Amma and the Clock

#17 Posted by Nadia_Zehra on March 4, 2004 6:08:03 am

Two weeks ago Amma went out of city on relative`s death.
I couldn`t sleep the whole night.
However she calls me once in morning and my brain awakes me to stand.
But I kept seeing the clock every hour past, my brain jerked me that its time
to wake and on seeing clock while pressing light down, it was always one hour
passed.
I felt nausea and vomitted in the night. Just an hour before I slept full.
And my Khala foned me to awake me by ringing the fonebell.

And when Amma home I wake up myself at exact wakening time.
But without her I feel void, and I cant help myself

#16 Posted by nnsyed on February 22, 2004 2:31:46 am

Excellent effort Dee- I just read that it was your first writing, incidentally, its mine first interaction as well.

About that clock or time piece as it was called in those days, I donot think there was a battery operated mechanism even after Second World war, first such machines according to my knowledge came in market after the discovery of Atomic Clock in 1967.

So just make some changes in your orignal text when you will be compiling your work hopefully in an anthology.

All the best , N N Syed

#15 Posted by dee on February 14, 2004 8:38:09 am

Thank you all very much for your comments, really appreciate it.

#14 Posted by meet_taimoor on February 13, 2004 9:49:31 am

Excellent piece Dee!! Atleast got something different from Pakistan-India bullshit! A refreshing piece of literature! I hope the mention of ``1947`` and some ``pre-partition`` like words doesnt turn it into the Pak-India war! :) Cheers!

#13 Posted by cipram on February 13, 2004 6:29:32 am

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#12 Posted by Saminasha on February 13, 2004 5:13:13 am

Ehmaq Echoboom,

So someone who claims that Islam is the most superior form of govt. while living in Canada is lauding the ``homespun, 100%`` quality of the text of a social worker/writer in Tanzania?
Do you live in some kind of plastic bubble?

#11 Posted by faizahussain on February 12, 2004 8:23:35 am

``brevity is the soul of wit``
this was brief but even with a few words you were able to convey a tornado of emotions. Your grandma`s insistence on holding on to the clock seems more like her insistence on holding on to time. Perhaps she wanted to cherish the past by keeping some sort of souvenir...and what could have been better than the clock. Thanks for a good read.

#10 Posted by ahmedmk on February 12, 2004 8:23:35 am

very well written piece.
it scared me a bit, but i couldnt help but read it to the end.
both my grand mothers are alive but i am very far away from them. it makes me want to hug them and tell them what they mean to me.
made me realize how we all must one day say goodbye to what all we cling to in this life.
thanks.

#9 Posted by whippinzed on February 12, 2004 5:29:40 am

I read this the moment it came up on chowk. It was a gripping read, and after a long time on chowk or else where I found something which in a way chimed with my insides.

I didnot post an interact at that time - since I wanted to read this iece again. And I have done so 3 times. Each time it resonantes again and again - something which all of us will feel.

That touch about 1947 and the clock ticking was just on another plain.......

times up I guess...........and the clock might not chime for any one any more...unless its baterries are recharged/replaced.....a nice touch....thank you for this piece

#8 Posted by echoboom on February 11, 2004 6:22:47 pm

#6 by Saminasha on February 11, 2004 1:41pm PT
Ehmaq Echoboom,
Ms. Ahmad lives in TANZANIA.

So?
Please READ the story and THEN comment.
Now there is no need for anyone to call you Ehmaq. It is public already and you reinforce it
everytime you write here.

#7 Posted by ahmed-iftikhar on February 11, 2004 3:13:52 pm

Thanks for a good read.

My Nani Jaan, was a chalti phirti alarm clock for me. She became my roommate after my elder brother left Pakistan for Canada. During my exam days, she used to wake me up at tahajjud-time for the last revision of my exam. In other days, I was forced by her to offer prayers five times a day. I always woke up hearing her reciting Quran in my room. She was the best roommate.

She is alive and in good shape mash’Allah. Unfortunately, she can’t read anymore.

Regards
Ahmed

#6 Posted by Saminasha on February 11, 2004 1:41:42 pm

``THis is the kind of stuff CHOWK should be encouraging. nary an alien or foreignish taint. 100% homespun. ``

Ehmaq Echoboom,

Ms. Ahmad lives in TANZANIA.

#5 Posted by temporal on February 11, 2004 1:03:20 pm

Dee:

welcome to chowk!

...there are never enough tears...

rgds,

t

#4 Posted by Godot on February 11, 2004 8:02:17 am

Very poignant. The clock from 1947 is a brilliant allegory. This piece reminded me of my own mother, whom I called Ammi and whom I never got to know because she died before I could reach an age where I could know her. I have buried deep all of her memories. But suddenly I feel very sad.

Thank you, Dee, for a very nice and moving piece. It’s writings like these that make me stay at Chowk.

#3 Posted by ihafeez on February 11, 2004 6:40:19 am

Excellent narrative. It made me realize that when we have something we dont value it untill it is gone. Same is the case with health, parents .... . The one thing which I like most was the way Dadi amma used to pray in morning. I am quite libral but we could not refute that every blessing we have in this life is because of God and we must be thankful to him. We must learn from this narrative that it would be those prayers which would come as our saviours after our death.
In the end, I would like to thank again for bringing me near to reality

Imran Hafeez
Islamabad