ASIF SULTAN MATTA

AssalamuAalikum dear students!  How are you all? I am sure you're fine and excited for today.  Are you all really excited?  Not for the class.  Not for reading and writing either.  But... Yes... Fancy Dress Competition.  This is your teacher,.................(name) , and I joyfully welcome you all to this beautiful contest, conducted by your school, you know the name of your school? Yes.... Kashmir Harvard Educational Institute.  This lockdown has made our lives difficult. We couldn't go to school. We couldn't study andplay with our friends. We couldn't enjoy learning in our classroom. But your school did not forget you. Your teachers taught you online. And here is another program that we're doing... What's that?...say it all... yes...Fancy Dress Competition.  But before we start. Let's thank that person who was always with us during this tough time. Who cared for us. Who gave us food. Who sang lullaby to us to make us sleep. Who's that person? Who did a

AssalamuAalikum ladies and gentlemen. Peace be unto you all!  Mohammed Ali says and I quote:  “I don’t count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting. When I feel pain, that’s when I start counting, because that’s when it really counts.” All praises due to God. And may he send peace and mercy upon the Prophet Muhammad as he sent peace and mercy upon the Prophet Abrahim. Indeed, He is praiseworthy and glorious. Today is the day of honour. Today is the day of appreciation. Today is the day of encouragement. Today is the day of motivation. Today is the day of felicitation of the stars and heros of this valley-the outstanding sports personalities.    Ladies and gentlemen, I, Asif Sultan, a faculty member of this school, feel more than privileged today to host this grand event of Felicitation Ceremony for Outstanding Sports Personalities of Kashmir, organised by Kashmir Harvard Educational Institute in collaboration with KASHMIR MARTIAl ARTS SOCIETY, and I, on their behalf,

Bleak Spring Faded are the colors of my spring. Of lost hope, dejected heart litany I sing The breeze of May carries the onus of  pain Brushes off on me from its fatigued wing The springing grass wails in merciless merry Round the decaying hay in bleak longing For my separated loved one's, who with the Vernal breeze wafted away into the forbidding #bleedingKashmir --Asif Sultan

12-04-2020 Don't cheer me up! Let the grief of longing Amass, and render the heart heavy And fall in prostration Before the Merciful, Let not the onus subside. Don't console me! Thy tyrant words May deconstruct the cobwebby edifice Of hopes of reunion. Do not accompany me! Your jabber may restrict Me... To hear the melancholic Melodies of her yells. Do not cheer me up! ©Asif Sultan

Onus of Pain Asif Sultan 12-03-2020 Turned the lights off. I made my bed to sleep. A profound darkness spread all over my room. I slid down in my bed and wrapped my shivering body with a warm cozy blanket swathed with a white covered quilt. Fixed the cushion over the pillow to recline on and started thinking of her till I fall asleep, soon after I slurped down 'some' medicines. I groped for my phone and turned it off and threw it away off my bed- Unlike of my usual way of keeping it on the pillow so close to my ears so that I could hear instantly the ring and receive her call without making her little wait-- Sooner I slid myself under the duvet,  sleep took over me and seized me in a deep slumber. I felt warm, thus was oblivious of everything- calm sleep it was! Suddenly, I woke up squinting my eyes and I found myself completely drenched in cold sweat; trembling and restless I was yearning for her- to hear her solacing voice. I was panting out of breath and stood up a