2008: the movie

So you assume that it all does turn out like a movie. there comes a time in the movie when everything starts happening. it is somewhat like what they call the climax. things start happening that the viewers have been waiting for and the stakes rise immensely. i feel that way. 

2008 has been like a movie for me. its had all the elements. 

a primary element is the danger. there has to be an element of danger. working in peshawar, the evacuation of the office, the unfortunate assassination of our COP; the danger was there. we changed clothes to go to work, i tried to learn a new language and i prayed for back home. i endured it, i had a goal, a purpose and a reason. the reason kept me going. it gave me faith and endurance. 

there has to be a big event. there has to be something going on that draws attention to itself. my brother got married and just before the year closed in we had the big event. something was missing though, which made it more of a movie. it was complete in all obvious senses but it missed something that only some would notice

there was a change of character. a character was changed in a way that defined his life forever. that character was me. i was, and i became. the former and the latter were and are in no ways same. some naive sitcoms and tv shows call it "self discovery"; i call it a realization of your destiny. 

there has to be a defining moment in a movie. 2008; the movie, had many defining moments. Jan 8th 2008 was one. it was as if Jan 1-7th were the credits of the movie and on the 8th the movie started with a big bang like a book by a best selling author. then several others came, they shook my world and they defined the moment; as per the name i guess. 

then one of the most important elements of a movie comes; the love story. there has to be the romantic inclination to make the people feel close to the characters. 2008; the movie, probably brought the only love story of my life to me. it happened, it grew and it keeps on growing each day. it altered and affected every other element up there. it created ripples in every pond. it brought happiness, joy, love, confusion and fear. fear? why fear? fear of things not working out the way one imagines. you only fear when you have something significant to gain, and something to lose. 

mix all these together and we encounter a situation of uncertainty. much like the famous book, What If? you think about things that can happen, how they will and how your actions will or will not contribute towards them happening. 

like most successful movies nowadays, the end of 2008 did not bring about the end or a definite answer of the movie. the steaks are higher than ever, the character orientation is set (both the main characters want nothing more than to be with each other), the obstacles and the uncertainties are set and now, now its time for the pieces to start moving. 

every part of the movie, the year 2008, has brought so much into my life that i can weigh the rest of my life against it, and this year will come out heavier. 

lets pray for a happy ending..

AMEEN