Saturday, September 15, 2007

Ramadan Kareem

It was pitch dark as she groped around for her phone. The bloody alarm was loud enough to wake up the locality! She groaned as she remembered swearing was taboo during Ramadan. And thats precisely why she was awake at an insane 4 am anyway. Finally having found the damn phone and having switched off the ever persistent alarm, she lazily pushed the covers away instantly feeling the chill off the ac giving her goosebumps just about everywhere. Smirking at the effectiveness of artificiality, she walked groggily upto the microwave to warm the food she'd kept aside for Sehri. While the food warmed, she stood beside the machine, listening to its gentle purr now magnified to a groan... flashbacking into the evening before.


She'd never been conventionally religious. And all through her life, people looked at her somewhat quizzically; as if an unreligious Muslim was as good as being agnostic. It always tore her - but not as much as she was torn that evening. She had always had an inclination to fast during the holy month. Not sure why, not sure what it was, that drove her to embrace this one practise out of the five pillars every Muslim was asked to abide by. But this year, something was different. But this year, somehow it wasn't the same heady feeling which she had every other year - to blindly do what her heart asked her to. This year she asked for a reason - more from herself than anyone else. And she had been looking for one for sometime, but was unable to find any. It was almost time to give up. They had declared Ramadan at work - notices issued by the Government, new work timings were out and some pro active people had even sent out a few hasty Ramadan wishes. But it had not begun for her this year. And she was wondering why.


As she walked on through the unusual festivities in the otherwise posh (read: unstirred) locality, she searched for a sign that might mean something more than the mundane. She's reached her building - stood holding the handle to the door staring into the face staring back at her. And suddenly it all rushed into her mind. It was she. The reason she looked for was faith. Was how without an inclination, faith sprang forth in the mind and heart of a woman otherwise oblivious to religion. Realisation spread through her veins in tandem with warmth and contentment - she had found her reason at last. She looked up at the kohl dark night sky and smiled in satisfaction. Her chaand had been sighted.


Ramadan Kareem.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

ramadan kareem!

Indeed.

Unknown said...

Ramadan Kareem
Good bless you

Unknown said...

Ramadan Kareem
Good bless you

a big yawn said...

Well Religion is all about faith in god , the belief itself is important.
Agnostic is different from Atheist .
Agnostic is the belief of the supreme power and devoid of religion.

Somethings you should do because you feel like doing, well i have never fasted for month in a year. but i have fasted few days in the year because, ifelt like.. because i felt rekligious that day.. and some times on Ashthmai, i have had red meat of different sorts (s is important..a beef steak sizzler with ham and cheese between the 2 steaks yum) apart from lamb and still felt religious. Because i felt if gods there everywhere and i pray to Him with an open heart, my prayer would be taken, regardless what ever i have eaten.. at same time i have starved toll night with out a drop water, till mid night for Kali puja, cause i woke up that morning and felt like..
Follow your heart ,, follow your belief..gods everywhere, and wants your good always regardless what you wearing how clean you are and what you have eaten..
Keep a clean heart he is there for you

Ramzan Kareem

samimitra said...

hmm...I was recently in Hyderabad for a day and all I know is that Haleem tastes awesome after actually not eating a thing throughout the day!!!