29 Years Ago...

Twenty nine years ago, in the city of Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, a baby was born at the United Christians Hospital. At the time, this hospital was known for its high standards and impeccable service. When the baby was born, the nurses were in absolute delight because they thought they were holding a baby whose mother was a foreigner. They all wanted turns to hold the baby. With hair that was light golden brown and skin that was very white, everyone one wanted a glimpse of this cute baby.

Once the baby came home, all his uncles and aunts, including his grandparents were in absolute delight to see such a cute baby. At the time in Lahore, there was a popular drama serial being telecasted on television. One of the main character was a young, handsome doctor whose name was Mansur. It was decided that because this baby was so cute, that the name Mansur would suit him. So, finally the baby was called Mansur.

Life for Mansur all began when Mansur's parents realized that he was not responding to noise very well. Maybe he is just choosing to ignore his parents, but a few medical tests confirmed that Mansur had severe hearing loss in both his ears. So, Mansur was fitted with hearing aids, and little did Mansur realize what a challenging life lay ahead of him.

Growing up in Saudi Arabia (complete with a loss of innocence of childhood) moving to Lahore to finish high school, spending a year doing dentistry in Texas and finally moving back to Dubai to complete his architecture degree has seen Mansur go through some of his best and worst times. The past 29 years has been a wild roller coaster ride for him, but he is glad for one thing and that is his life.

Mansur loves living his life. He is not willing to give up on it despite all the challenges. To him, it's all about these "little experiences" in life that makes it worth living. He loves overcoming challenges and obstacles. He loves meeting new people. He loves exploring different countries and cultures. He loves being a friend to those who let him enter their lives. He loves being a son to his parents, and a brother to his siblings. He loves being an uncle to his niece and nephew. He knows he is only 29 years old now, but he is looking forward to live out the rest of his life.

Of course, Mansur also means Victorious. For Mansur to really understand why he would have to victorious in life, he actually had to live his life. For it is when he is living his life that he understands what he needs to be victorious over. He knows that at the end of his life, he will be the victorious one, having his lived his life the way he wants to. The name Mansur was not a mistake. It's the perfect name for Mansur. He is meant to be victorious as he battles his way through his life. He is meant to overcome the hurdles that make him stumble and fall. He is supposed to emerge as the winner in this test called Life.

His 29th year could prove to be his most exciting and challenging one for it could be the year he gets engaged and married. He is also getting a car soon and finally a new place in Dubai he can call his own. His job is exciting, and he has clearly made a new start in his life now. The 29th year of his life has begun today and he is looking forward to living his life to the fullest.

Mansur, happy 29th birthday to you!