'Be careful what you set your heart upon- for it will surely be yours.'- James A. Baldwin
When your family happens to be at the receiving end of the good things you'd invested in, the attainment of bliss is indescribable. It began with getting the VIP entry upon exulting the three-word label, "Times Of India" and the guard, straightening up his back, bowed and allowed our car to enter the arena.The passes were verified and we were shown the way to the auditorium. Though it was jam packed, we (me and my family) managed to scooch in and sit on some just another seats in the last row. But spotting the heads in the crowd, I managed to see Mr. Manpal Tiwana (the organizer of the event) and went up to see him. Gladly greeting, to my surprise, he informed that the special seats were booked for me in the front row. And when the row had a label of 'PRESS' by its side, I had all the reasons to make merry. Taking my people to the near-to-the-stage row, I am unable to find words that might do justice to the beautiful feeling I experienced. Nooran Sisters, Coke Studio fame, were here in the city to perform and I was here to cover the event on the behalf of ToI. Unbelievable much? Suddenly it felt like being in the Tri-wizard tournament and finding the Goblet of Fire just at an arm's distance.
Apart from the soothing of ears, the two gorgeous girls soothed everyone's souls as well. Sufi music, as it is said, is liberating in its own way. It was visible as Jyoti Nooran sang with all the energy, soul and vigour. The crests and troughs that the sisters created in the air of the Harpal Tiwaana Centre of Performing Arts, it felt like someone had used the Stupefy spell on us. The evening ended on even a higher note. In lieu of the interview, I got to share some candid moments with the celebrities of the evening and what made it so beautiful was the their stark simplicity that they possessed.
Apart from travelling through the streets of Pakistan through their songs as they get the noor of their voice from Bibi Nooran (their grandmother) from that place, I got to see Kashmir and Srinagar as well. No, it wasn't an impromptu vacation. Instead, I got to meet the academic head of Career Launcher who was here in the shortest month of the year yet got himself registered in my memory with the longest list of adjectives besides his name. Mr. Vijay Kalyan Jha, meeting whom revived the dormant learning that when you got to achieve something, you must get away with the deadlocks at all costs. Braving the derogatory remarks, the bloodshed, unannounced curfews, India-Pakistan rivalry et al. Shocking instead of surprising, I learnt how the locals of the state would demarcate in being the residents of Pakistan instead of India. The ordeal to set up a CL center in the region where they won't allow a male to step inside a girls college, leave alone a fact of having a knowledge and interactive session with the students. CL is a company of impeccable heads put together, I tell you!
The past few months have indeed been a blessing in disguise where apart from exploring various avenues of interest, I have explored so many different shades of my personality which least did I know even existed. From being an inch closer to the English language to being able to taste the flavour of something which I always wanted to pursue as a full time profession, Journalism. God has really been great and I just hope that the grace continues. With a destiny-changing mail pouring in a few days ago, I experienced a bittersweet moment. Being made to read 'A Daughter leaving home' by Ray Hansell, I cried like a baby when the first thought of leaving home actualized in front of my eyes. I'll be flying down south in just a couple of days. Along with apprehensions of an entirely new place, new horizon, new latitude and longitude, I'm trying to remove dust from my box of excitement and thrill before I let it open. Apart from all the love and care of my family what I'll miss the most is my first job; wherein a part of me would always stay. Those known faces, smiles, tears, laughter sessions, hugs, sessions, classes and a couple of students. Career Launcher has been far far more than just being a folder's name in one of the drives of my laptop. From a student to a faculty, it has been a long yet a fruitful journey. I wish I had Hermoine's time turner to re-live a few moments before I finally let go of everything I had been holding till now or rather the things which held me together and let me put my head high. Truth to be told, I'm going to miss this baby like a heroin addict out of a failed rehab effort.
When your family happens to be at the receiving end of the good things you'd invested in, the attainment of bliss is indescribable. It began with getting the VIP entry upon exulting the three-word label, "Times Of India" and the guard, straightening up his back, bowed and allowed our car to enter the arena.The passes were verified and we were shown the way to the auditorium. Though it was jam packed, we (me and my family) managed to scooch in and sit on some just another seats in the last row. But spotting the heads in the crowd, I managed to see Mr. Manpal Tiwana (the organizer of the event) and went up to see him. Gladly greeting, to my surprise, he informed that the special seats were booked for me in the front row. And when the row had a label of 'PRESS' by its side, I had all the reasons to make merry. Taking my people to the near-to-the-stage row, I am unable to find words that might do justice to the beautiful feeling I experienced. Nooran Sisters, Coke Studio fame, were here in the city to perform and I was here to cover the event on the behalf of ToI. Unbelievable much? Suddenly it felt like being in the Tri-wizard tournament and finding the Goblet of Fire just at an arm's distance.
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| On stage Nooran Sisters |
Apart from travelling through the streets of Pakistan through their songs as they get the noor of their voice from Bibi Nooran (their grandmother) from that place, I got to see Kashmir and Srinagar as well. No, it wasn't an impromptu vacation. Instead, I got to meet the academic head of Career Launcher who was here in the shortest month of the year yet got himself registered in my memory with the longest list of adjectives besides his name. Mr. Vijay Kalyan Jha, meeting whom revived the dormant learning that when you got to achieve something, you must get away with the deadlocks at all costs. Braving the derogatory remarks, the bloodshed, unannounced curfews, India-Pakistan rivalry et al. Shocking instead of surprising, I learnt how the locals of the state would demarcate in being the residents of Pakistan instead of India. The ordeal to set up a CL center in the region where they won't allow a male to step inside a girls college, leave alone a fact of having a knowledge and interactive session with the students. CL is a company of impeccable heads put together, I tell you!
The past few months have indeed been a blessing in disguise where apart from exploring various avenues of interest, I have explored so many different shades of my personality which least did I know even existed. From being an inch closer to the English language to being able to taste the flavour of something which I always wanted to pursue as a full time profession, Journalism. God has really been great and I just hope that the grace continues. With a destiny-changing mail pouring in a few days ago, I experienced a bittersweet moment. Being made to read 'A Daughter leaving home' by Ray Hansell, I cried like a baby when the first thought of leaving home actualized in front of my eyes. I'll be flying down south in just a couple of days. Along with apprehensions of an entirely new place, new horizon, new latitude and longitude, I'm trying to remove dust from my box of excitement and thrill before I let it open. Apart from all the love and care of my family what I'll miss the most is my first job; wherein a part of me would always stay. Those known faces, smiles, tears, laughter sessions, hugs, sessions, classes and a couple of students. Career Launcher has been far far more than just being a folder's name in one of the drives of my laptop. From a student to a faculty, it has been a long yet a fruitful journey. I wish I had Hermoine's time turner to re-live a few moments before I finally let go of everything I had been holding till now or rather the things which held me together and let me put my head high. Truth to be told, I'm going to miss this baby like a heroin addict out of a failed rehab effort.
