Dunya

Irshad was at the normal market that sell varieties of food and goods. He went there because someone at home asked him to purchase some bananas, apples and carrots. As usual, it was a normal Indian market that he went to, so it was crowded with people but things were so cheap as the hawkers were all from the village. Nobody could ignore the temptation of cheap foods that were sold there. 

One thing about Indian market is you have to be good at choosing what you wanna buy. You might be surprised by how cheap the food and the goods, as well as you are at the highest degree to be conned. Bargaining is a skill to master when visiting the market. Irshad tried to masked the hanky noises from the surrounding. He was not that kind of man who knows to buy food properly. He was there because he was forced to under certain reasons. He looked perplexed and confused but straightly walked near a stall where there was a guy wearing a slanky kurta standing. The man who seemed like had not shaved for months showed his best bananas and chikoos to Irshad. 

Irshad who was still confused, scratched his head, a sign of not knowing anything. The hawker bended down and helped him choose the best among the best bananas and apples for Irshad.

"Kitne rupees?" asked Irshad for the price.

"Das panch rupees", replied the hawker indicating it only cost 15 rupees.

Out of the blue, Adzan was heard. It was loud and so melodious that one who really understand every word of it would cry. 
 

"Allahuakbar, Allahuakbar..."

The hawker stood up after bending. 

"Sorry bhaiya, let perform our solah first", he said to Irshad. And he went away without letting Irshad paying for his bananas and chikoos first. 

Irshad put back his money into his pocket hurriedly, and followed the hawker to the nearby Masjid. The sound of Adzan was still in the air. As he reached the Masjid, he had lost track of the hawker. He stood still outside the Masjid for some time, thinking that he would only enter soon after the Adzan ends. 

Soon after the Adzan ended, as Irshad was about to make a step closer to the entrance of the masjid, he felt as if he was pushed a little on his shoulder. He looked back and he could sense a nice scent of a flower that he couldn't resist. So Irshad walked away leaving the masjid behind and followed the scent of the flower.

The scent brought him to a woman wearing full black long niqab. She was walking so fast but that made Irshad more eager to follow her. The mysterious woman looked back at Irshad, her eyes were big and pretty. Irshad couldn't resist it. As if the eyes were telling him to follow her. 

The woman continue to walk across the back of the buildings. Across those isolated pavements. Still, Irshad continue to follow her. The woman soon came to another normal market selling foods and goods. The woman was out of Irshad's sight in a sudden. Irshad was sweating all over. His heartbeat was becoming stronger. He looked around, but couldn't find the woman in that black niqab.

Irshad continue to walk around the market, searching for that woman. In his mind,  there were questions asking, who is that woman. He just have to figure it out by himself. Out of nowhere, he saw that woman again. This time that woman turned to walk faster. Out pace the speed that Irshad could. He was soaked in his own sweat. He seemed not to find a stop to what he was doing.

Again that woman's pretty smoky eyes looked straight to Irshad's. He was mesmerized and spellbind. Before he realized, the woman brought him to a graveyard. The graveyard was of those of flight of stairs. He followed her steps down the stairs. The woman stopped and looked at him. This time the sight was more stronger. Irshad stopped too. The woman didn't utter a word, so did Irshad. Both of them keep walking at the same pace, where the woman was in front and Irshad was at her back. 

There was a wall and a door when they both reached the ground. The woman opened the door where inside there was no light but darkness dimmed by a couple of candles. The woman finally voiced out. 

"Come to me, Irshad" her stunning voice pierced Irshad's eardrum

Irshad came nearer. He entered the dark small room where he had no idea what it was. The woman asked him to shut the door. 

"Now lock the door, Irshad. Then, throw the keys into the well" uttered the woman again.

Irshad was totally hypnotized. He locked the door literally and threw the ONLY keys into the well. 

"Come to me closer, Irshad" 

Irshad came closer to that woman. They were just an inch away, or probably less than an inch away among each other. They stood there upfront eye to eye. Irshad's heart pounded faster this time. The mysterious woman pulled off her niqab...

"ARTRGHHGHGHHGHGHHGHG!!??" screamed Irshad as loud as he can.

The woman face was not of that of a human. It was of something that was despicable to be looked upon to. It was beyond unbearable to see with a human eyes. Irshad quickly grab the door's knob. He tried to open but he failed. He forgot that he already threw the keys away. The ONLY KEYS for him to escape.

"Oh Irshad...come to me. Why are you afraid now?" asked the woman behind her laughter.

"Whooo...who are you?" Irshad asked, with fright.

"You really want to know who am I? My name is.....my name is ....DUNYA...and you followed me till here. Why are you so frightened? You were the one who followed me and LEFT behind your SOLAH...You left your solah just because of me, because of DUNYA, aren't you....!!!??" asked the woman again.

"And you know where this is, Irshad? This is your GRAVE!!" she added. 

"What??!! Ya Allahhh!" screamed Irshad; but it was just too late. 

He was trapped and 'killed' by his likeness more towards what is there in Dunya. Along his pathway towards following what Dunya had hold for him, he left his obligation for Solah; which is the most important thing to be obliged as a Muslim. Apparently, Irshad failed in his attempt towards reaching to Sirathal Mustaqim. He has been conned by Iblis. The woman named Dunya symbolized the Iblis; whom showed how 'the fake beauty' of this world could lead to a devastating fate in the here after. 

>>p/s: Surah Al-An’am :32. “Dan tiadalah kehidupan dunia kecuali hanya permainan dan senda gurau belaka. Dan sungguh kampung akhirat itu lebih baik bagi orang-orang yang bertaqwa. Apakah kamu tidak memikirkannya” 

and another verse stated from: Surah Ali Imran ayat 14:

“Dijadikan terasa indah dalam pandangan manusia cinta terhadap apa yang diinginkan, berupa perempuan-perempuan, anak-anak, harta benda yang bertumpuk dalam bentuk emas dan perak, kuda pilihan, hewan ternak dan sawah ladang. Itulah kesenangan hidup di dunia, dan di sisi Allah-lah tempat kembali yang baik”<<

 

 

Makan bukan senang

Hai peeps.

Guess what? In less than a month, I really made this start of year 2 as enjoyable. First is attending the hiking thing with the other coursemates in Kudremukh; and secondly; for joining the Aids Day trip to Pune. The trip to Pune was so relaxing. Had Prof KJ escorting us all along, and oh God, he's so sporting!

Basically, the original idea to visit Pune was to go to its Aids Research Center at a place I don't actually remember where, but it is called Nari. There, we saw exhibition and go all about Aids; how it is infected and how is it being diagnosed and how to prevent it. Actually, our trip was thought to start at 3.30 am on that Saturday; instead; the buses came exactly at 5 am. So, the trip to Pune which was 6 hours from Belgaum; resulting in all of us reaching to Pune quiet late while the Aids Day has already shuts its doors.

Haha. But while patiently waiting for the bus in the midst of cold morning; we asked Prof KJ how would the plan be if we arrived to Pune a bit late? He said: "Then we just head ourselves to the sight seeing site!" How cool is that? Hahahha

The buses we boarded were the first of a Non-airconditioned bus. However, it didn't bother us since along the way; it was freezing upon letting the outside air to come in. I had to sleep with gloves on my hands; couldn't stand the coldness. It was a semi-sleeper bus, but due to many whom with withdrew to follow on the last minute; we conquered most the free available seats and made a crony at the very back seat. Hihihi

Continuously awaken during the trip because the bus driver simply didn't have that basic idea of where we were supposed to go. I think almost 6 times I woke up and then sleep again. Then we reached to a small hotel which I forgot its name. Only an hour was given to get ready, to shower and to perform salah. The breakfast of toast and omelette that we were supposed to have has turn into our lunch instead. We arrived there at 12.30 pm. 

Did I mention that Pune has this really awesome shopping center. The name they called it Phoenix City Market, but woah, it's like a baby version of midvalley. I went to Zaraa to actually perform my prayers in the fitting room. Since we can't just go to the fitting room, my buddy and I grabbed this amazing silhouette trench coats and further headed to the fitting rooms. After solah, we tried on those beautiful trench coats, mine was red, and my buddy wore the white. I prefer red since it looked more bold. The price was affordable if we had our allowances that time. It was just 5000 rupees ! Other stores had the trench for 10 thousand rupees at least. It was so devastating that we had to act snobbish and put back the coats. 

Prof KJ and our warden Madam Vidya just gave us an hour and a half to stroll around the mall to find for food. Yet it ended up, we spent 2 hours there. After some dinner with momo, window shopping here and there, we finally made an exile whereby Prof and Madam Vidya both were there, asking us to walk faster, the bus was there waiting. It feels like a school trip once again, but in a more fun way. Bad news on the bus we heard was, another bus got smuggled. We were relieved that none of our belongings went missing.

Travelling via the non-AC seated bus in Pune was gooood. We didn't feel uncomfy at all since Pune was very temperate. The road was rocky of course but we slept somehow. Finally, reach the wonderful place called Mahabaleshwar. It was freezing!! We must do some hiking a bit to reach our bungalow. It was 2 am that time. Freezing and all sleepy-headness, we fastened ourselves to the bungalow. It was such a nice place. For girls, a room was for 6. It was just for one night, but they provided us with good beds and matresses, with hot water too! That morning, we had a purdy breakfast of soft bread with omelette. Yummy!!

By 9 am we started to find for good strawberry farm to visit. Sadly, most of the farms had their strawberries still ungrown. We ended up dipping into fresh fruits and cream. Mine was mulberry with cream, cost around RS110. Others dipped into strawberries with cream of course. But that was too mainstream. LOL. I sat a table where Prof KJ and Madam Vidya were also there. Prof said something that amazed me, which was:

"When we're in a holiday; doesn't matter whose late whose not, just relax and enjoy!"

WOHA! You heard this from a deputy dean hahaha. Gosh. He's so sporting when it comes to sight seeing. Like his style so much though. Then we went to this place where there's a chocolate factory as well as flowers. Took some time enjoying the flowers, bough a kilogram of strawberries, and headed up for lunch. So this is the part I want to emphasize. The Mahabaleshwar Lunch. Jeng4x...

Someone who had been to this place, suggested to have lunch at a hotel. The hotel is very extravagant from the outside, almost like a Greece-kinda look. We went inside this quite-luxurious looking hotel. Everyone got their seats and asking for the menu. The interesting part was that the restaurant served ham and bacon. We waited like a log, then knowing some of the students who were in charge for the trip, was discussing some things with main waiter. One person who discovered that the hotel served bacon and ham, went to see the other students who were discussing to tell that the place served such things that we cannot eat. But it was weird when they emphasized more on the fact that the chef wasn't there and they said that the restaurant didn't serve those food for six months already. Oh please!!

On the first place, it was a mistake to bring two buses full of students to such a luxurious luncheon place where one dish cost up to 400 Rupee. Secondly, it was so bizarre that the fact on the haraam food wasn't been taken into priority when it comes to consumption. Even if the restaurant didn't serve the ham and bacon for six months, then they really did proper washing (according to Syara') for the utensils and the plates? It was more bizarre that those who were discussing regarding the chef were supposed to be the ones who lead Islamic discussion groups back at college. 

After some conversation, some did object saying that in a place where there's no other choices, where the place do serve pork and then we don't have a choice, then it's okay to dine. But may I clarify, that sort of thinking only applies if we are staying or living at a place where, true, there's no other choice but THAT restaurant alone. Obviously, there are many other restaurants that served halal food like the one we had fresh fruits with cream before. Like a briyani stall one of us said was available at that time. I just want to say that we are staying in India where halal food isn't that hard to be found. Not like in those countries in Europe; where choices are limited. 

Don't play when it comes to food preparation and food consumption. Don't simply make Islam as that simple when other choices are there. The better choice is to have the most halal food there is whenever possible. Don't make our lust for food as a reason to dwell into something sinful. What we eat becomes our flesh, and our flesh is also our 'soul' that we use in everyday life to serve ourselves as servant to dear Allah AlMighty. Just wish that people take this as serious as possible, regarding food consumption. 

We ended up not to eat at that lavish restaurant and went back to our bungalow to pray and get things ready to go back to Belgaum. Another 6 hour journey and we were all hungry. Prof and Madam Vidya was kind enough to find for a good veg restaurant along the way, and alhamdulillah we found one. It was 10 pm and we reached to a RNR-kinda place where we can choose to have veg or non-veg dinner. We chose veg though, because we are cool! Lol. 

Last thing we did was to play at a playground nearby where Prof KJ also played. Hahahhaa! Cool isn't it. Contented and enjoy: we finally reached Belgaum at 5 am that other morning. How fun life is isn't it?

 

Travelogue?

Been editing the post of my recent expedition in Kudremukh, Bangalore. Couldn't make it interesting. Not just yet. How pathetic. Probably because after a hiatus, it took me a longer time to make it nice to be read. AHHHH...ideas do come and piling up, but then they are just hard to be written. T.T

Actually, for the hiking thing, each group was commanded to do a travelogue. Sad is sad when my group didn't really stay put altogether, and we don't have that much of the picture/photos showing we were in a team. Most of the photos, in other cameras, whom it felt like so frigging embarrassed to be asking for. And I am not that sure if they keep that photos.

The problem is here is of course photos. Travelogue is consider a success when photos are great since you all know how photos can speak a thousand words. No one like too many words unless they are really a keen reader and read everything. But reality, is the percentage of such people is low. 

My teammates, 3 guys and another girl is so helpful during the journey up to the mountain. Sadly, the goodness only stops there I think. No one really cares about the travelogue now. Or should I just pray and dream that someone already make it done and voila don't have to waste time sitting at mess and discussing it?

It was masyaAllah beautiful. Those greens you think were grass are as tall as you.UIndescribeable journey

The hiking was great. Will be posting A to Z about it in another post which I have been editing for the past three days. I didn't bring my cameraphone along because the battery was only 60%. Maybe you see this as an excuse of mine, but I really was saving the battery so that I could receive call from dear teammates of the World Diabetes Day back in Belgaum. Another sad story. My friend hazu, did let me lend her camera. But I gave it to Anis because I was hypoxic at one point, then she rushed off away to the peak leaving me behind with two other guys. T.T

I was really really hypoxic for the whole journey. Other fitters took only 5 hours to go and return, whilst I took the whole day. Never could repay kindness of a few MSU guys who helped me go through all the pain to hike and to climb down till the base camp, at exactly 10 pm. Only Allah could repay them. 

But still...deep down, a noxious feeling of disappointment for not being able to reach the last pit stop of Kudremukh, for intoxicating other guys in the my team especially whom had to wait patiently when I need to take a rest every 30 minutes walk, disappointment for not having great outlook at Allah's superb creation and not to have captured it digitally, all these really truly could let me punch myself. 

<<p/s: When you're about to go for an expedition, please don't boast. What happen to me is not fun. I did wish I was dead on top of that mountain. And certainly not fun when you have to become a nuisance to others>>

Really really wanna write

Gosh. How long has it been since I last stop here to write something, to start typing? It has been quite some time off from blogger due to certain issue where I think I will to express it out her. The reason why I stop posting things for some time. 

It also has been quite a busy start for being a 2nd year medical student. I must admit, it isn't as easy as people said. Of course, for USM medical students, being 2nd year students can be denoted as honeymoon years where you shouldn't be worried for having to face for your pro exam by the end of the year. However, happiness is short termed. We have to sum up all the things we learn NOW and during our third year, and go die for 2nd pro exam. Clap clap clappp.

Been opening the tab for blogger for a lot of time. Just do not know where to start. Just feel too afraid that my post will cause butthurt in some people here who come and read what I posted. And actually I really WANT people to read what I wanna post right here, that's why I didn't make it private. Some things are better expressed through words for people who only have words as their swords, but of course I don't expect everyone to understand this. Again, why should I be a coward? This is my space, and I think I deserve the every right to be as outspoken here even though nothing is being heard.

Clinicals have begun people! And as freshie medical students, the eagerness to 'touch' the patients are always there, every single time I step into the hospital door. I wish this last till I die, as medicine is a life-long career. InshaAllah ameen it will. Only that, I have been too bad in my studying lately. Couldn't focus and always got distracted by things I do not know what they are. Hahaha. I just need to face more books, but the more I read the sleepier I've become. Hahaha. 

That's all I wanna write I think. Sleepy now. And yes, juniors are here! 7 has yet to arrived (rumor said). But we are hoping that USM will finally realized we had enough of this year's intake. Hahhaha. Events held and gonna be held for this year and next year, would be great and BIG. Juniors are really sporty! I like that.

Coming back to sense

Alhamdulillah to dear Allah Al Mighty for all his blessings and rizq till now. One important thing is settled: moving in to the new USM Hostel as well as having a new roommate. Her parents gave her the name of Nurul Adibah binti Abdul Rahman, she's a year older than me, graduated from the prestigious IB college KMB and she has a blog actually. One thing I like about her, is her appearance of coolness and boldness as well as outspoken. I wish I had the same way of speaking in public like her, so confident. The English accent uttered through her tongue are just superb and yeah! she's my new roommate. I pray that I won't be exchanging roommates again after this. Let this stay ya Rabb.

We have an oven too now. I am longing to bake and bake! Yay! I really have found a true satisfaction and fondness towards cooking either. And now in the new hostel, I can cook like I have a husband and kids waiting for my dishes. I really love cooking! It's just in the blood for all these while. Just that I haven't had the chance too express this fondness. Now that the kitchen is a bit spacious, with IKEA interior: I just feel like cooking in my own dream house. :)

I will be posting pictures and pictures to let others see what Belgaum is really like. Just I need more time in front of the laptop and keep transferring photos. I have to find time that is. Because looks like schedule have becoming more tight. We are going to clinical side and clerk patients this Wednesday. I am so nervous and excited! I hope I don't scared the patient with my dumb kannada and a little twisted Hindi. Also, I must always note: NEVER to auscultate (must NOT use the stethoscope first); it's regulation. Must always start with inspection :)

Anyhow, just now, all the USMKLE students have safely moving into this new brand unfinished hostel. It was tiring to help them unpack, but there is where ukhwah is truly seen, especially when the boys spent their night to help the girls to bring up their things to the 3rd floor while the elevator is still not installed. 

Now, let's sleep. I promise to keep blogging ahahhaha (as if I have readers :P) I tried to enjoy my 2nd year. So must you (in whatever courses you're pursuing in colleges or universities). And always keep smiling even though it's hard to do so.

Of failure and of 'emptiness'

Salam to all.

Second year has approached its 2nd week by now. Still, in this leisure mood whereby I am pretending that all the contents of the lectures aren't important, and spending my night like I gonna get straight A's for my selanjar. I am a person who won't do good without struggling. And still with some struggle, I ain't good. But still, I don't wanna endure the guilt and agony of being a failure; thus something has to be done. Proper study schedule, proper self management to stay fit and to be energized all day long. I just do not want to be sleepy in class, because to review all the lecture at night is impossible'. 

As for being a second year student, I think it's not easy. All the lectures we have mostly deal with pathology meanwhile those in first year, deal more to the normal physiology. Thus, this year, we have to like do much of the recall. Which is not something easy. Difficult! How can we remember that complement cascade during immunology? And what not all the anatomy of arteries and veins. Thank you very much, but I am not complaining here, just give you some recap of what we are having now.

To be frank, I am not happy nowadays due to some reasons. Yes, I know things won't go as we plan or as we expected. But this awkwardness, this annoyance have been circulating around me for quite some time after we arrived. These days what I can see from my batch is the lacking of give and take. Most of them, genuinely seems to be so selfish and emotional without reasons. And there are some people who did wrong things but they are being eaten by their own ego. In the end, things became devastating.

By the way, I am more to twitter these days, because I can say anything I wish to say, but people won't get to see it unless they follow me. And sometimes, what I posted just drown in the time line. Anyhow, there are certain drawbacks of twitter in which most of the time what I wrote got misunderstood by others. Just like this week alone, I don't know whether I failed to send the information right, or I failed to convey it to sentences that people won't hurt when they read it. Or either they alone failed to read it with conscience and with an open minded. So much of failure!

And this year, I also have to endure to the fact that information regarding USMKLE won't be directly informed to me like last year. I have no post to hold (yet, maybe). And I don't think I am a kind of person people will vote for because of certain reasons (like being a drama queen). I don't know why but this actually makes my life here a bit empty. Maybe because I used to be all day busy with meetings, with endevours regarding my classmates and all. But this time, I just feel like not being needed. However, I know this will bring good to rescheduled my timetable and daily routine. Everything I get from Allah, is the best, hence; why fret?

I pray I don't have to deal with so much of arrogance this year, which I hate to see in my daily routine to and fro at college. People with no smile, unless being greeted; people with no sense to ask how we are doing unless we have been in their clique and so much more of arrogance. It seems like so many of 'puak' now and you only will get to cling if you can give people something in return. This is a very genuine feeling, just need to let it out. It is not a hard feeling, it is just that, after a year; the bond isn't just there yet. Maybe due to arrogance. 

Finn

>>p/s: Pray for strength not ease. That will be much better<<

Phase II

Salam to all.

Well, yeah, it's September and I am in year 2 already. Time is fast, so what? 

Just arrived from Malaysia 2 days back, which is yesterday. Class started at 10.30 am yesterday, while our bus from Bangalore reached Belgaum exactly at 7 am. Wasn't excited to come back. That mood of the holiday is still stuck here in the mind. Just feel that recent holiday wasn't enough. Wasn't satisfy with the short break and yeah, I didn't even have the chance to blog once I was in Malaysia. How lame is that?

Anyhow, no matter how I hate to be here already, I am still in this realistic world whereby I knew I must stay here for the sake of my studies. 2nd year and clinicals people. Heard that we have to move out to a hostel which isn't fully finished and still under construction. Heard that for clinicals we gonna go to a new hospital, built for USM students. WOOOOO...let's see how these big talks will turn out real, alright?

What I wanna advice to juniors who might knew me or not knowing me, to come to USM India, just don't hope so big. We'll try to make our stay be as fun as possible. Because FUN can be made. Remember that. Till then, I need sleep:)

>>p/s: Bilik macam tongkang pecah. Malah worst! Gosh!!!<<