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Will go home now, take Charlie out for a walk and then much awaited dinner with my beloved. He thought to himself as he boarded the train. Will have to catch this train and get to Alice's place for the BBQ and movie - plan that's impending since last weekend. He thought to himself while striding towards the train that was about to leave. Will finally relax after a long day. It was a tiring week. Sitting next to a middle aged woman, he thought to himself. And with that the east bound Max Green Line train left the Lloyd Center on Friday's fateful night that intertwine all of the above three in a story that would be remembered by the world next day and for the years to come. "I am a tax payer. What are you doing here in my country you colored skin bi***. Go live in your country. I have First Amendment rights. I will kill you all who don't belong here and are only ruining my city." He seemed not only reckless but was full of hate and looked dangerou

Coming across someone toxic makes you go through lots of emotions. It begins from getting angry at them to having pity on them and ends at completely ignoring them and giving up on them. Having them in your social circle is literally an agony and if you see the things getting not repaired in timely fashion, make every effort on removing them from your life or keeping things with them at the bare minimum unless you see them improving their behavior. Besides the most talked about and known trait that is 'negativity' if you happen to find the following traits in someone - you know you are heading towards someone who is not a good news: 1. Inflexible Inflexibility is their major characteristic. Even if they know you are right, they are never going to accept you or your point of view. Pull up  your socks if you are thinking to counter them or point out their wrong doings. You are NEVER going to make them understand things as they are not ready to see things from your pers

Hey! Can I use your phone for a minute as mine has died and I need to place an urgent call. She said to him hastily. Sure! Lifting his head up from the book he was reading he handed her the phone. Ring. Ring. Ring. No answer. He saw her nimble fingers starting to type something and she handed him back his phone. How long will you be here because I'm expected to receive a response on your phone. Umm I will stay until you get a response. He noticed a sense of relief in her as she sat across the table. Coffee shop was now filling in with the people. He noticed their gaze on her and her eyes on his phone. Somehow her fragility wanted him to protect her and to help here; therefore, he couldn't resist asking her directly if he could do anything else. Sometimes I feel like I'm a magnet to trouble. I really don't know the last time I laughed without faking it and he saw her eyes welled with water as she opened up. Do you know why I have come to you asking for you

He was distressed and did not know where to go, who to talk or what to do. So he just grabbed his iPod and ear plugs and went out for a walk. Tonight, he decided to take a long one. Streets were deserted and luckily he found the solitude he was craving for since the afternoon. Quietness and darkness of the night seemed familiar as it would remind him of himself. He was not drunk today. Somehow, he did not want to escape the reality by all what he usually would do. What should he do then? What would set him free of all the worries in the world? Death. That's his dark side coming out now. Walking and thinking, thinking and walking, the cycle continued for the next two hours that he heard an old man's voice moments after he plugged out the headphones. 'Well, hello, young man'! He turned around and saw an old man sitting on the bench. His face half visible with the lamp post yellow light and half hidden with the shade of a weeping tree that had its branches droopi

I would ensure to study more and put in more hard work to make it to a top rated Engineering College.  I would not flip at my mom. I would propose to the girl who liked me too. I would not fall for my best friend and saved our friendship. I would go abroad for higher studies. I would join NBA and pursue basketball as a serious career. I would never join this work place or had left it earlier. I would not be a control freak and ruin some important aspects of life. I would join NASA. I would not take life too seriously. I would spend more time with my family. I would be wise in making my choices; for say, learning to love myself first before loving someone else. I would not be meek and stand up for things that I believe in. I would give a try on fixing certain bad habits. I would seriously consider the idea of starting a business set up of my own.  Reminds you of coulda, woulda, shoulda episode from Sex and the City?  Well, th

'How times flies'! she thinks to herself looking down from the window of the plane that is taking her back to her home. Every time she buckles up before flying, memories from the past flash before her eyes - all the faces she has ever seen and all the hands she has ever shaken. She has her priority list though and on that list, her brother sits at the top. Growing up together, seeing him teary eyed on her wedding day, celebrating his time and again success together, playing with his kids and then getting into that argument which became the reason to separate them. Not that they never had those quarrels and arguments before, however this time around, it stretched to days and months. This had never happened before. 'This time around I will ensure to sort everything out because I dearly miss him' she thinks to herself and the plane takes off. While she is up in the air she maps out all the ways that will help her putting her point across in the best possible manner

In the morning, he heads out for his daily morning walk thinking he will take a longer route today. Right after he steps out, he feels the breeze on his face that also ruffles his hair. Earthly scent after last night's heavy downpour makes this morning a perfect delight. He does not hear any human sound as yet, may be today he is a bit early. He hears the birds chirping though, and it makes him smile to listen to a variety of sounds. From quail to blackbirds, he enjoys the orchestra going on in the tress. Walking some distance, he feels flapping of swans wings in the water adding more beauty to this remarkably wonderful morning. People have finally started to pouring in and he feels like innumerable stories are about to begin and countless to resume. Unaware, one of those will be his. After crossing the road, covering over a mile's radius of the walking track, passing through the woods in between, he finally reaches his usual place of rest. Fallen leaves gleam

Being raised in a bucolic town and then landing in a cosmopolitan city at a later stage of my life, I can safely say the overall shift has hugely helped chisel my overall perspective towards life.  Gilgit is dissimilar to Lahore in a number of ways. While the beauty of Giglit’s mountainous range and pellucid waters of the flowing rivers could leave anyone awe-struck; historic Lahore’s vibrant lifestyle could help you cherish life’s numerous aspects. Topography, people, weather and cultural norms draw a sharp contrast in between both the places and they bear their own respective idiosyncrasies. Where Lahore serves as a cornucopia of opportunities and encourages one to follow the dreams, Gilgit instills the urge into you to explore the world. Nevertheless, both the cities espouse the very idea of making you undergo a whole lot of metamorphosis.  Fortunately, I hail from a family that has always put education as its forthright priority. However, despite my family’s support

Watching the mid night show while wolfing down a sandwich was almost a regular view in Sofia's living room. Drained from her work and with almost zero social life, she literally found the TV and food as her true companions. First yawn signaled her first thought of calling it a day. She, however, sat tight in the couch and waited to go out like a light because that was the point when she would hotfoot to the bed. In all that waiting, watching and thinking, her heart popped in her chest as the door bell rang. All the signs of sleep and visuals on the TV were pushed to the periphery of her brain and she found herself thinking who might be visiting at this hour. From the inside, peephole, showed Sara freezing on the outside. Both the girls settled in, holding the mugs of hot-chocolate; waiting for the other to break the ice. Sofia knew why Sara was there and she also knew why she chose Sofia out of all the people to turn to, after the much expected has happened. Since Sofia

I love her. She knows it. I can do anything for her. She is keeping me hanging in the middle of nothing. I know I am just an option for her in case she doesn't end up with him; she will come to me. Why is she leading me on? Ah, I know I have been pining in unrequited love which is causing me only pain and suffering every passing day. Why doesn't God answer my prayers? Train of thoughts making rounds in his head as he turns off the light and goes to bed. He is 50 and has three kids now. He is not only married to her but has everything a man could ask for. From a beautiful family to a strong career, he should be considering himself as the luckiest guy. Yet, he is not happy and feels something amiss. He has no idea what is it though that has made him feel empty inside. Every single day at the dining table, sitting around his family, he thinks to himself if this is what he would pray for day in and out? His prayers have been answered yet he is not happy and this is something

Of all the things my favorite are the 'little ones'. Y'know those little things that are sometimes overlooked and sometimes underrated despite them bearing mind blowing significance. If you have gone way too immersed in your daily rut to not to think about much on how crazy you are running after one thing or another and skipping those itsy bitsy of things that could literally change the whole scenario of your day, take a pause and go through the following list of these seven small things that are no less than a potion. 1. Wake Up With A Sunny Attitude: Feeling groggy and just rolled on to your side to push the snooze button on that painfully annoyingly ringing alarm clock? Just.Stop.Right.There. Get out of that bed of yours (no matter how romantically attached to it you are) thinking this is going to be a truly special day. Thought of your day being special will pump in all the positive and good vibe. 2. Be the First One To Greet: I'm not a  morning person ther

Traveling is fun. I picture most of you reading this and nodding your heads. Going to Ulaanbaatar or planning to explore the Northern areas of Pakistan, you want fun and adventure to be filled till the brim. Lots of things make your trip exciting but few things are indispensable to a rocking one and are NOT available to us in Pakistan. The following limitations literally make traveling a mountainous size of a task for an average Ali or Ayesha who love to travel but find it hard as a Pakistani. Therefore, are found either lay comatose in their couch glued to TV, watching those sitcoms or posting NONSTOP selfies on Facebook. Let me whine and complain via listing down what we are missing out on TERRIBLY: 1. Recreational Vehicles RVs: Quintessentially a feather belonging to the US cap, this home-on-wheels can literally make venturing to the little known of the woods or deserts an amazing experience. You are too lucky to own one or even rent one. Sadly, we cannot avail

I want you to speak to the students of Market Research class about the Oil Industry said a friend who is currently teaching at one of the renown universities of Islamabad. Given the fact, I am always up for anything that revolves around speaking to an audience regarding things that I know well - I gave my instant commitment and looked forward to an interesting session. I remember back then when I was at the tail end of my undergraduate program, I would consider our batch as the most competitive one. Most of us knew what we wanted from life. Most of us knew where were we headed to. We had our highs and lows, nevertheless, we were very clear on things that mattered. In light of the fact, I was going to speak to an audience of Management Sciences, just a semester away to be finally called as 'graduates' , therefore, I naturally looked forward to interacting with a super interesting bunch of people. However, as things started to rolling, it turned out, the only excited peo

You meet someone new and they pass on some vibes. Right that instance you know if you have met someone happy and positive or a negative Nancy. There are obvious signs and then there are subtle ones that let you know the kind you are about to have an interview with or ask for the directions to a place you are unable to track in the new town. We all know positive people ooze that energy which is powerful and have that attitude which is contagious.  Let me educate you with the following 07 bright signs of the people who enjoy positive behavior as their major characteristic: 1. Basic Courtesy: Respectful to others - expressing gratitude and showing warmth is a tell-tale of a positive person. Saying hello, thank you, pardon etc comes as naturally as the leaves to a tree.   2. They Don't Hold Grudges: They are the sort who would let bygones be bygones. They believe hating someone in itself is a hard job therefore they easily forgive. Nevertheless, they don't forget