Let the freedom ring

“Have you posted the blog?” said my host, Akos. Sitting on breakfast table in his beautiful apartment overlooking a lush green view of Philadpehia, we were racing against each other to grab the maximum stuff.
He must be trying to divert my attention from food, I jokingly thought, without giving him benefit of doubt.
“What’re you saying,” I said, my shoulders got stiffened as if successfully going to contest his deceptive move. I trudged to cushion and glanced through the newspaper. Sooner than later, I sank into cushion and my shoulder drooped. The realization started creeping into my mind that some disciplinary action could be taken against me for violating Washington Accord. The deadline for fortnightly entry has been over for last three days. “If you were dozing off when Susan was briefing about fellowship rituals,” I ticked myself off, finally surrendering to Akos. But he dropped yet another bombshell. “Friday was closing date,” Akos said, his words struck at my mind like hammer. But why I am out of Katie’s radar screen, I wondered. She would send reminders of “Hi Fellows” couple of days before the close of deadline, but not this time.
In no time, however, I finally took in my blunder. Realized it’s my fault that must graciously be admitted without smelling any intelligence failure on part of Katie. But I don’t think it’s made-up problem on my part since I have been chronic feckless. My mother always complains against this. “You never care to send me a few lines, detailing your well being,” she would say, putting me on weaker wicket. But what can I do? I happen to be highly unceremonial, caring though.
Sitting on the cushion at Akos apartment and repenting my bad habit, I thought I could not be a good correspondent. Lit a cigarette and started taking into account my smoke-and-mirror policy but in fractions of seconds I bailed myself out and went outdoor with Akos for touring the historic city where the United States of America was born. But the idea of blog writing kept haunting me all the time when we were visiting the Independence National Historical Park that has preserved a fair portion of colonial, revolutionary and federal period heritage. As we were visiting the Liberty Bell that is considered an international symbol of freedom, I found a bunch of tourists curiously reading the history of bell and how the crack appeared into it on its way from England, a mystery still unresolved. At the same time, the blog writing was revisiting my mind. “Umar! Let the freedom ring,” Akos said, in an effort to fetch me into present. So I did, jerking my head. Later he took me to the Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed, initially by 13 States. “Are you feeling the history in air,” Akos said, but I kept pushing me back into blog syndrome. Later we moved to the Franklin Court, again a must-visit place that preserves the belonging of Franklin Benjamin, then went to the oldest street of the city, 18th century garden, museums and many more places. So I spent the last weekend visiting the history and thinking about the blog that I am writing after belated realization. However, this weekend brought a significant let up in office work, unlike the past two weeks.
Now when I have finally mustered courage to compose my fortnightly thoughts, I am dejected to learn that they have already been ‘leaked’ to you people in bits and pieces by me.
But I would like to share one thing with you. There is a visible difference in state of my mind. I am changed now. In my last blog entry, you must have found the depression pronouncing in the fair portion of my writing. I am at ease now, after the publication of four stories. And more satisfied. Reason? The metro section put me on work and directed me to bring ‘actionable intelligence’ for getting space in newspaper. I did so and was legitimately rewarded. Sometimes, I spent even my week-ends working on story ideas, visiting difference places and persons. A day before my (so far) last story was published, I left my apartment at 6am to get a place where the ferry service was to start. It was quite memorable experience.
There was tremendous learning for me, culturally and professionally both. I got the idea how to tell the story.
Now-a-day, I have been posted on CAR section. My friendly advice to friendly fellows and alpha pearl fellow is to spend sometime in CAR. You would learn a lot. My instructor at CAR has taught me how to locate the figure fudging often done by financial gurus especially during budget presentation. The CAR also helps in figure documentation. I believe it’s a must-do exercise. I am also working on a story along with two other reporters. That is related to unrest on Pak-Afghan border.
There are a lot of other things to do in New York but they have nothing to do with professional training. Therefore I am not going to share with you because American culture does not allow anybody to intrude into your privacy (Joking). Hold on readers, let me thank you for reading the whole blog. I owe you a lot. Please tell me your name so I could read you, too.