Sandy's Pete
(another short story- 20 mins this one!)
Sandy was upset that Pete was going to have to die. She was so upset about it she cried for three days straight. It got so bad that not even her parents could control her. Sandy was a mere teenager who had fallen in love with Pete when she laid her eyes on him for the first time. Today she has come to a point where she had to witness Pete’s death.
It all started when Sandy had moved to a new town with her parents. She started 10th grade, and while she adjusted comfortably into her classes, she never had any friends. She always kept to herself, strolling around the campus all alone. It was only three weeks into her classes when she met Pete. She fell in love with him immediately. His big round brown eyes made her feel like he was giving her all the attention in the world. His touch was the most tender she had felt in the longest of time. His hair was soft and silky, as she passed her hands over him. She knew it was love at first sight.
Sandy would hang out with Pete a lot. They would go for walks in the park, swim in the nearby lakes, and play catch. They would do so many things together that it came to the point where Pete would eventually sleep with Sandy in her bed. Her parents didn’t like it at first, but when they saw the joy in Sandy’s eyes, they allowed for Pete to be in bed with her. Her favorite time with him would be when they would be in bed. She would talk to Pete all night long, sharing her dreams and desires. Pete, as always, was a great listener. He would never interrupt or say anything. He would just listen to Sandy speak. At time Pete would fall asleep, but Sandy didn’t mind that.
Why aren’t any of my friends like you Pete? Why can’t take the time to listen to me? I wish somehow they weren’t so preoccupied with their other stuff. I know I don’t have any friends in school, which is why I am so thankful to have met you, because I love being around you. You allow me to be who I am, and you don’t mind when I show my true colors. That’s what I love about you Pete. You are so amazing. I wish I could have you with me forever.
And so Sandy would talk to Pete like this every night. Her thoughts in school would be pre-occupied with the imminent death of Pete. It is worse knowing that Pete will die, because waiting for the time to come makes it all the more difficult. Why couldn’t someone just drive over Pete? Why can’t Pete fall off a building? That will be instant, unexpected death. Why do I have to wait in pain and torment to actually wait for his death?
The day finally arrived for Pete’s death. He was going to be given a lethal injection. His state of health had deteriorated immensely. There was no cure. Ever since that bat bit Pete, Pete had been infected with some strange disease, so powerful not even the vaccination could prevent the disease overtaking his immune system. She spent the last few minutes telling Pete, while holding his two hands, how much she loves him and will always continue to do so. She looked right into his big round eyes, and started crying. She kissed him on the mouth, and Pete licked her back on the cheek.
She could barely watch the veterinarian lift Pete up and put him on the table. The two nurses held his two rear legs while the doctor injected the medicine into Pete. 10 minutes later, it was all over.
Sandy left the Vet Hospital, knowing no other pet dog could ever replace Pete.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Three New Movies!!!
Hey friends,
I have written three new movie reviews. They are Wolf Creek (scary), Pride and Prejudice (an amazing new version) and Walk The Line (great country music). I have posted them on my alternate "Life of Mansur's Reviews" site, the link for which you can find on the left-side tool bar. It's the first link, so you cannot miss it.
Here's a catch! In order to get people to read them, I will not post anything on this blog till I get one comment on each of my review (for the movies I mentioned here!) I don't want a simple "hey, great review" kind of comments. I want solid input! Am I asking too much from you all?? :-)
Enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed watching them.
Thanks also to one friend in Riyadh who has said she watches all the movies I review here. It helps her make a better decision to know what movies to watch.
Mansur
I have written three new movie reviews. They are Wolf Creek (scary), Pride and Prejudice (an amazing new version) and Walk The Line (great country music). I have posted them on my alternate "Life of Mansur's Reviews" site, the link for which you can find on the left-side tool bar. It's the first link, so you cannot miss it.
Here's a catch! In order to get people to read them, I will not post anything on this blog till I get one comment on each of my review (for the movies I mentioned here!) I don't want a simple "hey, great review" kind of comments. I want solid input! Am I asking too much from you all?? :-)
Enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed watching them.
Thanks also to one friend in Riyadh who has said she watches all the movies I review here. It helps her make a better decision to know what movies to watch.
Mansur
Movie:: Wolf Creek
Wolf Creek was nearly an unheard of film. It’s an Australian film to say the least, so why pay attention to it? I hadn’t heard of this movie till I heard how it has been declared a hit upon its release. On top of that, it’s supposed to be a true horror story.
The movie does start off with the “based on true events” tag and that sets the mood for this gritty, ultra-realistic film. Wolf Creek details out the journey two Brit girls, alongside with their Australian male friend. They take a road trip to visit Wolf Creek, a site where a meteor had crashed leaving a vast crater behind. Once they get ready to leave from there, their car doesn’t work. Their watches stop working. A friendly Australian outbacker spots them and gives them a lift. Spending a night at his junkyard, while the friendly Australian is fixing their car, our three friends think they have made it through. When they get up the next day, we find Liz all bound and tied up. Her friend is screaming from the other shed. Their Australian friend is completely missing. Thus begins their descent into hell as they realize the friendly Australian is not so friendly after all. He is hell-bent on torturing the three young travelers. He will not let them escape, and even if they do, he will hunt them down like an animal. “The thrill is in the hunt!” so says the tagline for Wolf Creek.
Wolf Creek is not for the faint hearted, because it is an ultra realistic horror movie. There are no cheap scares. There are no demons or monsters. In the same vein as The Blair Witch Project, Wolf Creek uses the same kind of camera techniques so we are tagging along with the main characters. The movie spends a good 25-30 minutes familiarizing us with the three main leads, showing them on the beaches and clubbing, and that proves to be very effective because when these three people are in trouble, we are with them and want them to safe. We actually sympathize with them, which is a rare thing in a horror movie. We cringe in disgust when they are hurt or beaten. We look away as one is slapped on the face. We feel upset when one is stabbed. Why do these innocent people have to go through this?
The acting is so natural; it almost felt like as if you were watching their home videos. The chemistry between the three leads is so natural you are convinced these three actors are best of friends in reality. The movie has made great use the locations too, depicting the vast, huge outback area of Australia. Powerful images of showing one lone car driving amid a huge desert strike hard. You realize how helpless and lost one could be in such a huge desert.
The Australian outbacker who saves the young people from Wolf Creek site is probably the scariest thing here. How could such a friendly, helpful person turn out to be such a violent and sadistic person? It’s all too real and scary and makes you think about hitchhiking again. The director did a good job of not portraying the villain like a Freddy Kruger or Jason, where the audience actually supports the killer and not those who are being killed. The outbacker in Wolf Creek is a mean thing, and you are genuinely terrified of him. You don’t have any sympathy or support for him, and you wish so hard that the three people all run away from him. You realize that there are sick people out there who are lunatics and will do anything to hurt innocent people.
The ending was not quite what I expected. There were two small twists. However, the most disturbing thing at the end of it all was what we witnessed in the movie was actually based on true events, and we are told, “30,000 are missing each year. 90% are found within a month. 10% are never found.” Wolf Creek is about the 10% that are never found, and that is a scary thought.
Wolf Creek sets a high example of how a real horror movie should be made. Psycho made people scared of taking showers. Jaws made people scared of swimming in the ocean. Wolf Creek will scare you into not hitchhiking again!
Mansur
PS One thing of importance here is that the movie is set in 1999. Before any one jumps into questioning the lack of cell phones or internet, keep in mind in 1999, cell phones were not that popular. Also, being in the outback, there would be no coverage of any cellular network.
The movie does start off with the “based on true events” tag and that sets the mood for this gritty, ultra-realistic film. Wolf Creek details out the journey two Brit girls, alongside with their Australian male friend. They take a road trip to visit Wolf Creek, a site where a meteor had crashed leaving a vast crater behind. Once they get ready to leave from there, their car doesn’t work. Their watches stop working. A friendly Australian outbacker spots them and gives them a lift. Spending a night at his junkyard, while the friendly Australian is fixing their car, our three friends think they have made it through. When they get up the next day, we find Liz all bound and tied up. Her friend is screaming from the other shed. Their Australian friend is completely missing. Thus begins their descent into hell as they realize the friendly Australian is not so friendly after all. He is hell-bent on torturing the three young travelers. He will not let them escape, and even if they do, he will hunt them down like an animal. “The thrill is in the hunt!” so says the tagline for Wolf Creek.
Wolf Creek is not for the faint hearted, because it is an ultra realistic horror movie. There are no cheap scares. There are no demons or monsters. In the same vein as The Blair Witch Project, Wolf Creek uses the same kind of camera techniques so we are tagging along with the main characters. The movie spends a good 25-30 minutes familiarizing us with the three main leads, showing them on the beaches and clubbing, and that proves to be very effective because when these three people are in trouble, we are with them and want them to safe. We actually sympathize with them, which is a rare thing in a horror movie. We cringe in disgust when they are hurt or beaten. We look away as one is slapped on the face. We feel upset when one is stabbed. Why do these innocent people have to go through this?
The acting is so natural; it almost felt like as if you were watching their home videos. The chemistry between the three leads is so natural you are convinced these three actors are best of friends in reality. The movie has made great use the locations too, depicting the vast, huge outback area of Australia. Powerful images of showing one lone car driving amid a huge desert strike hard. You realize how helpless and lost one could be in such a huge desert.
The Australian outbacker who saves the young people from Wolf Creek site is probably the scariest thing here. How could such a friendly, helpful person turn out to be such a violent and sadistic person? It’s all too real and scary and makes you think about hitchhiking again. The director did a good job of not portraying the villain like a Freddy Kruger or Jason, where the audience actually supports the killer and not those who are being killed. The outbacker in Wolf Creek is a mean thing, and you are genuinely terrified of him. You don’t have any sympathy or support for him, and you wish so hard that the three people all run away from him. You realize that there are sick people out there who are lunatics and will do anything to hurt innocent people.
The ending was not quite what I expected. There were two small twists. However, the most disturbing thing at the end of it all was what we witnessed in the movie was actually based on true events, and we are told, “30,000 are missing each year. 90% are found within a month. 10% are never found.” Wolf Creek is about the 10% that are never found, and that is a scary thought.
Wolf Creek sets a high example of how a real horror movie should be made. Psycho made people scared of taking showers. Jaws made people scared of swimming in the ocean. Wolf Creek will scare you into not hitchhiking again!
Mansur
PS One thing of importance here is that the movie is set in 1999. Before any one jumps into questioning the lack of cell phones or internet, keep in mind in 1999, cell phones were not that popular. Also, being in the outback, there would be no coverage of any cellular network.
Movie:: Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have been turned into several movies, including an Indianized version in Bride and Prejudice. However, the latest version of Pride and Prejudice is no boring re-tread of the novel. It is in fact the closest to the book from all the previous versions I have seen, and that makes a big difference. What ever you are doing right now, stop, go watch this movie NOW!
From the beginning, it becomes clear that this movie belongs to Keira Knightley, who plays Elizabeth Bennet, the most vociferous from the five Bennet Sisters. It is through the eyes of Elizabeth, or Lizzie, we see the other stories unfold, namely the fate of her sisters. Knightley shines like a true star here, illuminating the screen, projecting her radiance right back to the last row in the hall. Too strong is her presence that the locations in the movie are not restricted to the dank interiors of 1800s England, filled with stuffy decorations and heavy drapes illuminated with candles, but rather outside in the majestic English countryside. Even the scenes inside the house focus a lot on what’s outside, for every shot from inside the house has a window. It’s all about the outdoors, for that symbolizes Lizzie’s strong and outdoor-sy persona.
We begin the movie with the arrival of Mr. Darcy, played by Matthew MacFadyen, who chooses to give Mr. Darcy a very masculine persona, as opposed to earlier depictions of him as a softie. There is a real chemistry between Lizze and Mr. Darcy, so much so, you want them to be together. I had goose bumps towards the end, when I wanted so badly for Lizzie and Mr. Darcy to be together. So impactful were their performances, Knightley got an Oscar nomination for her acting.
Pride and Prejudice of course deals the issue of how we develop first impressions of other people, and judge them. We become pride in not accepting our faults, and prejudiced against others and not seeing them in any other light. Lizzie is too proud of herself, and Mr. Darcy is prejudiced against Lizzie’s background. How they both transform into different human beings through a series of rendezvous ultimately forms the crux of the movie. There are loads of topics that can be raised from this movie, and I can tell you now that this version of Pride and Prejudice will be watched in every literature classroom all over the world.
There was something else in this movie that made it so likeable and relate-able to the audience today. Whether it was the stars, or the music, or simply the behavior patterns of the characters, there was just something that made the 1800s and 2006 connect. While watching the movie, my mind was simultaneously comparing it to the previous versions, when half way through I realize how superior this new version is, I simply stopped comparing.
My favorite scene in the movie clearly is towards the end, when Lizzie is waiting in the moors, with the sun rising. She spots Mr. Darcy walking from a distance, amidst the morning dew, and finally comes up to Lizzie. They both know they love each other but are too proud to admit it. Their pride eventually falls to the ground as they embrace one another.
If only real life were like this!
Mansur
From the beginning, it becomes clear that this movie belongs to Keira Knightley, who plays Elizabeth Bennet, the most vociferous from the five Bennet Sisters. It is through the eyes of Elizabeth, or Lizzie, we see the other stories unfold, namely the fate of her sisters. Knightley shines like a true star here, illuminating the screen, projecting her radiance right back to the last row in the hall. Too strong is her presence that the locations in the movie are not restricted to the dank interiors of 1800s England, filled with stuffy decorations and heavy drapes illuminated with candles, but rather outside in the majestic English countryside. Even the scenes inside the house focus a lot on what’s outside, for every shot from inside the house has a window. It’s all about the outdoors, for that symbolizes Lizzie’s strong and outdoor-sy persona.
We begin the movie with the arrival of Mr. Darcy, played by Matthew MacFadyen, who chooses to give Mr. Darcy a very masculine persona, as opposed to earlier depictions of him as a softie. There is a real chemistry between Lizze and Mr. Darcy, so much so, you want them to be together. I had goose bumps towards the end, when I wanted so badly for Lizzie and Mr. Darcy to be together. So impactful were their performances, Knightley got an Oscar nomination for her acting.
Pride and Prejudice of course deals the issue of how we develop first impressions of other people, and judge them. We become pride in not accepting our faults, and prejudiced against others and not seeing them in any other light. Lizzie is too proud of herself, and Mr. Darcy is prejudiced against Lizzie’s background. How they both transform into different human beings through a series of rendezvous ultimately forms the crux of the movie. There are loads of topics that can be raised from this movie, and I can tell you now that this version of Pride and Prejudice will be watched in every literature classroom all over the world.
There was something else in this movie that made it so likeable and relate-able to the audience today. Whether it was the stars, or the music, or simply the behavior patterns of the characters, there was just something that made the 1800s and 2006 connect. While watching the movie, my mind was simultaneously comparing it to the previous versions, when half way through I realize how superior this new version is, I simply stopped comparing.
My favorite scene in the movie clearly is towards the end, when Lizzie is waiting in the moors, with the sun rising. She spots Mr. Darcy walking from a distance, amidst the morning dew, and finally comes up to Lizzie. They both know they love each other but are too proud to admit it. Their pride eventually falls to the ground as they embrace one another.
If only real life were like this!
Mansur
Review:: Walk The Line
Hands up if you know who Johnny Cash is! I wouldn’t be surprised if not many hands went up. I for one have heard about Cash, but never really bothered to know who he is. All I knew was that he was a Country music singer in the States, and apparently, he was very popular.
Walk The Line helped me know who Cash was and how he emerged to be one of the forefront leaders of Country Music in the States. Joaquin Phoenix (pronounced Waah-keen) takes on the personality of Johnny Cash in the movie, and he does an amazing transformation, getting every nuance, body language and style of speaking amazingly well. Reese Witherspoon does an even more amazing transformation to play June Carter Cash, Johnny’s wife. Gone are her famous blond locks, and in comes the dyed black hair complete with a southern accent. So amazing have been the two leads, they have garnered nominations and even an a Golden Globe Award for Witherspoon for acting.
A large part on whether you like this movie or not depend on how much interest you have in knowing more about the country music legend, and country music itself. Most of the movie focuses on the friendship and eventual love between Johnny and June. Johnny’s earlier life is shown as he grew up in Depression hit era in the United States. His brother passes away as a kid, and Johnny suffers torments from his father. We immediately cut to the point where we see a grown Cash leave his house to make it big in music industry. He eventually marries Vivian and has children.
While trying his luck at the local recording studio, the manager tells Cash that the no one wants to hear happy songs, but rather want to hear songs that come from his heart, about heartbreaks, tough life, hardships and overcoming them. Cash sings one of his own song, and that becomes an instant classic. Soon, he has made it big, is touring the country with his band and gets to meet other rockers like Elvis Presley. June Carter is also a budding country music singer and hers and Johnny Cash’s paths are crossed at a show. There is affection and appreciation, but both are married to other people.
Cash eventually stumbles and falls as he is involved in drugs, leading him to perform poorly at some of his concerts. June dislikes Cash’s attitudes, avoids him and also struggles with her own marital status. The only time they have any privacy of their own is when they are on stage performing a duet.
Cash’s lifestyle meddling with drugs eventually leads him to a low point in his life, at which point June Carter chooses to help him out. How she nurses him back to life eventually forms the rest of the story. A lot of people may comment that most of the story is focused on the relationship between the two, and I think that is what the makers of the movie attempted to show. Amazingly enough, the script of this movie was approved by Cash and June themselves back in 2003, right after which they passed away. So with their approval, the makers of this movie created a biopic of Cash.
The acting from both the lead actors is very strong. I was most impressed with Phoenix, who I remember fondly from Signs as Gibson’s younger brother, and Witherspoon, who I remember from Legally Blonde. Both the actors have done a complete change of acting
It’s impressive. Oh, and what would a film about a country singer be without country music? The songs are really great, each one an important one, especially “Jackson” signifying their moving on with their lives. I am not sure, but I think “Jackson” was one of their more popular duets. It is also my favorite song in the movie.
Great acting, amazing music, a strong story line makes Walk the Line one of the highly acclaimed movie of the year. I certainly learned a lot more about Johnny Cash, and how he Walk(ed) the (fine) Line between destruction and redemption.
Mansur
Walk The Line helped me know who Cash was and how he emerged to be one of the forefront leaders of Country Music in the States. Joaquin Phoenix (pronounced Waah-keen) takes on the personality of Johnny Cash in the movie, and he does an amazing transformation, getting every nuance, body language and style of speaking amazingly well. Reese Witherspoon does an even more amazing transformation to play June Carter Cash, Johnny’s wife. Gone are her famous blond locks, and in comes the dyed black hair complete with a southern accent. So amazing have been the two leads, they have garnered nominations and even an a Golden Globe Award for Witherspoon for acting.
A large part on whether you like this movie or not depend on how much interest you have in knowing more about the country music legend, and country music itself. Most of the movie focuses on the friendship and eventual love between Johnny and June. Johnny’s earlier life is shown as he grew up in Depression hit era in the United States. His brother passes away as a kid, and Johnny suffers torments from his father. We immediately cut to the point where we see a grown Cash leave his house to make it big in music industry. He eventually marries Vivian and has children.
While trying his luck at the local recording studio, the manager tells Cash that the no one wants to hear happy songs, but rather want to hear songs that come from his heart, about heartbreaks, tough life, hardships and overcoming them. Cash sings one of his own song, and that becomes an instant classic. Soon, he has made it big, is touring the country with his band and gets to meet other rockers like Elvis Presley. June Carter is also a budding country music singer and hers and Johnny Cash’s paths are crossed at a show. There is affection and appreciation, but both are married to other people.
Cash eventually stumbles and falls as he is involved in drugs, leading him to perform poorly at some of his concerts. June dislikes Cash’s attitudes, avoids him and also struggles with her own marital status. The only time they have any privacy of their own is when they are on stage performing a duet.
Cash’s lifestyle meddling with drugs eventually leads him to a low point in his life, at which point June Carter chooses to help him out. How she nurses him back to life eventually forms the rest of the story. A lot of people may comment that most of the story is focused on the relationship between the two, and I think that is what the makers of the movie attempted to show. Amazingly enough, the script of this movie was approved by Cash and June themselves back in 2003, right after which they passed away. So with their approval, the makers of this movie created a biopic of Cash.
The acting from both the lead actors is very strong. I was most impressed with Phoenix, who I remember fondly from Signs as Gibson’s younger brother, and Witherspoon, who I remember from Legally Blonde. Both the actors have done a complete change of acting
It’s impressive. Oh, and what would a film about a country singer be without country music? The songs are really great, each one an important one, especially “Jackson” signifying their moving on with their lives. I am not sure, but I think “Jackson” was one of their more popular duets. It is also my favorite song in the movie.
Great acting, amazing music, a strong story line makes Walk the Line one of the highly acclaimed movie of the year. I certainly learned a lot more about Johnny Cash, and how he Walk(ed) the (fine) Line between destruction and redemption.
Mansur
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Chocolate Milk!
Hey everyone,
As part of controlling my diet, I decided to not have any more chocolate milk because well, it's too fattening when you are having 6+ packs per day! I broke the rule today. After about three weeks of not having any chocolate milk, I couldn't resist it. I just had to have it! So I had one packet today and I was in heaven! Chocolate milk rules!
Mansur
As part of controlling my diet, I decided to not have any more chocolate milk because well, it's too fattening when you are having 6+ packs per day! I broke the rule today. After about three weeks of not having any chocolate milk, I couldn't resist it. I just had to have it! So I had one packet today and I was in heaven! Chocolate milk rules!
Mansur
Dilemma!
Hey friends,
There has been something that I have been meaning to talk about. First I thought I'd stay quiet, but then I thought maybe I should share it with you to get a better idea of how to handle the situation. Mind you, I have not talked about this with my parents, or my siblings, so keep it kind of confidential. You see this apart below:
Well, a very good friend of mine Omran, who is a UAE local, has said to me that he will buy a two bedroom apartment for me in Dubai. Initially I thought he was kidding around, but then he was very serious about it. Omran and I go way back to university days, where I helped him a lot in most of his classes. Without my help, he would have probably never graduated.
We were talking the other night, and he said he would like to get me an apartment. Now, the offer is very tempting. It is located at Jumeirah Beach Residence, and its a two bedroom apartment facing the sea. He says he bought several when the project was launched. There is no catch, so he says. The apartment costs more than 1 million dirhams. He has asked me to seriously consider his "gift."
I am very tempted to get it. But at the back of my mind, I feel like I will be obligated to repay him in someway. He has said it's not a favor he is doing for me, but I feel like 10 years down the road, he may ask something from me.
I don't know what to do. Should I take the offer and get the apartment? Or should I refuse the offer and thank him immensely for his generosity? I don't know. I am confused.
Mansur
There has been something that I have been meaning to talk about. First I thought I'd stay quiet, but then I thought maybe I should share it with you to get a better idea of how to handle the situation. Mind you, I have not talked about this with my parents, or my siblings, so keep it kind of confidential. You see this apart below:
Well, a very good friend of mine Omran, who is a UAE local, has said to me that he will buy a two bedroom apartment for me in Dubai. Initially I thought he was kidding around, but then he was very serious about it. Omran and I go way back to university days, where I helped him a lot in most of his classes. Without my help, he would have probably never graduated.
We were talking the other night, and he said he would like to get me an apartment. Now, the offer is very tempting. It is located at Jumeirah Beach Residence, and its a two bedroom apartment facing the sea. He says he bought several when the project was launched. There is no catch, so he says. The apartment costs more than 1 million dirhams. He has asked me to seriously consider his "gift."
I am very tempted to get it. But at the back of my mind, I feel like I will be obligated to repay him in someway. He has said it's not a favor he is doing for me, but I feel like 10 years down the road, he may ask something from me.
I don't know what to do. Should I take the offer and get the apartment? Or should I refuse the offer and thank him immensely for his generosity? I don't know. I am confused.
Mansur
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Precious Memories
Hey friends,
My mom just handed over to me several home videos that were made 17 years ago. I was a mere 11 years old. My sister was only 4 and my brother was 14. I watched these videos again and again, and some of them are extremely funny. My favorites include:
* SA falling off her chair during Musical Chairs!
* MA winning Musical Chair everywhere
* A small movie we made called The Pakistani Ninja, in which I am playing Lefty!
* My cousin SM and I co-hosting a comedy show!
* My cousin and I performing a play called "Diamonds coming out of your mouth!"
* Two sisters NT and NT fighting over a knife to cut a cake!
* A long session where my sister and I are interviewing each other!
There are loads and loads of more precious moments, and at the end of it all I actually wept because all of us have come such a long way, and in today's world, we all have lost a part of the innocence that we had back in the 80s in Jeddah.
To those of who knew of a group called Johnny Hates Jazz, here is one of their best songs, which is close to my heart. Everytime I listen to this song, I am magically transported back to Jeddah to the age when I was 11.
Precious memories indeed.
Mansur
My mom just handed over to me several home videos that were made 17 years ago. I was a mere 11 years old. My sister was only 4 and my brother was 14. I watched these videos again and again, and some of them are extremely funny. My favorites include:
* SA falling off her chair during Musical Chairs!
* MA winning Musical Chair everywhere
* A small movie we made called The Pakistani Ninja, in which I am playing Lefty!
* My cousin SM and I co-hosting a comedy show!
* My cousin and I performing a play called "Diamonds coming out of your mouth!"
* Two sisters NT and NT fighting over a knife to cut a cake!
* A long session where my sister and I are interviewing each other!
There are loads and loads of more precious moments, and at the end of it all I actually wept because all of us have come such a long way, and in today's world, we all have lost a part of the innocence that we had back in the 80s in Jeddah.
To those of who knew of a group called Johnny Hates Jazz, here is one of their best songs, which is close to my heart. Everytime I listen to this song, I am magically transported back to Jeddah to the age when I was 11.
Another day is ended
And I still can’t sleep
Remembering my yesterdays
I begin to weep
If I could have it over
Live my life again
I wouldn’t change a single day
I wish that I could turn back the clock
Bring the wheels of time to stop
Back to the days when life was so much better
Lying here in silence
Picture in my hand
Of a boy I still resemble
But I no longer understand
And as the tears run freely
How I realise they were the best years of my life
You might say it’s just
A case of giving up, No
But without these memories where is the love
Where is the love
If I could have it over
Live my life again
I wouldn’t change a single day
Why can’t I turn back the clock
Bring the wheels of time to a stop
Back to the days
Oh no no
I remember when
Life was so good
I’d go back If I could
Oh oh I wouldn’t change a single day
Don’t let the memories slip away
I wouldn’t change a single day
Don’t let the memories slip away
---Precious memories indeed.
Mansur
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Shortest Story Ever?
Once upon a time, there was a young girl home alone. The night was dark with strong winds blowing. In the distance, owls were hooting and wolves howling. The girl was watching a movie alone when the phone rings. She picks up the phone nervously, and the cracked, distorted voice on the other end says:
"Do you like scary movies?"
The girl replies, "no."
"Oh, ok. Sorry to bother you. Bye."
The girl puts the phone down and resumes watching The WIzard of Oz.
The End.
=====
Ok, guys, that was my attempt to write the shortest horror story ever.
Mansur
"Do you like scary movies?"
The girl replies, "no."
"Oh, ok. Sorry to bother you. Bye."
The girl puts the phone down and resumes watching The WIzard of Oz.
The End.
=====
Ok, guys, that was my attempt to write the shortest horror story ever.
Mansur
Monday, February 13, 2006
The Locket: A Short Story (penned in 2 hours)
The Locket
The locket in Sameera’s hand shone like a shining star fallen right out of the sky. The longer she held it, the more powerful she felt in her soul. The locket was shaped like a sun, not the ordinary sun we know of, but a very elaborate sun. The centerpiece of the locket was a large diamond. Samira had no idea how much it was worth, but it looked very expensive. Surrounding the diamond, there were concentric circles of small diamonds, which shone so brightly as she studied the locket. She was certainly impressed by it. Sameera was just startled by the locket.
She remembered when her uncle had given it to her on her wedding day. He had mentioned how he purchased the locket as part of the Kohi-noor collection before India was separated from Pakistan. Her uncle had been working there as part of the British regiment, and his travels with them all over Indian gave him opportunities to see and explore part of the country which he never would have done so. Part of his journey included witnessing the Kohinoor Jewelry collection, of which the equivalent would be the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. He has purchased this locket from that collection, at a price that he would not mention, for his wife. Ever since she passed away, she had willed the locket to Sameera on her wedding day.
So overwhelmed was Sameera with her locket, she did not understand how she should thank her uncle. “Take real good care of it,” was all he could say. She realized immediately then that there is more to this locket than just diamonds. Her husband Omar, a simple man, while in awe of the locket, did not take a liking to it. He came from a very simple family with modest means. It was his intelligence and creativity that led him to be a prestigious marketing executive, leading him to travel to all the places he could only dream of. Despite his prestigious position, he held on to his roots, and rooted himself into ground reality. He made sure to not let all the wealth go to his head.
Omar did cringe a little when he saw the amazing locket in Sameera’s hands. His eyes were truly transfixed on them. He too appreciated Sameera’s uncle for gifting her such an expensive gift. It’s not a gift, the uncle would say, it’s more like a family heirloom. It was now months after the wedding that Samira took the locket out for the first time. She had stored it away in a safe place, deep inside her cupboard in her newly renovated walk in closet. She was sure no one would find it. Tonight, she just sat there alone in the closet, holding the locket in her hands, thinking of the unthinkable.
Sameera’s husband did not like it the least bit that she was wearing the locket when he returned from his long business trip. I must cut down on my travels, he had thought to himself on his way over from the airport. Sameera and Omar fought for a long time the whole night. She wanted to continue to wear the locket, and he wanted her to remove it. Ultimately, they came to the conclusion that she should wear it only on special occasions. She relented. Little did Omar know that as soon he slipped out of the house for work, she would take the locket out and wear it. She wore it when she showered. She wore it when she made breakfast, and did her house cleaning. She wore it while grocery shopping, and visiting friends. She wore it while watching television and even while taking naps in the afternoon. She would be careful to remove it and place it back in the box in the closet before Omar came back.
Sameera didn’t know when the sensation first begun, but she knew it was immediately after she had begun to wear the locket.
Why do I feel so powerful, she thought? Why do I feel so invincible? She could not explain her feelings, and her emotions. She chose not to tell Omar initially but eventually did when her emotions would run too high. He did not appreciate her breaking their pact, and was upset, but Omar tried to help Samira out. He could not explain what was going on with her. Sameera would act all weird if the locket was off. It was as if she needed to have it on the whole time, which made Omar all the more helpless and confused.
“We must see a doctor,” Omar finally said. “My best friend Samir is a doctor, so we can keep it confidential.”
Sameera refused.
“But it’s my best friend, Samir, and he is one of the best in town. He will help you.”
She did not want to share her thoughts, feeling with anyone out there. Omar became frustrated. So overwhelmed was Sameera with the locket around her neck continuously, she stopped meeting people, or even shopping for groceries.
Omar contacted the uncle who had given the locket initially and inquired about his wife.
“How did she die?” Omar asked.
The uncle initially refused to talk, but succumbed to Omar’s pressure, and agreed to meet him during lunch break. The uncle was very reluctant to share the details, but after hearing what Sameera had been through, he felt compelled to tell what had happened to his own wife. Apparently, as Omar came to realize, the locket has a wild and unbelievable history.
The uncle’s wife received the locket from her grandmother who belonged to the Mughal Empire that ruled India in the 1800s. Her grandmother wore the locket. Her husband, Badshaah, the King, gave it to her. Because the King had remarried another woman, to keep the first wife happy he gave her a very expensive locket. She was not very happy with the decision, but was temporarily happy with the locket. I can always sell it off and get the money, she thought. But she realized that her husband was spending more and more time with his new, younger wife, leaving herself feel dejected. She was not happy and confronted the King several times. The King was not happy, and had her locked in the dungeon, completely surrounded with thick brick walls, with no sunlight.
It was then she realized she had the locket around her neck, and used that as a visual sunlight. Tilting the locket to a certain angle, she was able to reflect off the light from the candle flames in her dungeon to create a startling effect of reflections on the ceiling. It helped served her pass her time. Several years in the dungeon, she was entering into a state of madness. When the guard who had bought her food was temporarily blinded by the strong reflection off her locket, she made a grab for him and pinned him to the ground using her body weight. Hitting his head on the floor, the guard fell unconscious, and she grabbed the sword from his belt and ran. There was only one place she was going: the King. Entering the dining hall, with disheveled hair and unkempt clothes, the guests screamed and shot up from their seats. The King, at the head of the table, turned around to see behind him. Before he could say anything, the woman brought her sword up and with all her mighty strength, swung it hard. Blood shot out from the now severed neck, as the head hung limply. A botched execution. All the woman could do was laugh maniacally to the point where she was shot with a shotgun by one of the guard.
Omar sat bewildered throughout.
“Surely that cannot be true,” he said to the uncle.
“Well,” said the uncle, “that’s how the legend goes. I cannot testify to what the truth is, but this story is what my wife had told me. Now I am telling it to you so you know what is happening to your wife. I fear she may be going through what my wife went through.”
“What did happen to your wife,” Omar asked.
“I am not sure if I should tell you the grisly details, but let’s just say that overwhelming power of the locket consumed her and grabbed her soul. It was as if her grandmother took possession of her soul through the locket. She eventually committed suicide after hurting our children. She nearly drowned them in the baths.”
Omar gasped. He didn’t know what to believe. I must get home and remove the locket from my wife. That was all he could think of. He dashed home, to find his wife sleeping on her bed, sweating profusely. He made an attempt to remove the locket, but her hand shot up and held Omar’s arm tightly, so much so, it was hurting him now.
“Sameera! Sameera!” He shouted to no effect. He picked up the bottle of water from the side table and doused her completely in water. She fell back down in the bed, uttering profanities. Omar did not know what to do with Sameera. It was becoming extremely difficult to remove the locket. I should have known right from the start that the locket is wrong. I felt uncomfortable looking at it the minute Sameera held it in her hands. What have I gotten myself into?
Over the course of the next few weeks, Omar had no choice but to have his wife admitted into a center where sick people were treated. The doctors could not help her. Even his personal friend, Samir, the doctor eventually diagnosed her as mentally unstable.
“How can a locket do something like this Samir?” Omar asked him.
“Sometimes people like to believe in superstitions and other legends, and when they believe in them so whole heartedly, their mind can take control of their body and soul. She has apparently convinced herself that the same woman who originally had the locket has possessed her.”
Omar left discontent. He did not know what to do.
4 months later.
Omar never forgot his ex-wife. He filed for divorce against his wife, whom even the doctor had proclaimed insane and mentally unfit. Omar was not happy about it, but he was a little relieved hedid not have to deal with a sick person. It has been four months, and while he remembers Sameera everyday, today was the day when he felt like visiting her in the hospital. As he was eating his breakfast, he decided to call in sick at work, and drove over to the asylum, where his wife was supposedly admitted.
Omar wished his friend Samir was still here so he could brisk through the security. But Samir was transferred to the Koh-Samui Island in Thailand. Omar was forced to have his car checked by the security guards at the gate, walk through the metal detector, and fill in the visitor book.
“Whom are you here for,” the receptionist asked?
“My wife,” Omar paused. “My ex-wife. Her name is Sameera Omar, but I think it may be have been reverted to Sameera Ali now.”
“We don’t have a record of a Sameera Ali, or Sameera Omar here sir,” the receptionist said checking through the computer database.
“What? There must be a mistake,” Omar said, please check again.
“Hold on sir while I get our senior nurse here.”
Omar fidgeted a lot with his car keys. Is Sameera dead? What happened? Where did she go? His car keys fell to the ground when Dr. Miriam, the senior head nurse, instantly interrupted him in his thoughts.
“Are you here for Sameera,” asked Dr. Miriam.
“Yes, I am,” Omar replied.
“What is the nature of your relation to Sameera?”
“ I am her husband, well, ex-husband now for 4 months.”
“Well, sir, I am most pleased to tell you that Sameera fully recovered and left town.”
Omar did not know what happened first: the floor beneath his legs fall away, or him hitting his head on the edge of the cushioned chair. When he regained conscious, he saw himself facing the ceiling lights. He knew he was lying on the stretcher.
“What happened?!” he shouted, and got up from the bed. Dr. Miriam came running down from the main desk.
“Sir, it’s all right, you just had a brief fainting spell. You are all right now.”
“What did you say about Sameera, Dr?”
“Sir, I have a note for you which was left by Sameera. Please feel free to use my office to read it.”
Omar made his way through the corridor, lined with green linoleum. The strong antiseptic smell was hitting him hard now. He sat down at the desk and opened up the envelope.
It read:
Dear Omar,
This is probably the hardest letter I have had to write my entire life. I don’t know where to begin or what to say. If you are reading this letter, I am sure you will know by now that I am not here in the hospital. I left as soon as you had dropped me here.
I am sorry I have lived a big lie in front of you. Actually, I think our marriage was a huge lie. You were not the man I had married all those years ago. You were a different person before I married you. I don’t know what happened, but you had changed. I thought it was normal at first, but then, despite my reasoning with you (which always ended up in arguments anyways) I could get through to you. I knew right from the start that our marriage was a doomed one. I wish I had the power to turn back the clock and reverse our marriage.
You may be wondering about the locket too.
I have left that in the safety box with Dr. Miriam. It was of no use to me anymore, although it was very beneficial at the time. I know you will be very upset at me, but I saw no other way out of this marriage. Feel free to take it from Dr. Miriam.
I had paid uncle a lot of money to help me get out of the marriage. I had paid him a lot of money. As you know already, uncle was not doing well after his wife’s death, so he needed the money the most. He was only happy to help me out. The whole locket thing was fabricated. I had spent weeks planning out how to work everything out. The locket is a cheap locket, which I got from the novelty store. Uncle’s wife never had the locket, his wife was never sick and she never attempted to drown her kids. Uncle was in India, but he never traveled around extensively.
The elaborate story of the origin of the locket was a hoax. I am sorry I misled you into believing I was being possessed by the locket. I sure picked up a few acting lessons watching TV.
I hope you are not mad at uncle. It is not his fault. I was the one who coaxed him into this because he needed the money. Please don’t go say anything to uncle. If anything, you should be angry with me. But then again, I am not here in the hospital. I am free. I am free from your captivity.
I am living my new life now. I am pregnant 2 months now. I live with a man who loves me for me. He gives me all the attention I need, something I lacked from you. He also helped me out in getting out of the country. He said he had a lot of problem doing the necessary paperwork to get me out the asylum and all, but it worked out. He feels bad he had to forge some documents to get me admitted in the asylum, but there was no other way.
My dear Omar, if you can find a place in your heart, please forgive me.
Sameera Samir
PS. I am now in Koh Samui Island, Thailand.
The End
As the 14th of February approaches, I wrote this short story in a span of two hours to send out an anti-valentine message! Call me crazy or anything else, but I love this story because its probably more real than the heavy doses of saccharine sweetness valentine brings with itself.
Mansur
The locket in Sameera’s hand shone like a shining star fallen right out of the sky. The longer she held it, the more powerful she felt in her soul. The locket was shaped like a sun, not the ordinary sun we know of, but a very elaborate sun. The centerpiece of the locket was a large diamond. Samira had no idea how much it was worth, but it looked very expensive. Surrounding the diamond, there were concentric circles of small diamonds, which shone so brightly as she studied the locket. She was certainly impressed by it. Sameera was just startled by the locket.
She remembered when her uncle had given it to her on her wedding day. He had mentioned how he purchased the locket as part of the Kohi-noor collection before India was separated from Pakistan. Her uncle had been working there as part of the British regiment, and his travels with them all over Indian gave him opportunities to see and explore part of the country which he never would have done so. Part of his journey included witnessing the Kohinoor Jewelry collection, of which the equivalent would be the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. He has purchased this locket from that collection, at a price that he would not mention, for his wife. Ever since she passed away, she had willed the locket to Sameera on her wedding day.
So overwhelmed was Sameera with her locket, she did not understand how she should thank her uncle. “Take real good care of it,” was all he could say. She realized immediately then that there is more to this locket than just diamonds. Her husband Omar, a simple man, while in awe of the locket, did not take a liking to it. He came from a very simple family with modest means. It was his intelligence and creativity that led him to be a prestigious marketing executive, leading him to travel to all the places he could only dream of. Despite his prestigious position, he held on to his roots, and rooted himself into ground reality. He made sure to not let all the wealth go to his head.
Omar did cringe a little when he saw the amazing locket in Sameera’s hands. His eyes were truly transfixed on them. He too appreciated Sameera’s uncle for gifting her such an expensive gift. It’s not a gift, the uncle would say, it’s more like a family heirloom. It was now months after the wedding that Samira took the locket out for the first time. She had stored it away in a safe place, deep inside her cupboard in her newly renovated walk in closet. She was sure no one would find it. Tonight, she just sat there alone in the closet, holding the locket in her hands, thinking of the unthinkable.
Sameera’s husband did not like it the least bit that she was wearing the locket when he returned from his long business trip. I must cut down on my travels, he had thought to himself on his way over from the airport. Sameera and Omar fought for a long time the whole night. She wanted to continue to wear the locket, and he wanted her to remove it. Ultimately, they came to the conclusion that she should wear it only on special occasions. She relented. Little did Omar know that as soon he slipped out of the house for work, she would take the locket out and wear it. She wore it when she showered. She wore it when she made breakfast, and did her house cleaning. She wore it while grocery shopping, and visiting friends. She wore it while watching television and even while taking naps in the afternoon. She would be careful to remove it and place it back in the box in the closet before Omar came back.
Sameera didn’t know when the sensation first begun, but she knew it was immediately after she had begun to wear the locket.
Why do I feel so powerful, she thought? Why do I feel so invincible? She could not explain her feelings, and her emotions. She chose not to tell Omar initially but eventually did when her emotions would run too high. He did not appreciate her breaking their pact, and was upset, but Omar tried to help Samira out. He could not explain what was going on with her. Sameera would act all weird if the locket was off. It was as if she needed to have it on the whole time, which made Omar all the more helpless and confused.
“We must see a doctor,” Omar finally said. “My best friend Samir is a doctor, so we can keep it confidential.”
Sameera refused.
“But it’s my best friend, Samir, and he is one of the best in town. He will help you.”
She did not want to share her thoughts, feeling with anyone out there. Omar became frustrated. So overwhelmed was Sameera with the locket around her neck continuously, she stopped meeting people, or even shopping for groceries.
Omar contacted the uncle who had given the locket initially and inquired about his wife.
“How did she die?” Omar asked.
The uncle initially refused to talk, but succumbed to Omar’s pressure, and agreed to meet him during lunch break. The uncle was very reluctant to share the details, but after hearing what Sameera had been through, he felt compelled to tell what had happened to his own wife. Apparently, as Omar came to realize, the locket has a wild and unbelievable history.
The uncle’s wife received the locket from her grandmother who belonged to the Mughal Empire that ruled India in the 1800s. Her grandmother wore the locket. Her husband, Badshaah, the King, gave it to her. Because the King had remarried another woman, to keep the first wife happy he gave her a very expensive locket. She was not very happy with the decision, but was temporarily happy with the locket. I can always sell it off and get the money, she thought. But she realized that her husband was spending more and more time with his new, younger wife, leaving herself feel dejected. She was not happy and confronted the King several times. The King was not happy, and had her locked in the dungeon, completely surrounded with thick brick walls, with no sunlight.
It was then she realized she had the locket around her neck, and used that as a visual sunlight. Tilting the locket to a certain angle, she was able to reflect off the light from the candle flames in her dungeon to create a startling effect of reflections on the ceiling. It helped served her pass her time. Several years in the dungeon, she was entering into a state of madness. When the guard who had bought her food was temporarily blinded by the strong reflection off her locket, she made a grab for him and pinned him to the ground using her body weight. Hitting his head on the floor, the guard fell unconscious, and she grabbed the sword from his belt and ran. There was only one place she was going: the King. Entering the dining hall, with disheveled hair and unkempt clothes, the guests screamed and shot up from their seats. The King, at the head of the table, turned around to see behind him. Before he could say anything, the woman brought her sword up and with all her mighty strength, swung it hard. Blood shot out from the now severed neck, as the head hung limply. A botched execution. All the woman could do was laugh maniacally to the point where she was shot with a shotgun by one of the guard.
Omar sat bewildered throughout.
“Surely that cannot be true,” he said to the uncle.
“Well,” said the uncle, “that’s how the legend goes. I cannot testify to what the truth is, but this story is what my wife had told me. Now I am telling it to you so you know what is happening to your wife. I fear she may be going through what my wife went through.”
“What did happen to your wife,” Omar asked.
“I am not sure if I should tell you the grisly details, but let’s just say that overwhelming power of the locket consumed her and grabbed her soul. It was as if her grandmother took possession of her soul through the locket. She eventually committed suicide after hurting our children. She nearly drowned them in the baths.”
Omar gasped. He didn’t know what to believe. I must get home and remove the locket from my wife. That was all he could think of. He dashed home, to find his wife sleeping on her bed, sweating profusely. He made an attempt to remove the locket, but her hand shot up and held Omar’s arm tightly, so much so, it was hurting him now.
“Sameera! Sameera!” He shouted to no effect. He picked up the bottle of water from the side table and doused her completely in water. She fell back down in the bed, uttering profanities. Omar did not know what to do with Sameera. It was becoming extremely difficult to remove the locket. I should have known right from the start that the locket is wrong. I felt uncomfortable looking at it the minute Sameera held it in her hands. What have I gotten myself into?
Over the course of the next few weeks, Omar had no choice but to have his wife admitted into a center where sick people were treated. The doctors could not help her. Even his personal friend, Samir, the doctor eventually diagnosed her as mentally unstable.
“How can a locket do something like this Samir?” Omar asked him.
“Sometimes people like to believe in superstitions and other legends, and when they believe in them so whole heartedly, their mind can take control of their body and soul. She has apparently convinced herself that the same woman who originally had the locket has possessed her.”
Omar left discontent. He did not know what to do.
4 months later.
Omar never forgot his ex-wife. He filed for divorce against his wife, whom even the doctor had proclaimed insane and mentally unfit. Omar was not happy about it, but he was a little relieved hedid not have to deal with a sick person. It has been four months, and while he remembers Sameera everyday, today was the day when he felt like visiting her in the hospital. As he was eating his breakfast, he decided to call in sick at work, and drove over to the asylum, where his wife was supposedly admitted.
Omar wished his friend Samir was still here so he could brisk through the security. But Samir was transferred to the Koh-Samui Island in Thailand. Omar was forced to have his car checked by the security guards at the gate, walk through the metal detector, and fill in the visitor book.
“Whom are you here for,” the receptionist asked?
“My wife,” Omar paused. “My ex-wife. Her name is Sameera Omar, but I think it may be have been reverted to Sameera Ali now.”
“We don’t have a record of a Sameera Ali, or Sameera Omar here sir,” the receptionist said checking through the computer database.
“What? There must be a mistake,” Omar said, please check again.
“Hold on sir while I get our senior nurse here.”
Omar fidgeted a lot with his car keys. Is Sameera dead? What happened? Where did she go? His car keys fell to the ground when Dr. Miriam, the senior head nurse, instantly interrupted him in his thoughts.
“Are you here for Sameera,” asked Dr. Miriam.
“Yes, I am,” Omar replied.
“What is the nature of your relation to Sameera?”
“ I am her husband, well, ex-husband now for 4 months.”
“Well, sir, I am most pleased to tell you that Sameera fully recovered and left town.”
Omar did not know what happened first: the floor beneath his legs fall away, or him hitting his head on the edge of the cushioned chair. When he regained conscious, he saw himself facing the ceiling lights. He knew he was lying on the stretcher.
“What happened?!” he shouted, and got up from the bed. Dr. Miriam came running down from the main desk.
“Sir, it’s all right, you just had a brief fainting spell. You are all right now.”
“What did you say about Sameera, Dr?”
“Sir, I have a note for you which was left by Sameera. Please feel free to use my office to read it.”
Omar made his way through the corridor, lined with green linoleum. The strong antiseptic smell was hitting him hard now. He sat down at the desk and opened up the envelope.
It read:
Dear Omar,
This is probably the hardest letter I have had to write my entire life. I don’t know where to begin or what to say. If you are reading this letter, I am sure you will know by now that I am not here in the hospital. I left as soon as you had dropped me here.
I am sorry I have lived a big lie in front of you. Actually, I think our marriage was a huge lie. You were not the man I had married all those years ago. You were a different person before I married you. I don’t know what happened, but you had changed. I thought it was normal at first, but then, despite my reasoning with you (which always ended up in arguments anyways) I could get through to you. I knew right from the start that our marriage was a doomed one. I wish I had the power to turn back the clock and reverse our marriage.
You may be wondering about the locket too.
I have left that in the safety box with Dr. Miriam. It was of no use to me anymore, although it was very beneficial at the time. I know you will be very upset at me, but I saw no other way out of this marriage. Feel free to take it from Dr. Miriam.
I had paid uncle a lot of money to help me get out of the marriage. I had paid him a lot of money. As you know already, uncle was not doing well after his wife’s death, so he needed the money the most. He was only happy to help me out. The whole locket thing was fabricated. I had spent weeks planning out how to work everything out. The locket is a cheap locket, which I got from the novelty store. Uncle’s wife never had the locket, his wife was never sick and she never attempted to drown her kids. Uncle was in India, but he never traveled around extensively.
The elaborate story of the origin of the locket was a hoax. I am sorry I misled you into believing I was being possessed by the locket. I sure picked up a few acting lessons watching TV.
I hope you are not mad at uncle. It is not his fault. I was the one who coaxed him into this because he needed the money. Please don’t go say anything to uncle. If anything, you should be angry with me. But then again, I am not here in the hospital. I am free. I am free from your captivity.
I am living my new life now. I am pregnant 2 months now. I live with a man who loves me for me. He gives me all the attention I need, something I lacked from you. He also helped me out in getting out of the country. He said he had a lot of problem doing the necessary paperwork to get me out the asylum and all, but it worked out. He feels bad he had to forge some documents to get me admitted in the asylum, but there was no other way.
My dear Omar, if you can find a place in your heart, please forgive me.
Sameera Samir
PS. I am now in Koh Samui Island, Thailand.
The End
As the 14th of February approaches, I wrote this short story in a span of two hours to send out an anti-valentine message! Call me crazy or anything else, but I love this story because its probably more real than the heavy doses of saccharine sweetness valentine brings with itself.
Mansur
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