Once Upon A Time
23rd of June, 2004
This is my first entry in my journal. I am quite disappointed at myself for not starting this earlier. Anyways here goes.
I used to live in Dubai, heck I was born in Dubai! This little region in the Middle East, near the tip of the United Arab Emirates. I remember that place as a peaceful, disciplined, organized region; in fact some parts were so peaceful it sometimes felt like heaven on earth. So peaceful so serene. Then it happened. Being in the Middle East the region was leaking of oil and gold so much that Dubai has been decreed the 'City of Gold'. Because of their new found fortune the place became unbelievably expensive. Education wasn't even mediocre. People were starting to regret being a part of that place. Among those people, I too turned and looked for a better future.
Pakistan; looming on the horizon, as I looked out the window of the aero plane. This was my future, to in a way rot in a region which still uses 'Transformer' technology for electricity. The government here can't amend to damages done to the society or the surroundings that they just let it be. The Education system here was the same as it was during 1947 when this place came to being. Electricity was being generated by the exact same generators and transformers that were left behind by the British during the partition. Still this was my destiny to stay here, in a place I hardly knew the language of. Saying it took 'some' getting used would be a under statement. It was very hard trying to cope with all that was here. My mother kept increasing my confidence and will to stay by saying '… only a few more years son …' But I knew I was here for more than just a few years.
It's been almost 3 now, and I've learned much here. I've come closer to understanding what a human being actually is. People here don't care for their own; it's hard to believe they'd care for others. As an example I could give my own brothers. Two elder, sometimes they treat me as if I was a step or a slave… I know its normal for younger brothers/sisters to feel like this and it is absolutely normal for elders to act like that but sometimes... it hurts.
I don't want to sound like I have a million problems but I can't help it. We all have problems; saying you're the happiest person in the world or that you have no care, no enemies, no problem's… is just plain silly. You're punishing yourself talking like that.
This is my tale, well it's a start. This book still has a lot of chapters to go through. When I started writing this journal I had no idea what to say, I felt scared as to who'd read it. And what they'd think. But here I am finished the first entry to my journal. This will undoubtedly stay with me for many years to come.