cold outside... I'll meet you at the car...
(a few minutes later, at the car)
Kunza: Man, it's cold.
Shajeeah: Yeah, I turned into a kulfi by the time you got back...
(they both laugh)
Kunza: So what's up, what's new?
Shajeeah: (sighs)
Kunza: Aahh, I know what you mean.
Shajeeah: Why is it that people just can't see when Allah blesses them with something...
Kunza: Ahh, the million dollar question...
Shajeeah: No, really, like how hard is it to see it ... Allah blesses you with something, whether it be knowledge, wealth, what have you.. and people just don't see it...
Kunza: You mean, like being ungrateful ?
Shajeeah: Yeah...and not being humble...
Kunza: Well, and then there's also the people who see it and want more of it and fail to see that whatever they have they should try to sustain themselves with it... physically or spiritually...
Shajeeah: Yeah...
Kunza: Like, Allah the Almighty gives people knowledge, and some people see the wisdom and thank Allah for being given that knowledge and make the best of it...
Shajeeah: Yeah, and then other people see that they are being given that same knowledge, and say that it's not enough for me.. give me more, give me more.. it's not enough for me to see...
Kunza: Yeah...
Shajeeah: and then there's that third group...
Kunza: Aah.. the group that doesn't even see that knowledge exists...
Shajeeah: Yeah.
(they both sigh)
Kunza: Like a flickering tube light. Knowledge and light from Allah stems to people and there are some who can read throughout it and make the best of that light and are grateful for atleast getting some light. Then there are others who say "they can't see.. the light isn't enough... change the bulb.. do something... " and they don't make the best use of what Allah gives them. And then there are others.. who don't even see that a tubelight is flickering.. they just pass by it.. as if they see no light...
Shajeeah: Yeah.
(they both sigh)
Shajeeah: So, what's new with you ?
Kunza: Nothing much, whirling dervishes...
Shajeeah: (laughs) What??
Kunza: Nothing, I'll tell you later...
Shajeeah: OKaaay... (looks at Kunza)
Kunza: So (coughs) you were gonna get some information for me.. ?
Shajeeah: Oh, I almost forgot... yeah.. so I asked my friend who knows a sister who knows an Auntie who knows the aunt of the guy that I was talking about...
Kunza: (laughs) And...
Shajeeah: Well, he's studying right now.. double majoring in Poli Sci and Environmental Science...
Kunza: Hmm.. Green Party candidate ?
(they both laugh pulling up to the toll)
Toll Lady: Thank You and have a safe night.
Kunza: (to toll lady) Thanks.
Shajeeah: You're so bad... Anyway, he's a pretty respectable guy... my friend told me he's very much involved with the masjid... and very family oriented...
Kunza: Hmm.. okay..
Shajeeah: She's gonna get me more info and see if he's interested in marriage at this point... since he's studying and all.
Kunza: Ok, but if he doesn't fit the qualifications.. our deal is off.. ok ? (smiles)
Shajeeah: Yeah, I know I know...
Kunza: He better be humble..
Shajeeah: I know... and religious... and respectful, and goal-oriented... and blah blah blah...
Kunza: (laughs)
Shajeeah: How's the proposal that you were telling me about last week? how's that going ?
Kunza: It's going no where... it's like sitting mostly... I think I have a lot to do with that... (pulls into the driveway)
Shajeeah: Aah ok. Just be patient honey, Insha'Allah, whatever that's best.
Kunza: Yeah, I'm just letting things play out... let's see what happens...
Shajeeah: Ok Kunz, I'll see you later, thanks for the ride.
Kunza: No problem hon, As-salaamu alaikum.
Shajeeah: W'alaikum as-salaam.
MashaAllah...
From one who has been attempting something similar for the past few years, I have to say that you've got a great knack for dialogue.
Can't wait for next week's installment.
Footnotes:
"samosa" is a (usually) potato-filled fried dumpling appetizer (southasian)
"lassi" is a milk and yogurt-based cold drink
"kulfi" is a milk-based ice cream with cardomom and almonds/pistachios
on March 21, 2004 8:28 PMMashallah amazing. I really think that this column is quite a visionary addendum to our Hidaya. I really like the titles of each column and how they relate to the super-title. Keep it up :)
on March 21, 2004 9:53 PMAssalamuAlaikum,
I love it :). MashaAllah, excellent work. In the beginning I was like "ohhh god, they keep giggling and sighing and sighing and giggling", but then it got deep and insightful mashaAllah. I keep on having wierd vibes though. I feel like just as I become attached to these sisters (and their sighing and giggling and giggling and sighing) they will die in a terrible unforseen (yet foreshadowed) car crash. That would definitely be sad. I wouldnt be able to drink lassi and eat samosas for like 2 weeks. I like samosas and lassis, please dont kill Kunza and Shajeeah.
WasalaamuAlaikum
on March 22, 2004 1:10 AMAssalamu 'alaikum,
if bintabbas would like to stop writing comments and start writing articles:
"Send in:
Name
Column title
Column sample
Some idea of what you want to write about.
If you want to write weekly or bi-weekly
Email address
Whether or not you're an RU student/alumni
to info@hidayaonline.com"
1) Gillette:
reread the last comment on "don't hate them..."
She said she decided to write.
"-BintAbbas- said
AssalamuAlaikum,
Well said brothers Hamayun and Rami. JazakumAllahu khair.
I will no longer put down some in order to love others. I dont know what I was thinking...
Excellent topic. I actually wrote a real comment to this but it ended up being so long that I decided to use it as an article. But I had so been looking forward to posting a comment that I was forced to improvise. I apologize.
WasalaamuAlaikum "
2) "Ishtop" ---> absolute genius
on March 22, 2004 11:56 AM
AssalamuAlaikum,
Thanks for the defense Bro. Rami. I am confused, is there some sort of rule on this site that only people who write articles can comment? Its as if no one who stumbles onto HidayahOnline and posts a comment is allowed to escape without having beloved brother shaving cream hunt them down and coerce them into writing an article... You guys arent like a cult or anything right?
Actually, I like cults. I am editing my article and will email it to you all in the next few days inshaAllah. Then please open your secrets to me and tell me how to be and what to think :)
WasalaamuAlaikum
p.s. No offense or disrespect meant to brother Gillette. I simply jest in good faith and do respect him and his writing---which is actually pretty good mashaAllah...
"our expressions differ, but Your beauty is one, and all are pointing towards that Beauty"
--Ibn al-Banna'
Assalam-o-alaikom.
BintAbbas said
"I keep on having wierd vibes though. I feel like just as I become attached to these sisters (and their sighing and giggling and giggling and sighing) they will die in a terrible unforseen (yet foreshadowed) car crash. That would definitely be sad. I wouldnt be able to drink lassi and eat samosas for like 2 weeks. I like samosas and lassis, please dont kill Kunza and Shajeeah."
I agree with BintAbbas. I want to know whether these characters are fictional or not. Is this fiction based on true experience? I suppose I can deal with the non-fiction, what I cannot deal with is finding out later that something terrible happens to one of them and I get all sad over fictional characters (yes a GUY can feel that way too. There I said it). So please kill the mystery Saima.
Wasalam
Faisal Akhtar
on March 22, 2004 11:09 PMHmm...
we shall wait and see :)
on March 22, 2004 11:20 PMBesides, it's only the 2nd mile...
on March 22, 2004 11:41 PMhmn.. I am a little confused... at some point their fob accents seem to go away, and their english vocabulary seems to evolve...
I thought this article was going to be about not being mean to Fobs or something...
whats next copying and pasting IM convos?
on March 23, 2004 1:32 PMIt does not please Allah when we are mean to fobs.
on March 23, 2004 1:46 PMBy no means was this to poke fun at certain people. And if that's what was understood, then you missed the point.
Insha'Allah, as you follow the series, you will see how the girls evolve.
Both of these girls have "human" characteristics, hence, they are not "perfect".
My apologies to anyone who was offended by the beginning of the article.
As-salaamu alaikum,
Sr. Saima
Dearest Saima,
Pleese mind not. I vas doeeng it vat ees caaled the jocking. You are the achi of bachi and looking smart. You marry my beta. Then cook you the my chapaatis. I vill stroke yaur head and giwe yoo the blaissing.
you come come mem saab
on March 24, 2004 1:36 AM
vil u want four potas or pive ?
on March 26, 2004 12:12 AMI vill giwe pipty pie dolaars if from now you all talk englis, walk englis, and write englis properly.
deal, yah?
on March 26, 2004 12:15 AM...and I vil giwe it the piphty shix dollers and new cricket bat if all of the Hidayah akhbaar writes it like this in it from now on and on and on.
(let the bidding for the future of Hidaya begin...)
on March 26, 2004 1:33 AM