Seasonal Swings

There is something dramatic about the change of seasons, from summer to gloriously mild winter. Those from cooler climes
might argue that the meltdown from winter to summer is far more dramatic. True, but I was referring to human beings and not
the landscape and its attendant flora and fauna. October is a great month to be in Lahore, the summer lingers on in the morning
sun only, the evenings are deceptively chilly (and a great time to catch pneumonia for those not so young in limb and lung!).

For the young the change brings a newer urgency. Romance, new beginnings and even new fates are initiated at this time of the
year. The city's notorious matchmakers get down to business and tie up the loose ends trailing behind single men and women.
Whoever is left behind, well there's always another October to look forward to. This time round the action has been even more
feverish, decidedly less forced than say a couple of years ago. The reason is pretty obvious; the holy of holies, the mother of all
months, Ramadan falls bang in the middle of December.

What about all those men and women who fly homewards to tie the knot during their winter break? Were it not for them,
December would not have been able to retain its sense of urgency. "Its either now or next year", many a parent have issued this
ultimatum, unconsciously echoing Presley's "Its now or never" ballad. Somehow it would be a tad irreverent to indulge in all the
tomfoolery that is such a necessary feature of all Pakistani shadis during the middle of Ramadan. So there you have it, this year
its October that rules the roost and December sits in a corner, sulking at its loss of star status.

Looking across the fence into India, October is the month of Diwali -- fireworks and sweetmeats galore. Gorgeous film
heroines trade in their mod rags for traditional garb, light up a dazzling smile and wish you happy diwali through your television
screen. Yup, its that satellite TV again. Those of us living on the other side of the divide aren't immune to the festivities in the
neighborhood. And of course with New Year's Eve falling in the middle of Ramadan (which is sounding more and more like a
black hole with all things falling into it!) the party people have already booked their way out of town. Just so that they can "kiss
kiss" at the stroke of midnight without the fear of the bearded vigilantes.


As for me, I was always one to turn everything upside down to make it fit my own topsy-turvy view of things. I have already
taken out my fuzzy, collapsible socks (the ones that bunch up around your ankles) with elaborate plans to outdo last October's
record of consuming huge quantities of roasted dry fruit. No fall parties and shadis for me. I'll be glued to the monitor with my
tootsies cooking in the gentle glare of the heater and my fingers lunging for the last cashew nut in the bag.