"NIRVANA"

'Na Main Momin Vich Maseetaan

Na Main Vich Kufar Diyan Reetaan

Na Main Paakaan Vich Paleetaan

Na Main Moosa Na Firown

Bulleya Ki Jaana Main kaun'

Hi everyone,

Since I am from Punjab, the rice dish I grew up on is Pulao. I was introduced to Biryani much later in life and befriended it instantaneously. If you give me a plate of biryani and a bowl of vanilla ice cream, you can be eligible to ask for my kidney in return. 

Every time I go to a dinner party, I hope to be sent home with a small Tupperware  filled with leftovers of my favorite rice, given the hostess is gracious enough. 

 

A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon an extra gracious hostess who made me a small container of leftover Biryani to take home. The next day I started to eat it for lunch. I relished, or rather, inhaled the first few bites and thanked Allah for giving me such a generous friend. I even did du'a for her and every other person who was remotely related to her. 

  

I took few more bites and wondered why God is so good to me. After almost being done with it, while quite full as well, I forced myself to eat the last two spoonfuls just for the sake of finishing it. I noticed that there was a remarkable difference in taste from my first bite to the last spoonful as the last bite didn't taste nearly as good as the first one. 

Same food, same me, and same taste buds but drastic difference of taste!

It was very puzzling and was a sure call for Excedrin as I needed to connect the dots of life in my head before I could say 'what a paradox'!

Was my appetite, and my relish for it what added taste to it?

Do I have such power?

Is a relationship only priceless to me because I am paying way too much of a  price for it?

Is my chase of gold like a crazed person giving worth to it or is it  just a metal?

To me this was a 'nukta' that had the capability to unfold one of life's biggest mystery to me:

Why we own more than we need or will ever be able to use or even handle. It could be an expensive piece of jewelry  or a much sought after relationship. Most of our possessions stop giving us pleasure the moment they come in our possession. I didn't need to finish the whole damn plate of Biryani just because I loved it. 

The inner power that I have is totally nullified by my acquisitiveness. I don't need to oversimplify the connection between my inner strength and my indulgence of a weakness as it is simple enough. The taste that vanished from my food perhaps was never there to begin with!

Much love, 

Shehla