Contents
All that glitters
8
Interview: Samiya Mumtaz: Down to earth
16
Fashion: Warm wintry luxury
19
Massarat’s makeovers
25
Fall Fiesta
27
Travel: Where his highness tarried
29
Art 34 Books 36 Recipes
38
Films 42 Stars & Starlets
41
Glamstock: Christmas special
44
Taroscope 48 Aunt Athena
50
Editor Injila Baqir Zeeshan Sub Editors Fatima Zehra Naqvi Sahar Iqbal Creative Head Babur Saghir Graphic Designers Javeria Mirza Sana Ahmed Mian Nasir Photographer Mohammad Amir Baba
19luxury
Warm wintry
Riversto
h c n u a l e r o t s ne flagship
ly launched its Riverstone recent MM Ali Towers on a flagship store in by d ich was followe d Alam Road wh se ni ga e event was or fashion show. Th Events & PR. by Bilal Mukhtar
Samiya Mumtaz
Down to earth
S
By Adiah Afraz
amiya Khawar Mumtaz is a household name today for her portrayal of Saba in the hit drama serial ‘Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan’, yet she has the persona of a girl next door with absolutely no hint of stardom gone to her head. She is a farmer with a degree from the US, a successful businesswoman who digs and ploughs for her food, a single mother whose kids are self sufficient in basic homeopathy, and above all a TV actor who does not have a TV in her house. What’s more, she tells her right age without being asked, and refuses to wear makeup for a photo op.
16 I December 19 - 25, 2010
She is a farmer with a degree from the US, a successful businesswoman who digs and ploughs for her food, a single mother whose kids are self sufficient in basic homeopathy, and above all a TV actor who does not have a TV in her house
Straight backed and slender, Samiya sits cross legged on her charpoy with a self assured dignity of a woman, totally at ease with herself. Wearing a self stitched tunic, which she later changes for an off - the - rack Raja Centre creation, she talks about her life that is both intriguing and inspiring. Her heart shaped face is earnest, and her somber eyes crinkle at the corners when she smiles. She does that a lot, and more so when her children are around. If you sit in her minimalistic living room, chatting with her two delightful kids about a cow name Bano and a calf named Baniyan, sipping salted lassi, and admiring rag dolls on the walls amongst hoards of books, you cannot help but wonder, “What kind of a man would let this one go?”
But Samiya does not want to talk about her marriage. Not because there is bitterness there, but because she has so many other interesting things she’d rather talk about. PT: You don’t look in your mid thirties at all. What is your secret? SM: Actually, I am not in my mid thirties. I am forty. And the secret is nothing but healthy eating, active life style and generally keeping a disciplined routine. I wake up at 6:30 in the morning every day, and am mostly an outdoor person.
PT: Is it true that you used to ride a bicycle as a young girl all the way to pick up your brothers from school? SM: I still do it. I have done it for as long as I can remember. I used to go to college on a bicycle. It is a great way to keep fit. That, my farming, and of course walking in the park. PT: Don’t you face any problems riding a bicycle around Lahore, owing to being a woman and your popularity? SM: (laughs) You know when you live in Pakistan you sort of get immune to men staring at you no matter what you do. You develop this skill of looking right through them or past them. But you are right it does become difficult some times. In fact, in recent years people have somehow become more ‘talibanized’. I can’t give up my life style just because of that. PT: How do you keep your skin so smooth despite all that exposure to the sun? SM: I do nothing, really. Tried sun block once, but felt it got in the way of fresh air. If you think my skin is healthy it must be because of all the organically grown food I eat. PT: Before we come to your organic farming, please tell us something about your life and childhood. You have a very colourful resume. What have been your inspirations? SM: Well I was born in Karachi and my inspiration has been the people around me. My whole family is inclined towards music and arts. The link to the arts is very strong. My father and brother are architects. One of my brothers is a professional miniature artist. As children each of us used to learn at least one musical instrument. I got my dance training from Mrs. Indu Mittha. My grandfather’s sisters Uzra Butt and Zohra Saigol are professional actors. They used to work with us in Ajoka. Zohra used to dance with Prithvi Rajkapur. Zohra’s husband Kameshwar was a dancer and they had a dance school in Lahore. PT: You went to the US to study theatre, but ended up in farming. How did that happen? SM: I started off with theatre but I found that there is a huge cultural difference in the way we express ourselves through our bodies, our expressions and
“When you live in Pakistan you sort of get immune to men staring at you no matter what you do. You develop this skill of looking right through them or past them. But in recent years people have somehow become more ‘talibanized’. I can’t give up my lifestyle just because of that” our voice, and the way people in the west do it. For example their was an exercise on expressing timidity, and I realised that timidity for us is entirely different from timidity in the west: there is aggression in there timidity. So I just felt that this is not working out the way it was supposed to. PT: But you still did theatre in Pakistan? SM: I have worked with Ajoka for fifteen years. I had always admired Madiha Gohar’s work. We, as a family, always made it a point to attend the performances to show solidarity with her. The reason was that during the Martial Law, theatre was illegal, as congregations of any kind were not allowed. Over time I became very fascinated with the kind of themes they dealt with. I went to ask Madiha to let me act. At first she flatly refused, because I had no exposure to such things but eventually ended up getting deeply involved. PT: Assume that you are filling out a form. What would you say in the profession section? SM: I would say Farmer. December 19 - 25, 2010 I 17
PT: You are involved with acting but you call yourself a farmer. Aren’t the two things poles apart? Where did farming come from in your life? SM: Farming has been my ambition. It is very healthy. I tried doing a desk job and I realised that my body couldn’t adjust to that. I felt that I needed to be doing something that involved physical effort. Maybe because health has always been very important. Apart from that when I was studying Politics, Sociology and Anthropology in America. I tried to understand the rural realities. I believe in order to understand a reality you have to experience the reality itself by physically being involved.
sells my produce such as cottage cheese and homemade sherbets etc. PT: How do you juggle so many things in a day? Does it affect your family life? SM: I do feel sometimes that I don’t have time but I manage. I get up early
PT: Where did the idea of Daali come from? SM: Initially it was a way of utilising the food that we grow with such love and care, without fertilizers, without any artificial methods. So my friend Marium and I launched Daali earth foods. PT: What is the difference between Daali and Panjeeri? SM: Actually a lot of people don’t know that but I am no longer involved with Daali primarily because it was taking me away from my real passion of farming. Panjeeri is an outlet that 18 I December 19 - 25, 2010
and am back from my walk and cycling at the time for my children’s breakfast and school. Four or five times a week I go to the farm. Then I go to my shop Panjeeri. I try to get done with all of that by the time my children get back from school. I don’t socialise at all, we don’t watch TV. I think it is better to read books and play sports.
I encourage my children to learn the Arts. My son learns and tabla, my daughter likes to paint. PT: What about acting? SM: I am very choosy about my projects. Normally the projects come to me and since I am selective it is manageable. The children can either go to their father’s or I make sure that when I am called out of city for work, my mother is not travelling and she stays with them. PT: So do you think having an infrastructure in terms of joint family or financial security is important for a woman to make a career? SM: I think all you need is motivation and passion to do what you really believe in. You automatically find a way regardless of your gender. PT: Is it a myth that working women dedicated to their careers end up sacrificing their marriage and family life? SM: A man knows what he is getting into when he marries a working woman. There are many other factors involved for a marriage to work. As for family life I think working women’s children give them more respect in the long run. PT: Have you ever thought of crossing borders to look for your type of work? SM: I was once offered something by Mahesh Bhatt but frankly dance and song routine is not my kind of work.
P h ot ogra phy Arif M ehmo
bila
nd Na
od H air & Make up Al taf a
Desig
ner S
attla
onia B
Mode
l Ayy an T ex t F atima Zehra
Massarat’s makeovers
M
assarat Misbah is a very talented beautician. She has the ability to transform any face to make it look appealing and charming. Her magical touch can do wonders for any woman belonging to any age group. Lounge brings you makeovers of real women and not just fashion models.
We begin by cleansing Areeba’s face with moisturiser and cleanser to help merge the base with the skin.
We apply light colour base according to skin tone. Compact powder is applied on the base to give a smooth look.
Silver base eyeshade is applied before applying black eyeshade. Silver highlighter is applied to make eyes prominent. After makeover
Mascara, eyeliner and kohl are used to enhance the shape of the eyes.
Pink blush-on gives cheeks a youthful, rosy look.
Light pink lipstick is applied on Areeba’s lips. After makeover
You are invited!
to send in your picture with a few words about yourself and you can
WIN A FREE MAKEOVER to be featured in this column. Just write to us on: lounge@pakistantoday.com.pk
December 19 - 25, 2010 I 25
Say ‘No!’ to cloning!
T
hey are among us. Look to your right… and then left… and you will see them all over the place; in the shopping malls, in the best beauty salons; at parties and in colleges. Whether it is the traditional Shalwar Kameez or the western inspired looks, they have made sure that they are decked from head to toe in the latest fashion. Look into the mirror and you just might find out that you have become one of them! You have turned into a clone. When did this happen!? How did this happen!? The “cloning process” took some time. Most likely, the affliction started in your teenage years. These years can be hard. Your hormones are sky rocketing, causing mood changes and other transformations in your body. If you talk to most teen-
26 I December 19 - 25, 2010
agers they will say that the beastly pimples are the worst. That makes it even harder to fit in. In a society that discourages individualism, you started to read the same books everyone else was reading; you started to listen to music that everyone else was listening to; thus you started wearing identical clothes. As the years went by, you never questioned any of these things. Nor did you try anything new when it came to art, books or music, the fundamentals of what makes a person an individual. You were officially the member of the club: Clones. This, also means, you had become a “fashion victim.” Either buying clothing that don’t fit, sacrificing our bodies for uncomfortable clothes, or adjusting our bodies to the latest trends in fashion (like crash course diets, plastic surgery, etc).So, you end up looking like everybody else. In that attempt, you end up looking unattractive, in clothes that are two sizes too big (or too small), or the colour you’re wearing is doing nothing to flatter your own beautiful complexion, but worst of all, you have lost you. So, before I even go through the diverse
In a society that discourages individualism, you started to read the same books everyone else was reading; you started to listen to music that everyone else was listening to; thus you started wearing identical clothes
styles that exist and the one that is perfect for you, you have a job to do. Find out that person you lost, long ago, that still exists within yourself, hidden away in layers of pretense and the “voices” of others. Your job this week is to do what YOU LIKE. Read books that grab your attention, listen to music that you get lost in and when you go shopping, listen to that inner voice, deep inside you, telling you how great that outfit is… and buy it. I leave you with this quote, “Fashion fades, but style always stays the same.” Coco Chanel. Till we meet again. Salut. Ms Chic
Fall Fiesta
What’s hot and what’s not
A
By Shahbano Khan
White and Ivory are the rage this year
few years ago, dressing up for winter seemed like an alien concept. Women would go on wearing chiffons and silks and shiver till the weather changed. Dressing up according to a unique winter style is a recent notion for Lahore. Ladies now look for elegance and style in their winter attire and couple it with woolies and jackets. Fashion now has seasons! The global concept of an Autumn/Fall Collection has arrived in Pakistan and taken the local fashion industry forward by leaps and bounds. There is widespread awareness of diverse patterns, fabrics, styles, cuts and colours which compliment every face and body type according to the freezing temperatures outside. No longer do women stay back in the comfort of their heated lounges; they seek to redefine their lifestyle, approach and an overall sense of being by wearing what best speaks out their personalities. The woman of today has finally succumbed to the ever evolving fashion facet and dwells in the abundant variety and choice of clothes, accessories, shoes and a distinctive style of putting all these together for a new day, a new season. Winter is all about layers of clothes; the more the better. Be it Eastern or Western, being covered and keeping warm might be the basic need for this frosty time, but at least we now have the liberty to do that in style. A rich culture of maintaining oneself by keeping up with the latest trends has transcended upon us. We want to follow fashion; we want to look nice even on a day so cold it might just feel like another ice age is around the corner. We all own sweaters, jackets, scarves, cardigans, boots, shawls and even gloves. The only question is how to create an ensemble which might give this particular year a different edge from the previous ones.
Velvet is back with a bang and paired with the right trimmings or embellishments can make outfits a true hit. Dark colours and velvet with jamawar or banarsi as the second piece will keep you relatively warmer and make you look elegant December 19 - 25, 2010 I 27
Try something bold like high-waist pants, high-neck shirts and high-collared shirts, which mostly appeared in Vivienne Westwood’s collection; and well-cropped jackets showcased by Karl Lagerfield, band hats, gallowses, bow ties, embroidered capes and tomboyish looks
Although new fashion always takes shape from old trends, freedom echoes from the clothes we wear today. Our fashion sense is extracted from the times we live in and the world we see. Fashion itself is an art they say, and designers are no less than artists who use us as their canvas. Imagine a world without a basic aesthetic sense of style and fashion! In this arena, the designers who set trends for us to follow are really our gurus! A basic article of clothing like a coat or a basic accessory like a woolen cap might not change its true use or appearance but in winter we can accentuate every angle, cut, fabric and texture to give it new meaning. Wear a waistcoat underneath the coat and voila you get a formal look. Or wear a colourful sequenced Jamaican cap and you might just be making a statement altogether. The point is to bring out our inimitable personalities keeping within the boundaries of the basic inclination to fashion for the season. But as much as we might like to deny the fact, we all have the ability to make use of whatever we might have in our wardrobe to convey our true outlook in a very chic and sassy way. Our Western clothing is more or less based on what we see on our cable channels and what we read about in all the fashion magazines and articles. We haul out the new designs from the ongoing global culture. The colour trends this season are dark, neutral and drab with relaxed styles – brown, deep purple, mahogany, plum, navy blue and grey with a glimpse of khaki and camel brown. But the strongest colour this season is the mysterious and powerful black and the bold and sensual red. Red appears to be the favorite this fall because it combines an intense attitude of elegance and femininity. Androgynous women seem to be the inspiration of this year’s fall collection. In Greek ‘andra’ meaning men and ‘gyne’ meaning woman is a term used to describe a mix of both feminine and masculine characteristics. In fashion, this means you have the expressive qualities of a woman and instrumental qualities of a man in the way you dress. Now would not be a good time to give away oversized coats, or your Dad’s old check office suite and those 80s’ retro jackets. Ladies, don’t be afraid to wear outsized boyfriend jackets, trench coats, black office outfits and wide flared pants. Add 28 I December 19 - 25, 2010
some flavour with dark-coloured belts, silk scarves and bold coloured button-downs to detail your personality. The theme of style this winter is an exquisite blend of simplicity with emphasis on stylish cuts, edges and glamour. This trend is shaping a new, more confident, sexy and relaxed woman who has a vibrant yet modest aura around her. The point is not to show skin but hide it with well tailored suites, slim skirts and long cardigans. The military trend has been quite popular in the last season and looks like it is here to stay: Russian army jackets with tassels in electric colours, high length boots and wide army belts are the rage. Female dandy is also the hottest style this time which is inspired from the 1800 British aristocracy. Everyone and anyone who is creative and loves taking chances with the way they look can try s o met hin g bold like high-waist pants, highneck shirts and high-collared shirts, which mostly appeared in Vivienne Westwood’s collection; and wellcropped jackets showcased by Karl Lagerfield, band hats, gallowses, bow ties, embroidered capes and tomboy
Burberry’s enthralling winter range ish looks. Don’t worry, all these masculine clothes will not let you be mistaken for a boy, and will only accentuate your feminine features. Tights in every pattern and colour are the newest must-have and you can wear them with anything from big hoods to big boots. For those of you who don’t really think the grunge look this season is what suits you best, you can always add a womanly touch to the clothes you wear. Printed jackets are the rage this time and designers have used big and psychedelic patterns in neon colors. Fur and lace have made their way on the runways and appear a lot in the Fall Gucci Collection 2010/2011. Also, leather is here to stay. Leather jackets, leather bags, boots, pumps and pants are all about giving a bit of a bikerchic look. To complete the winter look, go for bare minimum makeup and a matt look with crimson blushed cheeks and puckered plum lips. Winter season usually suits our hair and it becomes glossy and manageable. Hottest hair accessories are hair bands and flowers and now would be the perfect time to try short haircuts or crazy hairstyles since it is less frizzy and your hair is able to breathe. For final touches, wear metallic chunky jewellery or metallic bags and lo and behold we have a woman of the age who’s ready to hit the city! When it comes to Eastern winter attire, ladies would rather pass the idea altogether or else it eventually boils down to eastern wear being converted
The military trend has been quite popular in the last season and looks like it is here to stay: Russian army jackets with tassels in electric colours, high length boots and wide army belts are the rage
to western with sweaters and cardigans to ward off the cold. There’s not much one can do to emphasise on our culture more through the way we dress especially in these freezing temperatures. At the end of the day there’s a trade-off between flaunting our kameez cuts, embroidery, the ruffles of the shalwar and keeping warm as well as bringing out our true ‘desi’ ethnicity. The number one eastern clothing item this season would have to be our shawls. We own shawls in every size, colour and textile; be it the ever so popular Pashmina or the more graceful Shahtoos. The best part is that shawls can be incorporated in both eastern and western wear. Throw one with your coats or wrap it around the kameez; the point is to radiate elegance while carrying it off with style. Local designers these days are also using pashmina and jamawar shawls to create kaftans and other eastern shirts. The basic trend of shalwar kameez from last season has been seen this year too. Chooridar with frilly flared frocks or stylish culottes with a long kameez in delicious colours and contrasting patterns have rocked the city. Lengths have been long for the past couple of years and have been carried on for long stylish cardigans. But beware: short lengths are slowly coming back! Kashmiri thread work is also a favourite amongst
designers. Silhouettes are flowy and experimental but the embellishments are seen to be quite traditional. This is where we see a fusion between the east and west. Since winter is the wedding season, it’s no longer compulsory for us to get our chiffon and silks made. Velvet is back with a bang and paired with the right trimmings or embellishments can make outfits a true hit. Dark colours and velvet with jamawar or banarsi as the second piece will keep you relatively warmer and make you look elegant and grand. The idea is to have fun and experiment with all the cosy materials. Throw on different colours and patterns which might not match, because the trend this season is pattern on pattern. So exhibit who you really are by putting together a show of clothes. Be electric, be passionate, be eccentric, and be crazy because at the end of the day, if you’re warm and comfortable with the way you look, you’ll be able to beat the cold! December 19 - 25, 2010 I 29
Travel
Where his Highness tarried Clearly it would have been used by the Nawab himself for it had a Raj façade with colonnades, Corinthian capitals and arches
J
By Salman Rashid
Entrance to the Nawab’s quarters.
ajja Abbasian is the kind of place one would scarcely ever notice. To begin with, it lies on a road and a defunct branch railway line that very nearly goes nowhere. I say very nearly because it lies fifteen kilometres northwest of Khanpur (south Punjab) on the highroad to Chachran. I hadn’t noticed the place when I passed through to Chachran some 16 years ago on my way to ride the Indus Queen across the Sindhu to Mithankot. There was in Jajja, I was told by a
30 I December 19 - 25, 2010
friend, a mansion built by Nawab Sir Sadiq Mohammed Khan Abbasi V. As well as that, Jajja was also the birthplace of Birbal, one of the Nine Jewels that adorned the court of Akbar the Great. He wasn’t certain however whether or not there was a 16th century monument to commemorate the coming into this world of that remarkable Birbal. This he left to me to ascertain. And so it was that I found myself in Khanpur, where I picked up a guide and we drove out westward along the old railway line to Chachran. Back in 1994 when the government
was busy succumbing to the pressure of the transport mafia (that should rightfully be tried for high treason and hanged) and axing line after railway line, I hadn’t felt very confident for the survival of the 30-kilometre branch line from Khanpur to Chachran. Not long after that trip, I heard that service on this line was suspended for being financially unfeasible. And now, my
Ghulam Farid, his religious mentor, at Mithankot on the far bank of the Sindhu. Khalid said he had heard that the place also served as a hunting lodge for in the 1920s this was largely riverine forest. We went in through the arched portal wide enough to permit a light lorry to pass and I was immediately captivated by the spreading banyan smack in front of the façade. The semi-circular central veranda was joined by a wing that swept in a graceful arc from the gateway. This side wing contained the guest rooms reserved for the nobility that accompanied the Nawab on his hunting expeditions. Years of a lack of maintenance had caused most
Word was that Birbal was born here but there was no monument to mark the spot of that event. Nor too was there any other building dating back to the Mughal era. of the plaster on the entire building to peel off exposing the brickwork. There were no frescoes or stucco ornaments on the walls, but immediately in front of the main door in the circular veranda the floor was embellished with a large black-and-white device
The abandoned Jajja Abassian railway station.
Inside the Nawab’s quarters.
guide Khalid pointed out, even the rails had already been uprooted. The raised line bed sans rails was still there, but in time this will be levelled by local farmers and incorporated into their lands. As the line was phased out, so too will be the people who carry the memory of the strident whistle and the woof-chug of the old steam engines that worked the service until its demise some years ago. The line will not pass into history; it will simply be forgotten. That is our way. We drove past a row of houses and stopped by a dusty single storey brick building. The place certainly did not become a Nawab, but Khalid said this was it. I was disappointed. Nawab Sadiq Mohammed had extravagant and fine taste, so how could he have ordered such a drab piece of architecture for his own use, I thought. A couple of men hanging around came up to chat and told us we were looking at the followers’ quarters. The main building, said one of them who was an Abbasi family retainer, was past the wide-arched entrance to one side. We followed the man into the entrance. There it stood forlorn and forgotten: the stopover place where the Nawab tarried when he travelled from Dera Nawab near Bahawalpur to the shrine of
December 19 - 25, 2010 I 31
Facade of the audience hall. showing blossoming irises amid sinuous branches. This was a Nawab’s residence, after all. Built of brick and mortar, the building typified the colonial vernacular architecture that became popular with the upper classes of undivided India from the latter decades of the 19th century. The door was askew in its housing and the arch above it cracked. Though the plaster was peeling, the naked bricks had luckily not yet been attacked by salinity. I pushed in the unlocked door and entered the dusty audience hall. No echoes of past glory rang in my ears, only my footfalls bounced off the bare, dusty and cobwebdraped walls whose whitewash seemed ready to shine with a mere dusting. The high ceiling above was made of timber planking, its border decorated with a catenation formed by a series of two-lobed devices in green and orange. The devices were either kidney-shaped or resembling an irregular figure of eight. The chain was interspersed with circular motifs. Good bit of work, I thought. On the other side of the audience hall was another adjoining building. The retainer said this too was a guest house, but clearly it would have been used by the Nawab himself for it had a Raj façade with colonnades, Corinthian capitals and arches. The steps leading into the veranda were framed by balustrades on either side. These latter ended in a delightful leaf ornament that formed a serpent head which, in turn, was shaded by an acanthus leaf. Lovely it must have been to behold when kept in good fettle. But that was long years ago before the State of Bahawalpur was amalgamated by the government of Pakistan. Abbas Abbasi, the last acknowledged Nawab, struggled to keep the family together and when he died, disunity among the many heirs soon frittered away past glory. While
32 I December 19 - 25, 2010
they bickered over the division of spoils from the richer properties, the Jajja palace seems not to have escaped their malefic attentions either: local lore has some vague stories concerning the breaking in and plundering of the household effects by some members of the family. Surely when the family was not looking, others would have helped themselves as well. The front door of the Nawab’s quarter was padlocked, but the retainer led us around to enter from a side door. Early morning light slanting in from high ventilators gave the empty corridor an eerie look and I asked the man if there were stories of troubled spirits that roamed here on dark nights in quest for peace they may yet never find. But there were none, said the retainer whose name I never learned. Nothing. Nary a tale to be gleaned. Only the plunder of family heirlooms by members of the family. What a shame, I thought. The corridor that had a splendid tiled floor was lined with rooms on either side. These were either bare or at best were left with a webbing tape bedstead or a rickety chair. Folks really had been hard at work here for even the wash basins and commodes were ripped out of the toilets. A room connecting this part of the building with the large audience hall contained some items of furniture that were left over after the plunder. Here was an assortment of chairs, a couple of tape beds, a dressing table without a mirror, dining table and what we called a doli – the airing cupboard with wire meshing. I would give anything to know what happened when they were removing this stuff. Could it be that as one part of the family was at work, another arrived to throw a spanner in the works? Each party accusing the other of theft, nobody was able to make off with this little bit that
remained and by common agreement it had to be left here to be auctioned at some time. Khalid had earlier told me that Nawab Sadiq Mohammed Khan always came by his special railway coach which was parked at the station. Leaving the palace we drove the half kilometre to yet another forlorn building: the railway station. The dado stone on the façade read ‘Jajja Abbasian’ distant 17.75 kilometres (from Khanpur). The year of construction was 1908. That was long before our blighted Forest Department had discovered the accursed eucalyptus (or the several species of ornamental rubbish and the date palm that we now know as trees) and good people who raised public buildings planted the magnificent pipal. And so both flanks of the station were shaded by tall pipal where koels sang even on a dry beginning-to-gethot April morning. We returned to the town centre to ask about Birbal’s birthplace. Word was that he was born here but there was no monument to mark the spot of that event. Nor too was there any other building dating back to the Mughal era. Abu’l Fazl, another one of the Nine Jewels, who wrote that famously interesting Ain e Akbari was not very fond of Birbal (as the Ain tells us) and he would not have made mention of where his rival was born. There was consequently no way of knowing if this bit of lore sticking in the collective memory of Jajja Abbasian and refusing to go away was true or otherwise. I suspect, one day a casual re-reading of the Ain might just solve this puzzle either way. Salman Rashid is a travel writer and photographer who has travelled all around Pakistan and written about his journeys. He is rated as the best in the country. Photos by the Author
Art
The more the merrier
Drawing Room Art Gallery’s exhibition titled ‘Slick’was a cornucopia of the major names of the art world from these parts By Mustafa Naqvi
T
he artsy crowd of Lahore is so enamoured with group exhibitions that these days seldom does one find a solo artist on display. Going with the trend, Drawing Room Art Gallery hosted an exhibition titled ‘Slick’. And this too turned out to be a cornucopia of major names of the art world from these parts. The exhibition showcased works by R.M. Naeem, Atif Khan, Jamil Baloch, Waseem Ahmed, Unver Shafi Khan, Ayesha Durani, Rehana Mangi, Noor Ali Chagani, Nazakat Ali Depar, Mudassar Manzoor, Madiha Sikander, Irfan Hasan, Imran Mudassar, Imran Channa, Huma Iftikhar, Akbar Ali, Adeel uz Zafar and Aakif Suri. While most artists on display were rather well known, it also marked the first occasion when tutor and the taught shared gallery space. Naeem and his work need no introduction. A renowned patron and teacher of art, his influence and creative genius can be found in many of the new generation artists including Aakif Suri and Irfan Hasan. As for the vast spread of Naeem’s work, it incorporates a diverse variety of themes and intricate subjects. With his well worked out symbols, elements and aesthetic trajectory, this visual maestro
34 I December 19 - 25, 2010
Conflict
Taqmeel
Tolerance
keeps the viewer in his thrall for far longer than one intends to. A sculptor and painter rolled into one, Jamil Baloch is a visual narrator. Cruelty and agony of war and violence are not only captured in the mixed-media works by him but he is one of the few who makes one feel than just view the given situation. Baloch’s work is much more than mere art pieces for display, for these reflect human sentiments and emotions in a manner that indeed gives them a life of their own. Waseem is one of the few people who juxtapose two entirely separate things into one, enabling the viewer to go on a creative rollercoaster of wit and skill. A trained miniaturist, Waseem’s neo-miniatures blend the violent fundamentalism around us with witty subjectivity to create something entirely new and pleasing to the eye.
Unver Shafi’s series of works named “Fabulist” not only have the most interesting names but are also some of the most quickly recognisable and likeable aesthetic magnets. His works are meticulous, full of sexual wit and innuendo with names like ‘Slurp’, ‘Indian fauna’ and ‘Two forms’. Rehana Mangi and Mudassar Manzoor are two contemporary artists who not only experiment successfully, but they also provide a whole new dimension to the traditional craft of miniature painting. Mudassar adds gold, acrylic, and impressions to his range of gouache on wasli miniatures. This not only provides the surface a new medium but also a whole new pattern of thought. Mangi works with hair as her medium of choice, applying them on wasli to create intricate, eye teasing patterns that can keep one bound by their sheer level of detail and dedication that went into making these mini marvels. Madiha Sikandar and Nizakat Ali Depar are somewhat of parallel travelers. Nizakat paints on railway tickets, his scenes are the most common things one would find around – random people, coolies, stray dogs, fortune-telling parrots. These train tickets and the visual treasure trove he makes on them is reminiscent of his travels to his home town in interior Sindh. Like Nizakat, Madiha’s work has taken the traditional wasli out of the picture she paints on books – some of them really old and rare. Specializing in Mughal miniature has given her the edge of using these books as the surface on which she lays out nostalgic pieces of work which are often very introspective in nature. Irfan Hassan is the modern day Piper, his work has an aura of mystery, grandeur, eeriness. One major quality in his work is the line between myth and reality where one ends and the realm of the other begins is very hard to find. Aakif Suri’s “Hukum ka Badshah” and “Do more” are very interesting works of art not only in their original notion but in terms of honest skill and integrity they carry. Imran Channa’s Badshanama series is a multitude of large scale works that are an amalgamation of traditional Mughal miniature images juxtaposed into providing a whole new meaning and visual thought to them. Ayesha Durani’s skill is mesmerizing. With crisp fluidity she establishes herself as one of the finest amongst the contemporary miniaturists. Her work is soundly feminine and the elemental usage of mannequins is something of a stroke of creative genius. Huma Iftikhar and Adeel uz Zafar work from the scratch quite literally. Huma’s work with integrated objects, overlapping stairs and confusing imagery is not only keen but interesting. Adeel’s skill and creativity is ravishing. With the imagery coming from stuffed animals, stuffed toys and cuddly playthings his medium is the entire opposite. Etching on paper and sheet in terms of medium can be dubbed an adventure, but he has pulled it off gloriously well. Akbar Ali’s series of regions and religions is quite interesting. Character profiles, ethnicity, geographical notion all submerge into his colorful platter offering a visual treat. With his juxtaposed self-portraits, war planes, artillery, weapons of sheer violence, Imran Mudassar’s effectively portrays war and its lasting impact on people. His tour de force though is portraying the naked human flesh on top of war ravaged and shell ridden walls that also have calligraphic insignias on top of them. All in all, a pretty captivating experience, but then with such diverse range of art on display it was bound to be.
December 19 - 25, 2010 I 35
Books
Within the ‘arc of crisis’!
G
By Syed Afsar Sajid
eneral (Retd) Khalid Mahmud Arif (b.1930) is a veteran soldier having served the Pakistan Army with distinction, from1949 to1987. He is also an accomplished writer on issues of strategic and geo-political importance, national security and good governance besides being a recognized poet of Urdu. In this perspective, the present book is his third in succession after ‘Working with Zia’ (1995) and ‘Khaki Shadows’ (2001). ‘I am a soldier by profession and a peacemaker by choice. I was a 17-year-old college student in 1947 when British India split into two independent dominions of India and Pakistan. It was hoped that the two emerging countries would part as friends and live in peace. This expectation did not materialize. The long-cherished joy of freedom’s dawn turned into a nightmare.’ This is the rationale behind this book which, in the author’s words, briefly narrates ‘the complexities faced by Pakistan’ in the wake of the intrigues cooked up by the Hindu leadership in connivance with the British overlords to the utter detriment of the native Muslims and their new homeland Pakistan. The solution to the impasse as suggested by him, though a little facile, implies that ‘both countries should negotiate peaceful settlements with open hearts and visionary statesmanship’. The book has 14 chapters with succinct but ‘speaking’ titles like Around the Homeland, Parting of Ways, Emancipation, Agriculture, Innovative Learning, Bureaucracy Evolution and Performance, Enslaved Valley, Loaded Water Bomb, Looming Energy Crisis, Flawed SAARC, Media Paradoxes, Hurdles in Trade, National Security Syndrome and Looking Ahead. In a lucid style, the author has described the events leading to and issuing from the emergence of Pakistan along-with their sensitive over 36 I December 19 - 25, 2010
Merits of the book apart, the end of the book does not fully synchronize with its beginning insofar as its avowed theme is concerned
Title: Estranged Neighbours India – Pakistan 1947 – 2010 Author: General ® K. M Arif Published by: Dost Publications, Islamabad-Lahore-Karachi Pages: 344 Price: Rs.595/-
The solution to the impasse as suggested by him, though a little facile, implies that ‘both countries should negotiate peaceful settlements with open hearts and visionary statesmanship’
tones. He rightly attributes the flawed implementation of the Partition Plan to Lord Mountbatten who was overtly biased against the Muslims and their leaders. Gen. Arif’s long stay in the higher echelons of power coupled with his eminent position as a serviceman facilitated him to study and analyze the situation at home and elsewhere objectively, from a point of vantage. His balanced comments on the civil services in the country reflect his catholic approach. Kashmir and its offshoot the Indus Basin water disputes are the major bone of contention between the two ‘warring’ neighbours, India and Pakistan. The author has discussed the two kindred issues with authentic facts and figures. The disgraceful role of General Gracey, the then acting C-in-C of Pakistan’s Army, in the embryonic stages of the Kashmir issue has been mentioned in detail in the chapter titled ‘Enslaved Valley’. The derogatory contents of the letter written by the General to a friend in Pakistan in May 1963, betray the prejudice and partiality of the British mind vis-à-vis the dream and reality of Pakistan. The title ‘Loaded Water Bomb’
symbolizes the portents of the water shortage in the country in the backdrop of the ongoing water dispute between the two estranged neighbours, India and Pakistan. It is a deft analysis of the issue from different angles converging on the standpoint that ‘water shortage is a lethal weapon that can quickly explode public emotions. This must be defused by political vision and democratic norms’. The chapter on the ‘Looming Energy Crisis’ is meant to serve a timely warning to the powers that be regarding the enormity as well as urgency of the situation suggesting that Pakistan ‘needs to develop an energy mix that is affordable to public for domestic and industrial use’. Nuclear power generation might refurbish the contemplated energy mix. Reviewing SAARC as a forum of regional cohesion and harmony, the author remarks that ‘conditionality of unanimity in the decision making process has made the SAARC process a hostage to the whims of any single country’ and that ‘no region can prosper economically on a long-term basis if its contentious political disputes are permanently kept under the carpet’. The chapter on ‘Media Paradoxes’ is quite enlightening. The author rightly opines that ‘free and vibrant media committed to accurate and responsible journalism is a national asset’ and goes
on to say that media ‘enhances its own credibility and builds up national image. Over-projection in media is counterproductive. Media has its limits. It cannot produce miracles out of a juggler’s hat. Governments stand or fall by their performance and not through media coverage’. Reverting to the subject, economic relations between the two countries (India and Pakistan) have also suffered because of the political factor. India has to curtail its hostility and hegemonic designs against Pakistan in order to curb the prevailing tension in the region. The writer’s views on the national security syndrome amply demonstrate his political insight and analytical ability. In the concluding chapter of the book, he pointedly identifies Pakistan’s difficulties at the moment as political poverty, injustice to justice, economy under stress, curse of corruption, famine of good governance, diplomatic difficulties and security syndrome and analyses them discreetly to finally come to the conclusion that ‘a prosperous and strong Pakistan holds the key to the peace and security of South Asia as a whole’ and that ‘the road ahead will require hard-headed decisions with a clear-sighted vision by all stakeholders of the region’. Merits of the book apart, a perceptive reader might, however, note that the end of the book does not fully synchronize with its beginning insofar as its avowed theme is concerned. December 19 - 25, 2010 I 37
Christmas Recipes
Chef Abdul Manan has worked with Royal Palm, World Fashion Cafe, Hot Wok Cafe in Lahore, Eye Television Network, ALite, Masala, Style360 and APlus, and also runs his own catering business by the name of Urban Gourmets.
Creamy Chicken and Onion Quiche INGREDIENTS Pie crust Plain flour Butter Egg yolk Salt Chilled water
250gm 175gm 1 ½ tsp
Filling Chicken sausages, chopped 1 ½ cup Onion, chopped 1 Green chillies, chopped 2 Butter 1 tbsp Plain flour 1 tbsp Milk ½ cup Cream 1 cup Eggs 4 Cheddar cheese, grated 1 ½ cups Pepper to taste
38 I December 19 - 25, 2010
Method For pie crust, mix butter with flour, add salt and knead with chilled water to make stiff dough. Roll out dough into ¼ inch thick round and line a 9 inch pie tin with it. Prick the base with a fork. Blind bake for 10-12 minutes. For the filling, melt butter, add onion and sauté. Add sausages and fry until golden. Now add flour and cook for two minutes. Gradually add milk and cream and along with cheese and cook until thick. Remove from heat, add beaten eggs and pour this mixture in baked pie shell. Bake at 180 C for 35-40 minutes. Serve hot.
Rich Fruit Cake
Celebrity’s favourite
Nicole Kidman Grilled Shrimp with Mangoes and Chile
Lamb Souvlaki
Ingredients INGREDIENTS Plain flour 2 cups Butter 1 cup Sugar ½ cup Brown sugar ½ cup Eggs 3 Baking powder 1 ½ tsp Cinnamon powder ½ tsp Nutmeg powder ¼ tsp Orange peel 2tbsp Glace cherries ½ cup Almonds ½ cup Walnuts ½ cup Raisins ¼ cup
METHOD Mix all dry ingredients in flour. Beat butter and both sugars till creamy. Gradually add eggs and beat till fluffy; fold in flour mix. Lastly mix in all nuts and fruits, pour batter in an 8-inch square tin and bake for 45 minutes at 180 C. Cut and serve.
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 small shallot, minced 1 garlic clove, minced (optional) 1 red Thai chile, minced 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro 1 mango, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice Salt 2 pounds large shrimp, shelled and deveined Freshly ground pepper 1 cup baby arugula
Method
Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. In a medium bowl, stir the 3 tablespoons of olive oil with the vinegar, shallot, garlic, chile, ginger and cilantro. Fold in the mango and season with salt. Drizzle the shrimp with oil, toss to coat and season with salt and pepper. Grill the shrimp over high heat, turning once, until lightly charred and just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to plates and top with the mango salsa. Mound the arugula leaves alongside and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and serve right away
December 19 - 25, 2010 I 39
Walnut Brownies INGREDIENTS Plain flour 1 ½ cup Coco powder ½ cup Brown sugar ½ cup Castor sugar ½ cup Butter 1 cup Eggs 3 Walnuts 1 cup, chopped Essence optional
METHOD Mix all dry ingredients in flour except sugar. Beat butter and both sugars till creamy. Add eggs gradually and beat until fluffy and light. Fold in the flour mixture and walnuts. Grease 9-inch square baking tin, put the brownie mixture and bake at 180 C for 40 minutes. Allow to cool. Cut into squares and dust with icing sugar to serve.
Fried Chicken Wings in Hot BBQ Sauce INGREDIENTS Chicken wings with skin 1 kg Barbeque sauce ½ cup Hot sauce ¼ cup Oil to deep fry
METHOD Heat oil and fry wings until crisp and golden. In a pan, put both sauces and bring to the boil. Put wings in the sauce mixture, toss and mix well. Serve piping hot.
40 I December 19 - 25, 2010
Stars & starlets Priyanka blasts Bebo! Mercifully these two don’t pretend to be friends. Of course, when asked direct questions about each other, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra — who bonded during ‘Aitraaz’ and fell out over Shahid Kapur — normally say innocuous things like, “Oh, we have no issues with each other. Blah, blah...” But the fact remains that they do have very strong issues. And these came to the fore recently when Kareena bared her fangs on a talk show and said, “I wonder where Priyanka got her accent from?” Not to be outdone, Priyanka who is coming on the same show shortly with none other than Shahid, had people at the shoot in splits when she said, “I want to tell Kareena that I got my accent from the same place where her boyfriend (Saif Ali Khan) got his.” PC reminded the show host (and all those who tune in) that she, too, had studied overseas and therefore had access to an accent just like so many others in Bollywood. Of course, having been given the opportunity to take a dig at Bebo, Piggy Chops wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass with just one direct hit. Later, PC made it known to the host that people in the industry didn’t take Kareena too seriously. “I’m flattered that Kareena thinks I am a good actress,” she is said to have remarked. “But otherwise I don’t think people take Bebo too seriously,” is what PC reportedly said. And she hit one final nail when she was asked what she would steal from computers of Bollywood superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Shahid, Kareena and others. Known for her smart replies, PC giggled, “Does Kareena have a computer in the first place?” Hmmm... one can see round two of this cat fight happening soon.
‘I want to tell Kareena that I got my accent from the same place where her boyfriend got his’ December 19 - 25, 2010 I 41
Films
In cinemas now! ‘Gulliver’s Travels’
Release date: December 22, 2010 Director: Rob Letterman Star cast: Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Chris O’Dowd, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly Genre: Adventure Synopsis: Jack Black is bigger than ever… as Gulliver, a perpetual underachiever and wannabe travel writer at a New York newspaper. When he finally makes an effort to actually venture out the city to write a travel piece, a storm-tossed voyage lands him on an island inhabited by tiny folks called Lilliputians. After a rocky beginning, the gargantuan Gulliver becomes an inspiration to his new six-inch-tall friends. He brings them modern-day wonders like a PDA and music video game – while they help him kick it old-school during his travels through this unforgettable world.
‘Country Strong’
Release date: December 22, 2010 Director: Shana Feste Star cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, Leighton Meester Genre: Drama Synopsis: A rising young singer-songwriter becomes involved with a fallen country singer. As they embark on a career resurrection tour with her husband and manager and a beauty queen-turned singer, romantic entanglements and old demons threaten to derail them all.
‘Ada... A Way of Life’
Release date: December 24, 2010 Director: Tanvir Ahmad Star cast: Ayaan Ahmad, Nauheed Cyrusi, Ayesha Jhulka, Rahul Roy Genre: Drama Synopsis: ‘Ada... A Way of Life’ is the tale of Ayaan. Son of a noble human being Anil Anand, and a religious mother, Aamina, he traverses life between crime and spiritual antecedents. Ayaan embodies the trauma of moral certainties crumbling like sandcastles in the face of contemporary disarray. Ayaan’s life is a search for wholeness, for values he can live and believe in. The conflicted character of Ayaan Anand is a modem tragedy as he becomes part of the criminal stream, even as he searches for the ultimate truth, the ultimate happiness. ‘Ada’ is a film of moment, as it compels as to re-examine the youth-crime phenomenon in a very poignant and engaging story. 42 I December 19 - 25, 2010
‘Little Fockers’ Release date: December 22, 2010 Director: Paul Weitz Star cast: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo , Blythe Danner, Dustin Hoffman Genre: Comedy Synopsis: It has taken ten years, two little Fockers with wife Pam (Teri Polo), and countless hurdles for Greg (Ben Stiller) to finally get “in” with his tightly wound fatherin-law, Jack (Robert De Niro). When Greg and Pam’s entire clan — including Pam’s lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson) — descends for the twins’ birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical Jack that he’s fully capable as the man of the house.
‘Tees Maar Khan’
Release date: December 24, 2010 Director: Farah Khan Star cast: Akshay Kumar, Akshaye Khanna, Katrina Kaif, Raghu Ram, Rajiv Laxman, Arya Babbar Genre: Drama Synopsis: Only once in a blue moon is such a great criminal born who is fearless as well as shameless! Now is the blue moon and the great criminal is Tees Maar Khan. He steals cons and cheats all with such alarming audacity that even shame shies away from him! He and his gang comprising of Dollar, Soda and Burger have managed to keep the police, world over, on their toes. Then one fine day international antique smugglers, the Johri Brothers, assign Tees Maar Khan the biggest con job of his life. He must rob antiques worth 500 crore rupees from a heavily guarded moving train. Will Khan and his merry gang, with some unwitting support from his wannabe-actress girlfriend, Anya, and a greedy Bollywood superstar be able to pull off the greatest heist in history?
Timeless Classics ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’
Karan Johar-directed ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’, popularly known as ‘K3G’, is an elegant portrayal of love and passion. Although beautifully made, it is difficult to digest the idea of a physical and intellectual communion of two people from totally different backgrounds. Rahul Raichand (Shah Rukh) is the adopted son of a rich and famous Indian business tycoon. After returning to India with an MBA from London, he falls for Anjali (Kajol), the daughter of poor denizen of Chandni Chowk. While his father has big plans for him, Rahul shatters his drams by marrying the unschooled Anjali and is ostracised by papa Raichand. In the sub-plot revolves the story of Pooja (Kareena) and Rahul’s younger brother Rohan (Hrithik) who also experience similar feelings of love for each other. The film is renowned courtesy its three legendary lead pairs belonging to three generations of Bollywood cinema – Amitabh-Jaya, Shah RukhKajol and Hrithik-Kareena – who shine in this movie about generation gaps that won big bucks at the box office. By Beenish Mahmood
December 19 - 25, 2010 I 43
44 I December 19 - 25, 2010
December 19 - 25, 2010 I 45
46 I December 19 - 25, 2010
December 19 - 25, 2010 I 47
December 19 - 25, 2010
THE ZODIAC AND EASTERN TAROT By Mariam Aftab AFTAB/CAPRICORN
WISAAL/TAURUS
The ambition card Dec 22 - Jan 21
The physical change card Apr21 - May21
Your dreams will get you where you want and creative passion is possible. You will enjoy this week. Traditions matter a lot as you call the family down. Try not to eat too much otherwise indigestion can make you ill. Your partner will offer you extra love this week. Work will demand your undevided attention,but the good thing is you will quickly get done with pending work.
Your spread shows that someone you really like will give you immense pleasure. Expenditure will rise till the end of this week. Financial gains from past investments cannot be ruled out later in this week. Family members will be helpful. Outdoor activities will give you excitement and entertainment but will be very expensive. You will enjoy interacting with people who belong to other religions, countries or cultures.
DUA/AQUARIUS
ASHIQ/GEMINI
The self-card
The love card May 22 - Jun 21
Jan 21 - Feb 19
Your spread shows that this week you need the patience of a saint. People not listening to you will threaten your calm personality. Try to be patient with everyone and your partner will also show you c o m passion. This will be a good week to improve your listening skills. You will be able to motivate yourself to make some extra cash. You might want to sign up and join a saving scheme before the New Year resolution rush.
Your spread indicates that if you just remember to emphasise cooperation and teamwork in all that you do this week, you will be well-rewarded. Relationships with your partners or mates could require a lot of your attention but should also be very pleasurable. Attending lectures, exhibitions and seminars would help you build new and important contacts. Stone of the week is Garnet.
JAL/PISCES
IRTIQA/CANCER
The sensitivity card Feb 20 - Mar 20
Your spread shows that excitement is in store for youngsters. Romance is in the air. Money matters are a bit tricky. Tact and diplomacy see you through at work. Long lost friends/relatives pop up again. This week is very favourable for domestic affairs. You will be given complete freedom at your workplace. Home and family life will remain fine.
FIZA/ARIES
The growth card
Jun 22 - Jul 23
Rely on your intuition in order to make the correct decision. Financial limitations will give you some depression. People around you will welcome your new ideas. Evening with friends will be pleasant but avoid excessive eating or you may suffer serious stomach problems. Working on your self image is extremely important. This week is excellent for social as well as religious functions.
QUWAT/LEO
The aura card Mar 21 - Apr 20
The strength card Jul 24 - Aug 23
Your spread indicates that you will find yourself decidedly lucky and can safely bet on the long shot. You are definitely building your strength up and working towards a goal. Working for others will bring comfort as you build up your funds. There is travel in the works for you, which is connected to your business and to your career. Money might be coming your way. Family matters are good. Some pretty wild ideas will be set in front of you.
Your spread shows that it is a good time to spruce things up around you, even if it might cost a little something. You might be focused on discussing something important with a partner or mate right now. And you ought to be able to resolve things very favourably. You will probably be fairly eager to take on any additional challenges at this time. Just don’t forget that rest and relaxation are necessary. Stone of the week is Topaz.
48 I December 19 - 25, 2010
Tel: +92 (42) 35751231, 35710452 Websites: www.mariamhealingcenter.com, www.innerstrengthhome.org
THEHRAO/VIRGO The patience card Aug 24 - Sep 23
The card of the week is Aftab (the ambition card); this shows that participating in spiritual seminars and social activities will be high on your agenda this week. You will feel excitement and calm by helping needy people. Overwork can be dangerous for your health, so be careful. New financial schemes can come your way but think carefully before making any commitment. You will incur losses if you make hasty decisions.
Celebrity Couples & Compatibility Prince William and Kate Middleton
SAHIR/LIBRA The magician card Sep 24 - Oct 23
Your spread says that close relationships should be easier though you may have to beware a tendency to take partners too much for granted, or indeed to rely totally on their advice which is not always realistic. Investment made this week will enhance your prosperity and financial security. Tact will be required while handling colleagues. Tooth ache or an upset stomach may create some problems for you.
INTISHAR/SCORPIO The confusion card Oct 24 - Nov 22
The card of the week is Hifazat (the protection card), which means that outflow of money will still create hindrance in executing your projects but the money can slip easily through your fingers because your financial position will improve. Putting your creative ability to positive use will reap good benefits. Anger is dangerous for your health and finance, so be patient.
KISMET/SAGITTARIUS The luck card Nov 23 - Dec 21
Your spread indicates that you will spend lavishly on yourself and your relatives. Don’t let your personal problems interfere with your professional work. Friends will bring in pleasure and extend you their unconditional support. Seek advice of trusted people. Do not overspend on entertainment and recreation otherwise you will regret later. Dedication and loyalty towards your work will bring in desired results.
Prince William June 21, 1982 Paddinton, UK 9:03 pm Sun Sign: Cancer Moon Sign: Cancer Kate Middleton January 9, 1982 Reading, UK Unknown birth time Sun Sign: Capricorn Moon Sign: Cancer Though Prince William and Kate Middleton have opposite zodiac signs, the two have come together to serve a purpose, and that purpose is intricately tied into William’s public role as Prince of Wales and future King of England. Both have Pluto, Saturn, and Mars in William’s 9th house of international affairs, public speaking, and higher education. William and Kate share an intense emotional bond, strengthened by their ability to communicate with one another. They know each other well and their relationship is mutually supportive. It is not an “easy partnership”, but the rapport between them is so intense, it outweighs many of the so-called negative aspects.
Ask the Expert: Mariam Aftab is a renowned healer offering self-help courses and counselling services. Readers can send in their questions regarding any problems at mariamhealingcenter@gmail.com
Q: What is the best way to remove the effects of evil eye? A: Take shawar using a little bit of salt. Mariam
Aftab
December 19 - 25, 2010 I 49
Dear AA, My 12-year-old son is having an affair with two girls. Not only is this very shocking and alarming for me but also he has lost interest in his studies and games. I have even confiscated his mobile but it is of no use. I am tense and don’t know what to do. I am worried about his future. Please suggest a way to tackle this problem. Mom-in-afix
Dear Harassed, It’s a very common thing and not so difficult to handle. The best thing is that you are already ignoring them, but apparently it’s not enough. You must take it seriously and inform your office management about it and let them handle it professionally.
Dear Mom-in-a-fix, Dear AA, Such problems are becoming quite common among the young generation, owing to excessive exposure to television, Internet in addition to lack of communication between children and their parents. It’s very important for you to have a friendly relationship with your children. Parents who have a close contact with their children usually do not face such problems. I will advise you to start developing a friendly rapport with your son and keep a vigilant watch over his activities. Go about this gradually, or else your son will become more rebellious. Dear AA, I am being harassed at my office. Guys are asking me out and they are sending indirect messages through my friend. It is very weird and distracting for me. Although I give them the I-don’t-care attitude, they are least affected and are getting on my nerves. Every day there is a new proposal waiting for me. How do I avoid this problem? Harassed
50 I December 19 - 25, 2010
My husband goes to the gym every day but I don’t and am gaining weight. Whenever we go out together people pass embarrassing comments. My friends claim openly that I don’t look good with him and it makes me self conscious and under confident. I have tried a lot to lose weight but unfortunately couldn’t. Please tell me how to overcome this problem. Mismatch Dear Mismatch, Your husband is fit because he makes the effort to live a healthy lifestyle. This decision has led him to be regular in his exercise regimen. If you want to match him in fitness, you should match him in discipline. Whenever you need to achieve any goal, the simplest way out is to find someone who has already achieved that goal and follow every thing that person did. And my dear, you are lucky enough to have such an ideal in your husband. The ball’s in your court now.