"Allahu Akbar... " The Azan is called out and for the next few minutes, you completely forget about the world- It’s just you, the delicacies and your extreme urge to fulfil your temptation you've been controlling since morn. Having lived my teen ages in the Middle East, Ramzan, the holy month for the Muslims, has been certainly a lil' more significant than the rest of the year. To start off with, school hours began late and every class had reduced timing. You get back home from school, wake up after a power nap, hang out with friends and its already time for ifthar. The good deeds, good thoughts, certainly the food, from every angle, Ramzan is simply 30 bright days. And they are talked about day in day out, on all the 30 days. The much talked about and corny Ramzan cookery Shows on TV and the show where the Imam covers the entire screen and talks about the good deeds to be done during the holy month. Leaving the tried, tested and tired topic behind Here I shall talk about the infamous episodes of people breaking their fasts before Ifthar.
They say, Ramzan : the times when you know your desires and learn to keep 'em under control. It was just 20 minutes away from the Azan but, you had already reached a point where you can’t stand your hunger anymore and you buy a pack of Sohar Chips and a can of Coke. Holding them in your hands, you see everything around you asking you not to have it, except for your tummy. And you keep telling yourself, “It’s just 20 minutes away!". But no! The 15 year old me, won’t fight out anymore minutes. He pops in the chips and gulps the fizzy drink right in! You know how much the memory of such an episode would be regret forever. Wasn't for me. 'coz here, 20 minutes away from Azan, mine wasn't the only tummy craving for the pack of chips and can of coke. It just turned out to be one of those stupid things I did with Omar during high school days.
Ramzan : Times when you know your desires and learn to keep 'em under control. You LEARN to keep 'em under control. You aren't born experts, you fail many at times before becoming the super-cool, non-fast-breaking, Sunni you are today.
Saif and Ajmal went up to B'lore during Ramzan, the last year. They had some serious work up there and Saif wasn't fasting the particular day, while the other one was. They finished their so called - Serious work out there and went to the mall to chill. They participated on a road show where they were supposed to compete as a team and the two were winning. They finally completed second and received two King-Sized Dairy Milk Silk, one for each. Ajmal, the non fasting dude, licked every bit of his Chocolate bar and asked Saif to hand him over his. "There was chocolate all over his face and you know I hadn't felt Silk lately. I stopped for a moment and thought to himself, I'm so freekin' hungry and can eat a hell lot right now; moreover, if I don't have my chocolate bar right now, this douche bag is going to have it. Not letting that happen! I've got to break it!” The couple later hit the Restaurant and ordered food for a life-time and ended up wasting more than half of it.
Ramzan : Time when you are tempted to eat up a whole bull, but, you just can’t.
Tarek, a friend of ours shared his epic incident with us. The temperature on that day was unbearable, and all he wished for was a glass of water! He goes to his girlfriend's house after school, where she offered him water, but he refused to drink, because "I'm a 'good' Muslim", he said.
Yeah!
5 minutes later, there he was.. Hogging 3 bowls of custard pudding, prepared by the lady love. "And it was not because I wanted to break my fast... I just didn't want to break her heart!” That! That is true lover’s Quote.
Even though all these stories were so much fun and entertaining when thought about later, they all said with no second thought. "It could have been avoided!"
Disclaimer : This is to notify that We aren't responsible for Anybody breaking their fasts, after reading this post. Any such events would be dealt between yourself and God. Thank you. But yeah, at the end of the day,
"... it wasn't coz i wanted to break the fast, but, I just didn't want to break her heart!" :-D
Let us know your reviews and feedback on the blog.
"Eric is free, so is Wazeer and Karthik. I've asked them to convince Joanne and Rihanna to come. C'mon man! Try to hang in. Its gonna be ultimate! All of us, spending a weekend at Goa!" "Aah! Sounds amazing. But, i have an assignment to submit on the following Monday. Lemme see what i can do. Surely not missing out on this man!". You haven't even talked to Wazeer or Karthik yet you have convinced Dennis to the list for the so called Ultimate Road-trip. We'all have been to at least one such trip with the best friends. Logically, a successful road-trip with them is like getting pregnant. Only we know how many times this heavily planned trip has flopped before the successful one. If you know what i mean.
The awesome road trips are familiar topics which would be talked about for the rest of your lives. Best friends, exotic location and a relaxed mind is always the perfect blend for an amazing weekend. Filling in the bags with best tee shirts you own and all the other cool stuffs, booking the tickets and rooms, submitting work early, arranging enough cash and updating the "Bags packed, destination Goa!" status up on Facebook - the usual ritual. We'all know how awesome those days are and the trip, even better. We've heard about it a million times and all are bored out off their minds listening to it. Whats more interesting is the Heavily planned trip Screw ups! Here is a compilation of the worst screw ups of master-planned trips.
- "We planned everything precisely. 20th is my last exam of the semester. And we were going on 26th. The place of stay, time to be spent at each place. And booked a car for rent. Would come back on 31st." is what Ayman planned his trip with friends to Mumbai. Well, to his surprise, Mr. Ajmal Kasab and friends had a clean 'Grand Theft Auto in real life' session in Mumbai on the very day they were to leave. "Hanging him to death was too nice! I had suggested better ways to kill him", he said.
- Dennis was to meet up with his childhood buddies Eric and Athef last summer at perfect Summer vacation destination - Goa. He was excited that he couldn't sleep that night. The train was at 6 in the morn, and he awake all night. And he woke to know that it was 11 am. Over-excited screw up! Expecting Dennis and Athef, Eric had set off for Goa a day earlier. Hearing that Dennis missed his train, Athef backed out and Eric had the time of his life stranded at Madgaon Railway station! He left back for home in the very next train, that was after 17 hours. Master-plan Suck up! However, they met up this year and celebrated the two years together. They call it their 'Combo Vacation'!
- So,These trips dint happen. Suzan said Tanya's wedding, Tanya said Suzan's tying the knot and Pratik's and Rahul's career guidance classes. Yeah! Out-of-the-blue excuses and MAY was supposed to be the ultimate month for the gang. We'all know its worse when we go on a heavily planned trip and it ending up being a bad dream for life! So the trio after much tantrums and disagreement decided upon a 2 day Pondicherry (now there’s a surprise). And weren't our friends all prepared!! - From toothbrush and jemmies, they had everything charted out ,specially with a guide our smart friend Pratik picked out right off a shady site(Indian equivalent of craigslist). Yeah, he does sound like Alan Garner (Hangover-movie Fame). Handing over their saved up money to ensure extreme thrills to the shady Anglo guide in there was easy. Now, What could ever go wrong? Getting stuck at a hotel with barely 500 bucks and having no Freekin' clue 'bout what the hell to do. The “holistic hocus- pocus” guide had ditched them and vanished with their cash. Using what little cash and brain they had, they made it to the train station where they sold every not-so-valuable things they had to find some penny to find their way back. Bad dream? Hell Yeah!
- The super active gang who figured out an instant plan for a super cool road trip and set off for it right away. All set, have all the essentials packed in the car, Sarah and fellas left for a near by hill station. Oh wait! They found an interesting Bar on the way. Instant change of plans - Hit the bar! And then you should assume what happened, 'coz they have no idea what happened later on. Alcohol, one easy solution to all your 'I haven't sucked up a road trip!' problem.
And here, I certainly am not thinking of ending the blog Entry saying, " Oh Screwed up Road-trips! You make the successful Road-trip look nice!". Screwed-up Road-trips, are bad! There isn't no BRIGHT way to look at it!
Photo Courtesy :
Munz Photography
