The Posthumous Dialectic

Re: Uzma

``confused boundaries``

They make great fodder for composing poetry (or introspective prose, for that matter).

-!Kamran!-

My god, Uzma, you`re all over the place. And such ``giddy`` responses....I`m amused to no end.

The dilapidated mattress is now definitely part of Chowk lore, especially with the completely unexpected admission of your boyfriend`s...ahem...vigor, shall we say? Good lord, indeed. I`m surprised the aunties haven`t started calling yet. If not for you then at least for the ``industrious`` boyfriend.

OK. OK. No more raillery. I`ll respond to your e-mail now. You`re getting closer and closer to uniting with the FABULOUS lint brush, Uzma. :)

One final thought (isn`t there always):

``do you ever feel you are at a point in your life that you could just throw everything away and start again``

Yes. Not lately though. But I was there exactly one year ago. And the year before that. But not lately. Changes...it`s all about that.

``what is this fear of insecurity``

It`s quite natural to be insecure about wanting to throw everything away and start again. It would be unnatural if one weren`t, I would think. But the insecurity should be recognized for what it is. Nothing more, nothing less.

-!Kamran!-

Seeing that you have somehow figured out my e-mail address, perhaps it is best that we moved this forum to a more...ahem...private venue.

See you there, Uzma. :)

-!Kamran!-

from=for

(without the right words, where would we be as a society?)

Re: Uzma

A lazy boy, eh? I thought you already had one in your boyfriend. ;)

But really, I`d bring you the recliner were it not from my fragile back. :) Ask any of my ex`s and they`ll tell you that expensive gifts for women are (used to be) Kamran`s forte. In fact, I decided recently to turn over a new leaf...no more expenisive gifts...instead, cheaper gifts inflated in value through marketing...hence the FABULOUS lint roller. :) Think about it, Uzma...predilections for mattresses, boyfriends, and recliners come and go. But there will always be lint in one`s life to be brushed.

``although im sure had it been phrased in a slightly different way, im sure i might have been more ``inclined`` so to speak...``

You mean be forthright and give up the facade of the lint brush gift as a shameless ploy to meet you in person? No, Uzma...I couldn`t possibly do that. Although with all the amused smiles, chuckles, grins, and smiley/winky faces (with and without tongue)in your last reply...I counted 6...it would seem that you may already be leaning...ever so slightly. (big smile)

-!Kamran!-

p.s. An anthro-archaeologist, eh? You certainly don`t meet one of those everyday. The intrigue grows...(I know...terrible terrible raillery)

Re: Uzma

``i suppose i will have to live without the lintbrush. (alas, alack).``

Gee, I hate to disappoint...especially a passionate (Anthropology, is it?) student of modest means. There is another option....enroute to New England for a wedding on the weekend of the 23rd, I have a 2-hour layover at the Philly airport (I`m dreading it already). I can transfer the ownership of the fabulous lint roller to you in person. If you are so inclined...

-!Kamran!-

p.s. As far as the dilapidated mattress, well...a matter to be resolved ``gently`` between your boyfriend and you. I can sense it may be time for a change. :)

Re: Uzma

``I look forward to the lint brush... I think what will be more amazing is the assumption that sending something c/o Univ. of Pa will get to me ;-P hahahahah. amusing.``

Yeah, it didn`t work. I got it back in the mail. Oh well, Uzi...I guess the union of you and the fabulous lint roller wasn`t in the stars.

-!Kamran!-

Alright...then I guess I will INTERACT!

Zehra...enjoyed the brief, private party. Wished we could`ve stayed longer. Will look into Shandana`s writings as per your suggestions. I don`t know why but there is no natural attraction for me there. She`s an acquired taste, I think.

Uzma...you`re gonna love this lint brush/roller I`m sending (c/o The Univ. of Pennsylvania). It`s really something else. Much better than any Chia Pet or a set of ginzu knives.

-!Kamran!-

re: kamran

go to `the other side` and the first piece she published on chowk..vomit..it is by far my favorite. f *cking brilliant..

i believe that she doesnt believe in revising her work either..(not that i would speak for shandana but..well i guess i still am..i believe i read this about her work once)..

showt is next on my list of favorites...

rizvi

I didnt get to tell you exactly why i liked it the first time i read it so here goes:

everyone has a kind of struggle with reality-their reality adn different perceptions of realities.. the confusion within ones self and life itself.. the fear of the unknown, the fear of not knowing but knowing there is no turning back... knowing there is no undoing of what is done-there is nothing behind.. all there is is the uncertainty of the what lies ahead.

Another thing that struck me as unusual (or should i say unique :P)was the contrast pairing..

A few steps to the window

to the night - to the stars

the darkness of the night vs the light of the stars.. almost like one has to go through the darkest periods of confusion (etc) to get to that brightness..

(nice piece d.a. :P)

btw zehra that wasnt me- this is :P

Re: Zehra

Zehra...what a pleasant surprise.

``kamran: shes mine``

She is? I thought she was her boyfriend`s. But, regardless, it`s a free society, Zehra. I`m allowed as much raillery with her as the next guy...er, girl.

Shandana Minhas, eh? I guess it`s about time I read one of her articles. Which do you suggest as a good introduction?

Oh, by the way, Zehra, read the response I`m about to post to a ``jewel`` from the past titled ``The temptress at Barnes & Noble``.

-!Kamran!-

p.s. Sorry, Uzma, didn`t mean to take up too much space in your reply section to carry on a personal conversation with your....er, friend.

did someone call me?

uzma: (that feels so weird)..im looking at our prenuptial agreement here and i dont think you are allowed any raillery with anyone except me.

kamran: shes mine.

also, you are so getting into the chowk spirit...wait till the bashings become unbeliveably personal..but you arent a chowk woman...chowk women, i believe, have a different initiation process..or mebbe i was put thru my very own personalized gamut to run thru..

as an aside..arif abrar is married to s. minhas..you can read her work on chowk or the friday times.

rizvi.

Uzma, I believe I came across harsh (I`ve been called ``controlling`` but that`s another story) when I meant to be funny. Needed more smiley-faces in there, I think. So maybe you inadvertently got your first Chowk bashing. I apologize for my mood. That`s all it was.

But really, I quite liked the poem as I said before....especially the references to cool marble and wood. (It`s so damn hot where I live!). I also discovered ``Choona Aur Chooriyan`` for the first time and came across another ``hard`` metaphor: whitewashed walls. Simply...beautiful.

I like the word ``persiflage``....frivolous bantering talk, I believe....but what I intended was ``raillery``....good-natured, ridiculing fliration. :)

No, I wouldn`t want you to throw out any mattress stained with sweet memories. God knows we need to hold on to as many of those as we possibly can in this life. As an aside (whether it matters or not, as you said), kinkycards.com does actually exist (thoughtfully brought to my attention by Rubina)....check out the Dreamscape section. There is at least one card quite apropos to the ``sleeply`` discussion at hand. Your boyfriend may appreciate...

-!Kamran!-

p.s. Maybe I`ll send you a lint roller (a $19.95 value) as a peace offering. :)

Hey uzma,

I do seem to find you in the strangest of places. how are you doing....and how can i get your email address.

maheen

Re: Uzma

OK...here it is. My first attempt to carry a conversation in the replies section. I have serious reservations about this. So let me first offer something related to the piece itself. Perhaps the slice of paper represents your unfinished, impending thesis which is close to its due date. How`s that?

And the scratches on the door...it`s the 1-800-MATTRESS guy trying to deliver your brand-spankin` shiny new Serta (King size too, like mine) which I bought for you...the purchase of which your cheap boyfriend has been supposedly ``procrastinating``. And maybe you don`t want to admit this reality....thus no one there when you open the door.

OK...as far as Chowk bashings, don`t be in such a rush. It`s like S&M...once you get into it, there`s no going back. ;)

-!Kamran!-

Uzma...liked your surreal poem. I`ve experienced similar ``awakenings``.

One question: why is your mattress dilapidated?

-!Kamran!-