The Gray Paradise (Short Story)

I stepped out the air conditioned car onto the street that seemed to be paved from the heat of hell. In a matter of seconds, my sunglasses began to fog from within and I took them off. It seemed like the sun was a feet away from my head. I squinted and rubbed my eyes for minutes before my gaze was adjusted to this bright burning weather.  It was a typical mid-summer afternoon in Karachi but coming from a breezy city like Toronto, the air was suffocating.

I walked straight towards the monstrous wooden doors guarded by two security guards and as I had anticipated, they let me in without any questioning. The common Pakistani is always intimidated by a man in a suit just stepping out of a million rupee car. I knew if I walked the walk correctly, they’d be holding doors for me. I guess something’s never change.

I stepped inside the doors which led to an open school ground.  It was time to clean out the skeletons in my closet. Just as I was exposed to the ground, I sunk in my own wistfulness. A massive wave of nostalgia overcame me and I stood struck by the memories for minutes.

There, on the left used to be the sports office, where I’d regularly check my name on the board for if I had made the cricket team or not. On the right used to be the twin canteens that were separated by a fence for the boys and girls. I’d line up every day with my friends and rush to grab the last piece of foiled beef roll. In the middle stood the cemented cricket pitch where I had many times exalted my skills.

The tall white buildings that rose from the ground on either side gave me such joy. Twenty years ago they were the last thing I would want to see. But today, after two decades of a mournful divorce from this place, I could not be happier to witness them. Each floor of these buildings had a different tale to tell.

The building on the far left was my Primary campus. All the pencil picking and address learning had been done there. On the right was my Secondary Building. That’s where I had gone through puberty, and learned what calculus was and wreaked a lot of mischief. If I think hard enough, I might still remember.

The time I had broken the chalk eraser in grade 7? The time I had sneaked out of class and bunked my history period loitering around the water cooler in grade 9? Or the time that I had picked my first and last fight and had broken Mohammad Ali’s nose in grade 10? So many memories of those wondrous years came flooding in. I was in the middle of these memories, the protagonist, the hero. And yet somehow, they felt like folk tales; stories that one tells the other for self-amusement. They have no truth to them, just stories that fade away with time.

But when I was living them, they were real. They were what I had known to be true. I had created my own food for life, and this is where I got the flavouring from.

I saw the cement pitch lay on the rocky yellow sand with great pride. I walked towards it, like I had walked towards it many times before. In rejoice of a wicket that a fellow player had taken, or with my head down with shame as we lost an easy one; my walk towards that pitch had always been remarkable.

But today I walk towards it with a different motive. I walk towards it so it may relieve me of my pain. I walk towards it not a 17 year old boy that believed that the world was his, but a 37 year old man that realized it wasn’t. I walk towards it with shame that I was unable to fulfill all my promises to it. I walk towards it to seek my redemption.

St.Micheal's Convent School
Photo Credits: Faseeh Ul Haq

Every step I took, I went further and further into my own mind, lost in its empty abyss. Finally, I took one step on the rugged grey piece of cement and stepped on to the center with my back to the secondary building. I hoped what I had come here for would pay off. That I would not be disappointed after I turned. I saw my shadow on the ground. It looked ready for the 180 degree spin. And with a twist of my heel, I spun.

For a second nothing happened. I looked straight at the wall of the secondary building that stretched on for metres, turning on the far corner and then continuing again so it made a rather large L shape. For years the wall of that building served as a boundary for our cricket games. Alongside the wide walls were benches lined up under the shade. Those benches served as meeting points for our gang. It was there where we gathered and planned the rest of the school day.

And then it began. My brain finally picked out the memory I had long savoured to replay. At the east end of the secondary building was a gate that opened into the auditorium where we would write our O-level exams. I remember fondly of the day I wrote my final Islamiat exam. I had written a perfect test and walked straight to the pitch to get away from the tall shade that the Secondary building casted upon the ground. The sunlight relaxed my muscles and I felt free under the burning sun.

My friends would soon follow me to the center of the pitch to discuss the exam. One said it was amazing, the other complained about the time. One said he was surely going to flunk it. A lot of conversations were taking place right where I stood now.

And suddenly the voices seemed to diminish as a young girl stepped out from that gate on to the rocky field. Her pencil case was in her mouth as she redid her hair in a bun. Her hair band wrapped around her wrist as she fixed the little strands of hair that touched her nose and forehead. She gave her neck a little jolt and fixed the band on her hair and pulled the pencil case out of her mouth. She asked her friend if her hair looked fine. She then smiled and gave an ecstatic scream about her exam. The gleam in her eye dimmed the scorching sun above me. Her lips stretched out across her face and I could have sworn at that moment nothing could be more perfect.

She took small strides towards the benches and sat down. One of her friend’s seemed to insist that she had quoted some Hadith wrong, but she had no care of the exam anymore. She was free. She seemed to tell her that she was indifferent and made her realize that the summer vacations were finally upon us. Not a moment went by that the smile left her face.

I could still hear my friend talking, but somehow he was muted. Everything had paused. I had a tunnel vision only to her. That’s all I could see. Her, sitting on the white marble bench with her feet crossed, so majestic. Minutes went by and I continued to look at her, never batting an eye. I had seen her before, but not like this. This was something I had never felt before.

Soon enough her gaze met mine and I felt as if my heart had been electrocuted. My heartbeat increased and I could feel the boneless muscle in my chest skip a beat every time it made the effort of pumping blood into my astonished body. My lips curled into a smile, my cheeks went red but I did not break my vision. Her smile turned into amazement. She took up the challenge and continued to stare at me, not knowing what enchantment she was putting me under.

Soon she stuck her tongue out and made the most ridiculous face she could make. It was like watching a flowery meadow in spring. I laughed, not at her face, but at how it made me feel. I broke away from my little group and to walked towards her. I felt each step I took led me to enlightenment. This was my good fortune, I was walking towards the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

When I was in her presence I stopped. She raised an eyebrow, her smile still glued to her face.

“Hi.” I said.

“Hi.” She said.

“Hi.” A little boy standing next to me said. I looked over my shoulder and I realized I was standing on this gray paradise for a long time. The ghosts of my past evaporated like vapour in front of me. “What are we looking at?” he asked. He must have been 15 or 16. I hesitated to answer. I made a living constructing fairy tales but today I was at a loss of words.

“Just thinking,” I finally said.

“About what?”

“About how fast we grow up, but how slow our memories do.” He looked confused. He pondered upon what I had said and shrugged it off. He stared at my face for a long time, like trying to remember me from somewhere.

“Have I seen you somewhere?” he inquired.

“I don’t think so.” I knew he had seen me. I was part of his English curriculum. Soon enough he pulled out a book in his bag and flipped to the back cover only to see my face smiling back at him.

“You’re this guy!” he screamed! He understood he had met a celebrity. His realization faded soon as he heard the final bell of the day and realized school had finished. Almost involuntary, without even asking for an autograph, he shoved the book back in his bag and stood beside me silently, staring at the auditorium gate.

A bunch of students exited from that door and out to their vans and I saw him examine each one. His vision halted on one particular student, a girl that walked past with her books placed against her chest while talking to her friends. She exited the doors and out the school she was. I looked at the boy again and saw a smile develop on his face. He gathered his things, shook my hand and made his way to the exit.

I stood there perplexed at what had happened. For a brief moment, I could see the spark I felt for her in this little boy. Were kids still capable to feel what I had felt two decades ago? If so, were their destinies similar to mine? 

I was struck on that notion when I saw her again. Sitting on her white marble throne like a queen, she was just like I had remembered her. The young girl that had not a care for the world. The young girl which had taught me more about life than life itself. The young girl I had abandoned to chase my dreams, only to realize she was the dream. And now it's too late. 

She saw me and flashed her wicked smile again. She then stood up and walked towards the gate. My brain was playing tricks on me. She was not real. But I had the urge to follow her. To set everything right. To tell her I was sorry. But I couldn't.

So I stood there, sheepishly atop the gray paradise and under the blazing sun. I remembered how the boy's face lit up when he saw the girl walk by. I could fondly remember myself once in his footsteps; believing love was as simple as they showed it in movies. I put my glasses on and walked towards the giant doors. 

I was a prisoner of my regrets and this was my punishment. For twenty years she pecked on my brains, reminding me of the mistake that I had made. Today, after twenty years of suffering, I welcome the pain, it is the sensation which will liberate me. Pain, my impeding friend

The Cornered Tiger

"Nobody can achieve greatness until they crush the idols of infedelity and fear that are present inside of them." - Imran Khan

Some 22 odd years ago, during a decisive world cup match against Australia in 1992, Imran Khan came out for the toss wearing a shirt that had the picture of a tiger about to pounce. After being questioned on it he replied, “I want my team to play like a cornered tiger, when it’s at its best.” Today, almost 22 years later, Imran Khan comes out of his home away from home in a little container in the heart of Islamabad and looks around only to find his team of supporters as cornered as never before.

Tahir Ul Qadri has just announced the end of his sit-ins that lasted a record of 70 days. Mr. Qadri and Imran Khan had an undocumented allegiance, which helped both of the two parties on their mission in Islamabad. Both came hand in hand when mentioned and they helped each other when one was about to fall. One cannot forget the commitment of Mr. Qadri’s followers on the night of the dreadful shelling’s where Imran Khan’s supporters were nowhere to be seen, yet Mr. Qadri’s supporters guarded the two containers with their lives. One cannot also forgive the massacre done by the ruthless Punjab Police in Lahore to these supporters leaving 14 dead and 2 of them women. Mr. Qadri has paid his dues.

The current announcement sent shockwaves around Islamabad. Some held press conferences welcoming the end to the sit ins with sheepish smiles while others felt betrayed and downgraded. Yet Khan’s determination was not dented. He came out the next day appreciating Mr. Qadri’s efforts and thanking him for his assistance on this journey. He continued and said Mr. Qadri’s mission may have ended, but his mission is far from over. He promised to retrieve Nawaz Sharif’s resignation and so he will, even if he has to wait his whole life. He reiterated the promise he made to the masses and said that he has never bowed down from a commitment and he never will.

The question arises, why is Imran Khan so determined? The immediate answer that the cynics and the saints would give is that he’s power hungry. Right, because a person who was living a princely life would give all that up to make a career out of the least noble profession in the country. Every day since the past 2 and half months, Imran Khan comes out from atop his container and speaks to the masses. Every day, his determination grows stronger and stronger as he feeds off motivation from the crowds and the massive congregations that come to see him at his rallies. He absorbs their pain and damage, combines it with his experience, and stands taller every day.

He is determined because he is the cornered tiger. He is the lone wolf amongst hyenas and coyotes. He is the silver lining amongst dark thick clouds of destruction. And he knows it. He knows that a tiger pounces the strongest when it’s cornered, its back against the wall and no way to go except forward. With Mr. Qadri’s farewell, Khan has rejuvenated himself. He has gained the composure and the stamina needed to fight the battle he has been fighting since the inception of his party. The contraries think otherwise and so be it. In a democracy, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions and that is fine, as long as one does not be naïve about it.

Although Mr. Qadri may have parted ways for now, his efforts are commendable. His departure may have been abrupt and uncalled for, but his mission stays with the people of the sit-in as they prepare themselves for harsher times ahead in the future. As for Imran Khan, he can still be spotted on top of his container with a wide smile, standing high in front of his people with spirits even higher.

Twitter: @itsNazar

Instagram: @itsNazar96

Fantastic Fincher with Gratifying Gone Girl

“The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader. That's why we go to movies and say, "Oh, the book is better.”  - Paul Coehlo

As I sat munching on popcorn and taking an occasional sip from my coke glass, I had a flashback. A flashback of all the Fincher movies that have wowed me over the years. With the amazing end to Seven to Fight Club’s even more ultra-dramatic finish, Fincher has made my jaw drop on a number of occasions. So to say Gone Girl had high expectations would be an understatement. My thoughts were taking their toll when the screen in front of me displayed the initial trailers and the Fincher sensation had begun.

And to no one’s surprise, Gone Girl delivered. If you’re familiar with any of David Fincher’s films, you’ll know his movies are meticulously crafted and brilliant looking movies. So when the opening credits started to show, I already felt the dark and shadowy tone of the movie that told me something wasn’t right. As the movie played on, my jaw dropped on numerous occasions as the film twisted and turned and moved forward with great pace. And by the time the end credits were rolling, I was just awestruck staring at Fincher’s name as he yet again pulled a spectacular one on us.

This movie has so many ups. Starting from the acting, Affleck was on top of his game from the get go. He seemed mysterious and guarded and something just didn’t seem right with this fellow. On numerous occasions, Affleck stole the scenes and his emotions were so on point that I actually started hating this guy.

But the real surprise came from Rosamund Pike. Where was she all these years?! The only thing I knew prior to this movie about Pikes was that once upon a time she was a Bond girl, and that’s all the info I knew. But man does she pack a punch in this one. My predictions, Pikes will definitely be nominated if not win Best Actress this year at the Academy’s. If she’s not nominated, my little attachment with The Oscars will be diminished forever until they hand Leo his rightful Oscar.

The supporting actors were great as well. Neil Patrick Harris was creepy and that’s a good thing because that means he did a good job. The movie is two and a half hours long but you know a movie is amazing if you don’t feel a thing. I heard that the end was quite different from the book. Because I haven’t read it, I can’t really comment on that but the end to this movie was perfect for me and it gelled perfectly with the rest of the film.

Although the musical score to this movie was amazing, at points the audio was hard to hear, specifically the first few minutes. It got better as the movie progressed though. But at this point, I’m just nitpicking and trying to found faults to a nearly flawless film.

As the end credits started rolling, I looked at my friend who was watching his debut Fincher flick and he looked at me dumbfounded as I looked at him the same way. We walked out of the theatre without saying a word to each other and it was minutes before we spoke. The first words were indeed, “What just happened.” I said to him, “That’s Fincher for you.”

8.5/10

Peace!

Twitter: @itsNazar

Instagram: @itsNazar96

 

Bill Maher's Problem

"How 'bout more than a billion people, who aren't fanatical, who dont want to punish people, who just want to go to the store buy some sandwiches and pray 5 times a day." - Ben Affleck

I usually don't take my time out to discuss things as an uproar against Islam (again). Simply, because people like Bill Maher are not worth the time and effort to be debated about as long as they give factual and logical arguments with their claims. They have no affect on my life and I will continue to practice my religion as I want to. But notice how I said 'factual and logical' and not 'biased and absurd.’ When someone comes out with a sweeping statement, or in this case a sweeping late night talk show, my mind produces a few counter arguments that I feel I should ink out.

Bill Maher is an atheist and/or an agnostic. I actually don’t care what he is. It means nothing to me as a person if he believes in religion or not. What bothers me are his radical views on religion, specifically Islam. He talked about Female Genital Mutilation and how it’s an Islamic practice and how wrong it is, making a wider generalization statement against all Muslims and referring to the religion as, “the mafia, that will f--king kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture or write the wrong book.” Now, I have a few issues with that.

As Reza Aslan has already pointed out, FGM is not an Islamic activity, rather than an African cultural practice that happens to be practiced in Islamic states in Africa. But wait, there’s more. As already stated by Aslan, Eritrea and Ethiopia are largely Christian countries with more than 70% FMG. Also, of the 29 targeted UNICEF countries that exercise FMG, 14 of them are Christian majority countries. Can we suddenly draw a sweeping statement that Christianity promotes FMG? Of course not, that would be juvenile.

This is exactly what Mr. Maher has done. I understand in a free country you’re allowed to say what you want and the whole ‘Free Will’ business is essential but is there a line that has to be drawn between free speech and nonsense talk? Can you suddenly generalize and call 1.6 billion people terrorists? Mr. Maher in the past has been ‘alarmed’ about the most used name for babies in Great Britain is Mohammad. He said in his talk show that he fears Muslims will rule the western world in some 300 years and he hopes that it doesn’t make him a racist if he thinks that way. News flash, it does.

I humbly appreciate Ben Affleck trying his best to protect Islam on Bill’s talk show while he was promoting his new thriller Gone Girl, but has Maher hit a new low by discussing Islam without having Muslims on the panel at all? It fails to seep through my hollow brain the thought of discussing a religion without its ambassadors there to defend it. It just doesn’t make sense. Islam is a religion open to debate as long as there is a defense there as well. You cannot expect a Hollywood movie star to defend a religion he barely knows anything about albeit he did a good job.

The problem with Maher is that he thinks his liberal views are the liberal views period. He has embedded in his mind that Islam is a religion of violence and that the only way to discuss it is to defame it. I understand you have issues with Islam Mr. Maher, but next time please do your homework. You only look like a kid who’s out of insults so he slanders the other kids mother. You’ve stooped too low Bill.

 

Twitter: @itsNazar

Instagram: @itsNazar96



Interstellar!

"Everything I learned, I learned from movies." - Audrey Hepburn

There are bad movies. There are average movies. There are good movies. Then, there are Christopher Nolan movies! In this day and age where the directors are now the stars of the movies, Nolan has surely created a name for himself. Starting with a low budget movie like the Following, Nolan and his brother got their first break with Momento and they've never looked back. Creating thrillers after thrillers that just mind screwed the audience, its no wonder Nolan has developed into being one of the greatest directors in the modern film making era. And now, after 2 years since his last project, he's back with Interstellar.

Interstellar is a sci-fi movie about human survival. After the humans took a large dump on Earth, its habitable environment is questionanble and the entire human race is at stake. So McConaughey and company go on a voyage into space to search for a planet that will be accustomed to our needs and thus we have our movie.

One thing Nolan does brilliantly is disguise his films in the trailer. He just gives enough so that we as the audience get a taste of what he's offering and ask for more by getting our buts in the seats at the cinemas. Interstellar is no different. The third trailer came out just recently and I know just as much as I did when I watched the first trailer. The trailer is so eerie and melancholic, I can already see where this movie is heading. With another fantastic score by Hans Zimmer, the environement and the setting really makes you believe you're setting out on a journey with these guys. I can tell you one thing for a fact, Interstellar is going to be one good looking movie. I mean that shot of Saturn and it's rings is just breath taking!

I have not an inch of doubt about the acting from the actors in this movie. Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain to name a few are starring in this movie. McConaughey just bagged an Oscar recently and he will be back to sustain his place in the Academy. From what I've seen in the trailers, I think he's heading in the right direction already. Man this guy really can really jerk a tear in your eye.

I read in an interview somewhere that said this movie is claimes to be Nolan's best work yet. With hits like Inception, The Dark Knight Trilogy and fan favourite the Prestige, thats quite a statement to make. But again, I'm yet to see a bad Christopher Nolan movie so I think the hype Interstellar is getting is justified.

With time warps, wormholes and exploring new planets, Interstellar might just be the best movie of the year. I say that without hesitation. Nolan is my one of my favourite directors of all time and I have a lot of expectations for Interstellar. Im all set to expect an Inception type end that will screw my mind forever. November 7th can't come any faster but the top keeps spinning..

Peace!

 Twitter: @itsNazar

Instagram: @itsNazar96

Yes We Khan!

"My life's experience tells me that you can never lose in life. You only lose, when you accept defeat." - Imran Khan

They told him he can't be a cricketer. So he did. They told him you can't be a fast bowler. So he did. They told him you can't win the world cup. So he did. They told him you can't build a free and running cancer hospital. So he did. They told him you can't establish a political party. So he did. They told him this nation is in slumber, you cant wake them up. So he did. They tell him now that his time will never come and so it has.

From player to playboy, from retirement to World Cup Glory, from charity to politics and from fame to shame. Today I'm talking about the man, the legend and the beacon of hope, Imran Khan. We're talking about a man who has won the hearts of masses like no other in Pakistan. A man who gave up his whole life for a country that gave him nothing but sorrows. A man who still vows to help this nation stand on its own two feet. Still, we hear critics crtique his actions like nothing else we've seen before. 'Haters gonna hate' we've been told, but it's time someone put ink to paper on the quote, 'lovers gonna love.'

Let's establish who these haters and critics are first. Are they middle classed Pakistanis with mediocre jobs and minimum wage salaries? Or labourers earning their salaries on a daily basis, just enough to feed their family? No. These are upper middle class contemporaries sitting in the comfort of their living rooms, carelessly sliding a pen on a parchment, without a second thought on what or why they're saying what they're saying.

Imran Khan has served his nation well. From the age of 18, he has wore the Pakistani monogram on his shirt. Since his inclusion to the Pakistani Cricket Team, he has only sky rocketed towards the top. Winning a World Cup of a sport in a country where the game is as close to religion to its people. Going on to build a charity cancer hospital for the people of the same country. Then establishing a political party to restabilise the slow and steady decline of the same country. I don't know about you, but I see no form of personal interest in these actions. Sure, maybe contentment of heart, but are you really going to take that away from him too?

Since the age of 18, this man has day in and day out, lived, slept, breathed his country's name. Upon retiring from cricket and establishing his political party, he has patiently waited for the day that the people of this country will harcken for him. He has waited for their plea to save them from this political abyss of corrupt rulers and ministers and pull them back towards the light they once were on. He has waited, not so quietly, but ardently as he saw his people fall further and further into that pit of nothingness, until one day it happened. There was an outcry, a burst of emotions, a cry for help from his people. The same people he won the World Cup for, the same people he built a hospital for, the same people he built a college for and the same people that let him down. He delivered. He gave them what they wanted. He gave them a way out from the pit.

To his humble surprise, they held his hand on this journey. The people of Pakistan, for the first time in many years, stood up on the call of their captain and have revolted against their corrupt leaders. What's wrong with that you may ask. Oh believe me, when it comes to criticizing, Pakistanis do it best. Blogs and articles posted everyday from authors and writers who enjoy the comforts of food and water everyday,suddenly represent those who are declined of those luxaries. Suddenly, its an attack on the already crumbling democracy of Pakistan or a scheme by international parties to rule Pakistan. Trust me, it gets more ridiculous than this.

If I were Imran Khan, I would have long given up on this damned nation, packed my bags and would've lived a happy life in London with my beautiful wife and kids. But thats not what he did. This man jeopardized his marriage, the happiness of his family to pursue the noble job in the least noble profession in the country. He waited 18 years and now, he has finally left a mark on this system. Imran Khan has done the impossible, he has awaken a nation who had long been in a delusional coma. He has given life to the living dead of this country.

Some say its his scheme to become the Prime Minister. Some say its all a hoax. Some say its an illusional trick. I say they're wrong. I am from the masses. The masses that hail Imran their captain, that know what Imran is capable of and that have faith in him. Some say even if he is given the power and the public's approval to run the country, he still can't diminish the years of corruption and unloyalty Pakistan has faced. I say Imran has proved himself from day one of what he's capable of and so I say yes, he Khan.

Imran Khan Tribute (The Crazy Ones): http://youtu.be/vNSQML_tTOg

Peace.

Twitter: itsNazar

Instagram: itsnazar96

HIMYM an Alternate End!

"Which meant for the first time in years, the world was wide open. Because kids, when a door closes, well, you know the rest." - Future Ted

A lot of things have been said about How I Met Your Mother, but one thing that the majority of the masses agree on is that the series finale sucked. I was on the other end of that argument for a long time, defending the finale with all my might. BUT, I just saw the alternate ending and my views have changed drastically.

Ok so those of you who haven't seen the alternate end, but have seen the original finale, I'll give you all a basic summary of what happened. In the end of the alternate episode, future Ted goes about how he met their mother and recaps the whole series, telling his kids how he started off his quest from Marshal's apartment and all the ups and downs he went through. Its like a short 3 minute recap coming back to Farhampton station where The Mother is waiting and he goes up to her and they're under the umbrella and talking. They talk about the yellow umbrella and we get to know her name, Tracy McConnell and then future Ted says, " And kids, that's how I met your mother." Cut to end credits.

Now, a massive massive difference from the original finale. They didn't kill off The Mother, they didn't make Robin a bitch, and they didn't show future Ted standing outside Robin's apartment holding a blue french horn. These are the reasons why the masses of the show had reached to such an extreme position about the finale. 

The reason I liked the original finale is twofold. One, it was honest. I mean this is life guys, bad things happen to good people all the time in this world. Some things work out for some people and some things don't. Some people live to see a happy ending and some don't. Secondly, the original finale talked about second chances. If Ted's wife died, he had a second shot at love with Robin. When Robin and Barney split up, Robin had a second shot with Ted and Barney could raise his daughter the right way. I thought that was really hopeful and sent a beautiful message across the board.

Here lies the conflicting question, did we need to see all that? For 9 years, we waited for the titular Mother to show up. It took a whole season to get attached with her, and they just killed her off in one episode. It took 9 years to establish the fact that Ted and Robin are a no no, but they still managed to some how make it in the end. Great for them, not so great for us. It's all coming down to the fact that although those things must have happened to the gang, we needn't know about it. 

This is why the alternate ending clicked for me. It was the perfect goodbye to the show. The show is about how Ted meets the mother, and that's exactly how they end it, with Ted and the Mother under the famous yellow umbrella. That's all we needed to see. It makes me happy that in the alternate ending, Barney and Robin are still married, and Ted finally meets the mother and all is right with the world. 

I think the writers got a little cocky. Apparently, they shot the scene with the kids in 2006, so they felt obliged that they had to include that bit in the original ending. I respectfully disagree. If the finales were swapped, the show would've ended on a higher note and maybe we would've seen what happens to the gang on the DVD/Blu Ray version. To me, the alternate end is the original end and now my heart is content with what I saw. 

Frikken blue french horn.

If you guys want to follow my personal accounts, here you go!

Twitter: @itsNazar

Instagram: @itsNazar96

Welcome!

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." - Ernest Hemingway

Welcome interwebbers to this side of the internet!

For those who know me, this was a much awaited step. I have a lot of things to talk about and frankly twitter's 140 characters aren't enough.

Facebook is somewhat an alternative but after a certain amount of exceeded limit posts, people start getting bored. Or worse, annoyed.

Blogging was something I was always looking forward to. To say it was inevitable for me to blog sooner or later would be accurate.

A few things I'd like to mention for my debut blog today. All my blogs are going to be strictly my opinions and thoughts unless otherwise stated. If you agree then right on! Share it with your friends!

If you disagree, then please exercise your right of free speech and indulge in an educated and civilized discussion. Make it more fun!

But guys, refrain from derogatory comments. Its no fun if its a dog fight in the comments section. Don't be THAT person...

As far as topics range, I'll be talking about whatever's new or whatever holds importance to me at that given time. It could be current events, a movie, a book, a song, a person, something I saw etc.

Something I really look forward to is The Quote of Week. Its basically going to be me posting one quote that speaks out to me in a way, or some how connects to what I'm going to talk about. 

I'm going to start with a blog a week and my aim is to post them on Saturdays. So keep an eye out for my twisted humor and cheesy references!

This is Nazar signing off. 

See you all soon! 

Peace.

20th Anniversary of Friends!

"Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re gonna love it!" - Monica

Aahh yes. It was some 20 years ago that Rachel barged into Central Perk with a wedding gown in the rain. Our lives have never been the same since then and they never will.

Today I sit down and look back at Friends, in honor of the pilot airing 2 decades ago.
Friends changed the dynamics of the 90's television scene. With shows like Seinfeld and Cheers already on NBC, the producers thought it was a safe shot to take, and put their trust into the writers and actors.

In an interview with Jonathan Ross, Matt LeBlanc said that the producers took the six of them out and sat them down in a resteraunt in Vegas and said, "This is the last time the six of you are out and nobody notices."
And boy was he right. Since then, the show took off, producing 10 seasons, 236 unforgettable episodes and redefining the phrase, 'How you doin?'

Friends looks at six people living in Manhattan together and how their everyday lives shape up. With clever writing, and even a larger performance by the ensemble cast, Friends took off as arguably one of the most popular shows during its air time.

Even to this day, Friends impacts millions of people as it trancends to a whole new generation that connects to it just like their predeccesors have. Although some references might be dated, nostalgia hits you at a 100 miles per hour as their conversations have no mentions of iPads and smartphones. The dialogue between the six friends is what makes this show unforgettable and sticks with most people.

The Rachel and Ross 'We were on a break' banter is by far my favourite of them all, as the humor from the act still holds up to this day. Much praise to the writers of Friends for entertaining us for 10 years and in 236 different ways.

Watching Friends is like growing up a little inside, as you see these young adults morph into mature human beings through trial and error. As you pick apart each of the six main characters, you learn something different from each of them. From being reckless in love to finding the perfect one, from making mistakes in life to learning to fix it through apologies, Friends teaches you how to live your boring life the right way.

Theres something for everyone in this show, and as I sit down and play the Pilot over again, I cant help but smile over the fact that none of these people at the time would know how the next 10 years of their lives would entertain generations onwards.

Till another blog!!

Peace.