Muhammad Muhsin
Ibrahim
@muhsin234
Astrologists
would want me to believe that June 1 is my lucky day. I will
however not take them serious, as I don’t believe in that pseudoscience. But no
doubt, the day stands unique in my life. At least two life-shaping incidents
happened to me. First, I assumed duty as a Graduate Assistant at the
prestigious Bayero University , Kano
in 2012. Second, exactly a year later, I got married to the lady I have always appreciated
being with. For anything, the day cannot go by like other days. I think it
deserves a particular remembrance and commemoration, though not in any
ritualistic manner.
This year was
unlike the previous one. I had then wanted to give a tantalizing treat to my
wife, which was subsequently marred by some chilling and killing incidents in
both Nigeria and India that do
not bear repeating here. I had not planned to do anything special for this year,
nor write a single word until about an hour or so ago. I had had, two days ago,
a life-threatening fever, stomachache and diarrhea to the extent I almost gave
up. Allah be praised; I am alive and kicking today.
I think I ought
to register my gratitude to Allah (SWT) for everything, not just sparing my
life. I and my wife have been living in peace and prosperity since our marriage.
We are still childless, as you would
like to know, but we are happy, very happy. Birth is a gift that only Allah
gives. We wait for the time He would give us. And should He not, we would still
remain grateful, for He has given us other invaluable presents.
The secret of a
happy family is nothing hidden. Quarreling is unavoidable. That makes a boring life
an absorbing one. Don’t let it though escalate. Come together, discuss and sort
it out by yourselves. Inviting a third party is something you should avoid as
much as possible. We are often insipidly requested by the elders to be patient and
let things go. The “things” don’t go anywhere just like that. They go only when
you rinse out your heart and mind via dialogue. Don’t stomach a grudge. It
accumulates and exacerbates.
This is my last
wedding anniversary in India .
I hope so, at least. Most of us – Nigerians and other foreign nationals – are
here for a better education. We stand all the racism, the hatred and other
downgrading gestures heap on us by some ill-bred Indians. Thank God not
everyone behaves like that. We are more than human beings to others. We are
special. We are like their wards (and they as guardians) entrusted to them by
their government. We are in India
legally; we bring fortune and contribute to their developmental growth. This
second category knows that. Thus, they value and respect us.
I am filled with
optimism now more than ever. Our recently sworn-in president, Muhammadu Buhari has
enlivened confidence in the hearts of many Nigerians. We foresee a bright light
at the end of the dark tunnel that used to be our single route. There will be a
time, soon, in sha Allah, when Nigerians would have to contemplate leaving or
staying in their country for higher education, or related purposes. We have
seen the same in other nations, so we also can.
We miss home. We
love our country and look forward to offer what we can towards taking it to the
Promise Land
Comments
Post a Comment