Tonight’s post is dedicated to a shelter. Probably the gentlest and strongest person I have known in my life; his life was a constant struggle, battling a disease he was destined to lose against. Yet he kept fighting, showing his normal demeanor to the world and concealing whatever fears he had. It was part of his job to inspire people in order to reach greater heights of their potential. I met him last a week or so before leaving for states. I know that I am always going to regret not giving another visit before leaving, knowing that I will never be able to see him or talk to him in this life again.

I know that I shall always look up at his example; difficult to follow it may be……he is the one person who has probably inspired me the most as a teacher. Uncle Zaeem, you may well be gone to this world but you will always live on in our hearts. I shall always remember you as a shelter you were…..and the way you believed in me when many others would have doubted. You will be sorely missed….

Winds have started shifting in my city. Its the eve of winter and its unlike anything I have witnessed before. My city has exploded in the colors of fall with every tree giving its own distinct hue. Winters are very different here; a world different from the time I used to cherish every moment of.
Back home, winters marked a time of reflection; where the nights were silent, blissful, enlightening. Here, they are weary, desolate and confining. Soon, the trees shall loose their colors and the entire landscape will be painted in white; winds will be biting, testing your every nerve, every sense; and all this will be here to stay. I only wonder now how different it will be from the years past.....

I miss my world tonight……more than I have on usual occasions. I wonder what I have become here and what I will become after my years here. It is strange living like this. You estrange yourself from a former life so you are not restricted by it…….yet you remain connected to it cause it defines you.

Tonight, I feel lost, guilty and alone in an alien place. Part of me wants a glimpse of home……but the other part reasons that I am still not ready for. There is still so much I need to do and become. Someday, I shall return to my former life……..as for now…I shall find my solace in God as I always have. This night shall not pass very easily…….

Here I am again……..with all the usual raves and rants. Two weeks ago, I was wondering how it would feel to finally move away. To finally go to states for my masters….and effectively leave a whole life and world behind. Now that I am here, I realize that not much has changed. I am still the same; feel excited about the same things and remain indifferent to the same set and I still enjoy writing at night…although now in a completely different time zone. If anything, I find myself more focused; more sure and more excited about what I shall be doing in the coming 1.5 year.

Ofcourse I miss home. Miss the life that I had there. But its not something that wears me down or constantly plagues my thoughts. Its just nostalgia; a state that has to be dealt with and something highly important. I believe it shall keep me rooted during my time here; an assurance that I shall remain true to my world and the ideals I proclaim, being a part of it.