Of Guitars, Wrists and Freedom

I've never strung a guitar. Even though I've had one since I was 5, and two (1+1 of course) since I was 19. Neither have ever demanded new strings, so I've never bothered. The violin though - because I played it so often (but not enough for my violin teacher(s) to love me more than their other students) - needed changes every now and then. I feel like comparing this to a baby needing a diaper change - but that would be disrespectful to Gligz (my violin - I name things) and doesn't really fit as a comparison. I won't go into details about why it doesn't fit - you should be able to figure that out.

Anyway, so back to the guitar. The one that I acquired (it used to be my father's - I appropriated it once I discovered the beautifulness that is Asturias) when I was 19 was last strung before I was born - so around 25 years ago. It's a beautiful guitar with a very deep tone that reminds me of hazelnut chocolate spread (i.e. Nutella - the European type that's not as sweet as the stuff we get here). Unfortunately, or fortunately, one of the strings broke a couple days ago and, because I enjoy playing this particular guitar more than my other one and because dad's work is across the road from a guitar store, I asked dad to buy a set of strings.

Last night, I decided to restring the wooden beauty and figured that it would be as easy as stringing a violin. I was wrong. It was much more difficult and tedious. Anyway, it ended up taking me almost 2 hours to get all the strings off and the new ones on (mostly because I'm really picky about where the string is sitting on the peg and how it looks) and a lot of that time was spent in winding the pegs. Thinking that my wrist (which underwent surgery a couple years ago and hasn't actually fully recovered) would be fine, I didn't bother taping it up or being 'careful.' Now - I'm in dire pain, and my hand is swollen - but - the stringing turned out well. And because my wrist was due for a bout of pain (the last one was during exams in April), I don't really mind having to go through it. At least - my guitar looks pretty and shiny with its brand new, silver strings. I still need to tune it though - spent today drinking tea, getting my hair cut and realizing that I'm actually quoteable. Oh - and had a massive tete-a-tete (dammit - there aren't any diacritical marks) with BKscope about PhDs and whether or not to pursue a three-year PhD or a three-year joint MIA/MPA and MBA. Hmm. Questions...questions...questions.

Answers? None yet. Maybe within the next few months as I get settled into Said-land (Edward - not the past form of 'to say').

And to all the South Asians out there. Happy Independence Day(s). 'S' in brackets for those who celebrate both - like me.

A Real, Live City...

I'm no longer a student of the most beautiful university in the world, but - in fact - of one of the oldest on this side of the Atlantic. Want a hint? Think of Mr. Black-yet-White President, the Writer of India's Constitution, one of the Founders of The Country In Which Even Pennies Trust God and so on...

I'm moving in two weeks to a city - oh Lordy to a Real, Massive, Intense, People-Crammed and Cramming city.

Through the Looking Glass...

...albeit an 8-pointed star-shaped one

I wonder what they're thinking

Paimana Bideh - Bring me the Glass...

More wonderfulness from Coke Studio - this time from Zeb and Haniya. This one makes me want to wander around North-West Pakistan more than I wanted to a while ago...But alas! I have to go to grad school. North-West Pakistan will just have to wait for another year.




Lyrics + Translation: Awais Aftab

Part one, translated from Darri/Farsi:
Paimana bideh ki khumaar astam
(Bring me the glass so I may lose myself)
Man aashiq-e chashm-e mast-e-yarastam
(I am in love with my beloved’s intoxicating eyes)
Bideh, bideh, ki khumaar astam
(Bring (the glass), bring (the glass), so I may lose myself)

Part two, translated from Pushto:
Dilgeer garzama labela taana
(You have captured my heart and I wander aimlessly without you)
Khabar me waakhla, raasha jaanana
(My love come/return, and see the state I’m in)
Khabar me waakhla, raasha jaanana
(My love come/return, and see the state I’m in)
Tarso ba garzay te bela mana?
(How long will you wander without me?)

Music Love (part 2?)

OK. This is old - from last year's version of Coke Studio. I was away for a couple of weeks, and so I missed this year's Coke Studio episodes and am just catching up on them. Anyway, while I was listening to Shafqat and Josh do a great rendition of Mahi Ve (Shafqat should have sang more though), I was reminded of this absolutely brilliant episode from last year. I've always loved loved loved Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (mostly because I'm absolutely in love with the brilliance of Nusrat-saab), and Junoon was the first Pakistani band I ever encountered (not face-to-face of course) - so this episode was special.

Sigh. I want to sing like this. Riaz Nabz...riaz....lots and lots of riaz.

Remembering the Enclave

the car waits patiently outside the gates
it is time to go
yet I am lost, lost in the black light
that sparkles in the haze
all is silent while the mouth speaks
of what, I do not know
do not remember

the sound of silence in the background is imagined

the yellow fluffiness is inviting
yet I am scared
scared of the consequences that will come by touching the three letters
by touching the face of the faceless person
who remains in my mind.

Dwindling Agnosticism

Echoing adhaans in Sultanahmet

Complete peace in the Blue Mosque

Tears at Maulana's grave

An intense longing

ishrat-e-qatra hai darya mein fana'a ho jaana