Excellence at Work

Working at P. Smith’s, P.I, Amanda Watson was the best detective the agency had ever had in years. One fine morning, she was sitting in her small office on the top floor of a tall building. She was examining some papers that were clipped together. Her office was a little room, decorated with flower vases, wall hangings and a shelf –half of which was packed with books, and the other half had her case file stacked on it. As she turned the page, there was a knock on her door.

“Come in” she said.

The door opened, and in came a tall man with jet-black hair and dark cold eyes, wearing a black suit. He was a stern looking man with half-moon glasses on his nose.

“Are you done with your report, Ms Watson?” he asked sternly.

“Yes, Mr Smith,” answered Amanda softly “Would you like to have a description?”

“Go on Ms Watson. I am all ears.”

For the next fifteen minutes, she went on with her report, running her fingers through her long blonde hair at intervals. When she finished the brief account of what she had on papers, she had a glass of water. Mr Smith left after congratulating her for her work.

She put the papers in a file labeled “SECRET” and locked the file in her brown leather briefcase. She sat in her chair and stared at her black skirt for two minutes, then she put her head on the table, closed her eyes, and tried to relax. After a little while she stood up, washed her face, stepped out of her office with her briefcase, and she locked her office. As the elevator was not working, she alighted by stairs and took a cab to the airport. She was to take the flight from New York to Boston for a meting that was to start in a couple of hours.

She safely arrived at the airport and was boarded onto the plane, and was in Boston shortly. She still had two hours left before the meeting was scheduled. In the arrivals area, she felt someone push her. A male hand on hers, the one she was holding her briefcase in. In one second she had her briefcase and in the next she did not. The mugger she saw was wearing white full sleeved shirt and blue jeans. Amanda ran after the mugger a long distance but he eventually escaped. After this desperate situation, she took a cab to the hotel she was to stay in for a day.

As she entered her room, her mobile phone rang. She pushed the accept button. It was Mr Smith calling.

“Amanda, you have to be very careful and watch every step!”

This was the first time ever that Paul Smith addressed someone by their first name.

“May I know why, sir?”

“One of our people has just reported that the case we thought we were managing was given to another agency as well.”

“So?” Amanda asked, sounding bewildered.

“So this Amanda. We have also found the detective managing the case for the other agency never does his homework, and gives someone else’s work under his name.”

“Then why does no one questions him?”

“You just think of yourself right now. Do not worry about him.” He said in an urgent voice. “He might be following you and thinking of a way to snatch that report from you.”

“I want to tell you something.” Amanda sounded nervous.

“Why do you sound nervous?” He inquired. “What’s the matter?”

“I am sorry sir.” Grunt “But I have,” grunt “been robbed of that file.”

Amanda was given an order to go to the meeting and explain to the Chief Executive Officer of the theft. She was also to suggest that it might be Albus Grint, detective from the other agency.

In a minute she was ready and took a cab to the company’s main office. She headed to the boardroom. As she turned the door knob, she heard a man’s strong voice, and learned that she was late for the meeting.

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen,” he said. “My name is Albus Grint, and I am ready with the report against your employee.”

“And I am Amanda Watson from P. Smith’s P.I.” She yelled across the conference room.

Amanda walked in and was gestured by one of the directors to have a seat.

“Thank you” she said as she sat in one empty chair.

While she took a deep breath and everyone waited for her to continue, she noticed that the conference room had its floor made of oak brown marble and the walls painted brown; a 5 shade lighter tone. A huge oval shaped table sat in the centre and dominated the room with white office chairs surrounding it as its sub ordinates.

“I apologize for yelling across the room, but I wanted to stop this man from speaking any further,” she said.

“I want you all to know something before this meeting proceeds.”

For almost half an hour she talked about what was in her report and how it was stolen from her.

With every word Amanda spoke, Albus was irritated further and finally he spoke.

“And, miss, would you mind telling us how your little sad story relates to me or whatever I say?”

“Let me see those papers in your hands,” she started confidently, “and I will prove them to be mine.”

Colour drained from Albus’s face.

Amanda felt confident because she had just seen the file that Albus Grint was holding. It had “SECRET” written on it. And she knew well that only her agency used those kinds of files; while the other agencies had
“CONFIDENTIAL” written on them.

This was probably the biggest mistake Albus ever made and would ever make.

When the directors read the report they concluded that it was in fact made by Amanda Watson and therefore they asked her to submit another copy of it under her agency’s name.

With her success in this case, Amanda Watson was awarded the best employee award for the fifth time in a row.

An Eventful Day

After I woke up, I had to be done with my breakfast and change for College as soon as was possible. My father gave me a ride to the bus stop where I had to wait for 5 minutes for my bus to arrive. Well... it came and on it I went to SZABIST. During the way, because I had nothing else to do really, I kept on thinking about the story I am writing and how it must proceed further.

After around an hour in the bus, I stepped down at 2 Swords (Do Talwar) and had to walk to SZABIST (never thought of checking or recording how long does it take me to reach SZABIST from there). Once at the 90 campus, I went in the Library. And yes this time because I had to go through a number of books (for an assignment which I personally think is a waste of time because we won't gain anything out of it!!!).

I searched for the appropriate books, and with them in hand I walked towards a computer no one was using. Going through the books and making notes (and with nothing to EAT!!!). I did it for some hours and then got bored immensely. Went out to the cafeteria, locking the computer, and brought back 2 packets of Cocomo. Again worked on the assignment.

During this time explained a few Accounting concepts to a few juniors. Called a friend and discussed a project that we are leading together. Talked to another friend (random stuff). Sent out important texts and all other things that you might think of ( but before believing whatever it is that you are thinking, better get it confirmed by me :p )

Oh yes. I went through some news articles and a few blogs too. One of them just filled me with rage. That stupid man was creating a negative image of Pakistan across the Globe and guess what? His current location was Dubai! The man is not even residing in the country he is defaming!

At around 4 I left the library and ran into a friend. We sat outside the front Labs and discussed a lot of different things. She knew I had to meet a teacher and sat with me all the while.

Once I left SZABIST, of course I had to walk back to 2 Swords (Do Talwar). Once there, luckily I did not have to wait long because my bus arrived. But to my dismay, I had to stand all the way to Cantt. Then I got a place to sit. As the bus moved on on the street that goes up to the Empress Market and further on towards IBA, we heard a blast!

Nothing to worry about. It were the tyres of this bus!

Once we reached Sadar, all the passengers of the bus were told to step down and re-seat themselves in the bus behind. We did that and now this bus *the bus we all went in) was way too crowded and I had to stand again. This time I even had difficulty reaching out to hold the handle to ensure my safety.

Then came the conductor to collect the fare(s) (Of course no fare was charged to those who already paid theirs in the other bus) and a lady to my right tells him,

"Is ladke ko tau bolo ke peechay jae yahan aurton ke beech main aake khada ho gaya hai!"

He replied,

"Amma hum ne tau bol ab us ko khud ko sharm nahi aati tau hum kia kare? Agar us ki amma ko bolega ke usko peechhay bhejo tau woh shor machaegi aur peechhay se 5 hero khade ho ke aa jaenge aur hamari dhulai kar denge. Hum ko apni dhulai karane ka shauq thodi na hai."

After a while there was this other woman who ask the conductor,

:"Us ne bus main se utaar ke sab ko is bus main kyun bhej dia?"

And here he goes again,

"Us ka baap mar gaya hai tau janaaze main gaya hai!"

But once he was done collecting his fare he turned to that lady and told her,

"Amma woh bus kharab ho gai thi. Kharab bus main tau nahin betha sakte na?"

And then I finally reached home at 6 in the evening.

The Jinxed Post

The Jinxed Post. Quite agreed upon. But the question that I have been asking for some time now is: Why? Did you not get what I mean? Well… In simpler words it goes as follows in the next paragraph.
Quite a popular belief it is that the post of “Defense Against the dark Arts” is jinxed. One might wonder, since when? Having understood our curiosity, we were informed that it has been so since Professor Dumbledore refused the said post to Tom Riddle aka Lord Voldemort.
Having received the answer to the first question, their arises another question in mind.
Was it really that long since that post has been jinxed? Some might believe what has been told by Rowling (in Dumbledore’s words) that the post obviously is jinxed since when Dumbledore refused the post to Voldemort. A few might also believe that the post is jinxed since when Voldemort shared Quirrel’s body. Not just contaminating Quirrel’s body but tampering with some hidden magic pertaining to the post too. (I came up with this as I was writing)
But I choose to differ.
Because if it would have been because of Voldemort, it would have been Quirrel’s first year at Hogwarts as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor (I mean in the book “Philosopher’s Stone”). You remember when Harry was talking to Percy Weasley (Percy the prefect) after he, Harry, was sorted into Gryffindor?
Well Harry asked “who is that with Professr Quirrel?” (obviously he was then talking about Professor Snape).
With no book in my hands at present, it is a bit difficult to quote word for word, but I remember that Percy, after informing Harry of Snape’s name and his position as the Potion’s Master, talks to Harry about Quirrel.
Percy Weasley informs Harry that Quirrel was okay until a year back but having met some vampires in his last travels has changed him a bit. This somehow to me suggests that Quirrel had been teaching in Hogwarts before that too.
Because if it were not so, Percy would not have known that much about the teacher initially and more so, Professor Dumbledore did not introduce Quirrel in his speeches as he has been doing the following years.
I conclude that the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts was never jinxed because Voldemort aka Tom Riddle ever wanted it.
Saying all that. there must be a reason why a new teacher was required every year for that very post.
And the reason is:

“The Boy Who Lived”

“The Chosen One”

The post has been jinxed since Harry James Potter set foot in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!!!

Urdu - A way of Life

Introduction

When the state of Pakistan was set up, its constitution stated that Urdu was the national language. It was to be the symbol of unity between different regions of the new country. It was because the vitality of Urdu lies in its ability to adopt words from other languages in such a way as if they originally belonged to it.


Muslim State – Muslim Language

It has long been considered the language of the Muslims of the subcontinent, developed by combining many other languages. It became widely used in the Mughal period, but dates back as far as the era of the Sultans of Delhi. It is said that it first originated in North-West India when Persian, Turkish and Punjabi interacted with the local dialects of Delhi and the surrounding areas. At the end of thirteenth century the Muslim armies were using a common language to help people from different areas and languages to understand each other. This language eventually went through many stages of development to from what is now Urdu. It became widely spoken and understood in many different regions of the subcontinent.


Aid in Independence

In the twentieth century Urdu played a major part in the struggle for independence. The Muslim League aimed not only to defend the rights of Muslims, but also to protect the Urdu language. The British made English, the official language of the administration, but some of its educational institutions, such as Fort William College, took an interest in the Urdu language and promoted it. But after the war of Independence they lost every interest in Urdu.


Means of Brotherhood and Unity

People of Pakistan are one nation; therefore their thinking, aims and objectives are common. Their progress and prosperity depends upon their unity and brotherhood. An important factor for achieving this unity and brotherhood is Urdu.


Source of Expression

Urdu has become a source of expression, feeling, thoughts and aspiration. People of two different areas can easily understand each others ideas and thoughts by Urdu.


Means of communication and co-ordination

Urdu serves as a means of communication and is a binding force between the old four provinces of Pakistan. People living in different provinces realize that in spite of speaking different languages they are joined together by one national language which id the heritage of all.


Medium of Instruction

Urdu language is the medium of instruction in most of the educational institutions of Pakistan. History, Islamic Studies, Political Sciences and other subjects are all taught in Urdu even up to the Masters level. Lectures on Islamic education and religion are also delivered in Urdu throughout Pakistan.