#sarasir

[kannan7rad]

KSA Transpire 2024 - Expert Career Guidance by CA K Saravanan sir #ksa #ksacademy

[jenshewring]

MAVA exhibition opening celebration at AGRA today 🥂🥂 only open for one more week! Over 50 artists work on display including ceramics . . . . Just to name a few @mava_collective @jen_shewring @petatranquilleartist @eve.sellars @kathybest.art @jacquelynstephensart @lynneeeee_k @juliedynan @sharondesaillyart @corrie.y @throwaway_art @debwebbart @sarasirant @carolzsoltart_czoriginalart #melbourneart #artexhibition #openingday #flowerpaintings #smallpaintings #funwithfriends #artisttalk @agra_galleries_camberwell #artcollectors #artgallery #melbourneartist #bluethumbartist #jenshewring #jenshewringartist (at AGRA Galleries) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8S6brjHGMT/?igshid=1gt224ay7dba0

[petatranquille]

Tag 2 friends who have completely different styles or tastes to you! About a month ago I met two of my art friends, @corrie.y and @sarasirant, at Finns Reserve. We had decided to do a collaboration. We all have different styles and use different mediums. We chose a location and created our own interpretation of the scenery. This is a super close up of my interpretation of the landscape. The piece will be revealed at my Solo Exhibition. See details on my bio. (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/By3jnNPHAZD/?igshid=1lfe4r5tb5mz8

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New shirt :D

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Laith Al Adham - Sara & the Sir [FINAL]

Is it real? She could never fully grasp the concept of belonging somewhere. Sara was lost between heaven and earth. Dreaming while she was awake, the sir who became Rakan, Rakan who became a lover and who is a man, simply a man. She stood by her window and remembered how well treated and welcomed she felt with Rakan’s friends. It was as if she had known all of them for years.

She remembered how gentle he was in talking to her, how sweet he was handling her. How he put the sugar in her coffee, how he watched her closely while she spoke and what he looked like when he laughed. She still thought she was day dreaming until she got a message on her phone from him wishing her a good night. Sara was at peace. A peace that could not be corrupted or disturbed. Peace guarded by her Sir.

Sara laid in her bed and thought of everything all over again. All the details and all that unfolded leading her to where she is. But she never thought her Sir would ever be who he is. She remembered what he told her later that night. She asked him a question: “Do you think your parents would accept me in your life if they knew my story?” And He said: “I don’t really know, but I don’t think we’ll find out.” Sara said: “But what if one day they do know? What if one day they get to the truth?” and he replied: “Well that is unlikely but I guess they won’t do anything about it just like they wouldn’t do anything about it now” Sara was puzzled, what does he mean she thought?

And she said “I don’t have a father an not much of an extended family of uncles or aunts so I guess no one would worry about someone standing up for me. You think that would make a difference?”

And Rakan said: “I’ll stand up for you, I always will” and he went on saying: “We’ll never find out what they’d think because they’re not alive anymore. My mother died during labor, my father died 5 years ago with cancer. I have no brothers and I have no sisters. That’s the only family I should care about and they’re not there. Never had much opinion of my uncles or aunts, they left me alone to my father’s inheritance which is a house and a few thousand bucks in a bank account. I went through 4 years of university while working and picked up after that. So you see, my parents won’t find out and others I don’t care about. I have no one to stand up for me either except you, should you choose to do so. I’m diabetic, born with it.

Would that make your mother want me as a husband for her daughter any less? Would that not cause any trouble? Would that be perfectly normal? Or will you need to stand up and defend me? Step up and take care of me? Or will you walk out an leave me there? Call everything off and leave? Somehow I think the look of shock and absolute admiration on your face means you’ll always be there. So you see, I don’t bother with the matter at all. It is just a mater of doing what’s right. And I know you’ll do the right thing.” He smiled at her, flicked her nose gently and told her to finish her cake. And she only smiled back as if she is assuring him and confirming his conclusion. Nothing more needed to be said. Nothing more to be done about this matter.

Everything was clear.

She sat up, sipped her cup of tea and looked out the window. Salt colored snow falling out in the street covering the cars just like the days when her Sir used to follow her home making sure she’s safe. She lifted up his picture, the picture she kept from the restaurant to see him in his gray suit. She turned to her right and said: “Jumana, can you please turn the heat up dear. I’m getting a bit chilly”

And her daughter of 18 years turned the hat up and came back to kiss her mother. Sara is now old. She is a mother. Jumana said giggling: “I never get bored of that story mom! You and dad really had things going on back then! Daddy was a catch wasn’t he?” And Sara replied: “Dear, your father was made a man in a day when men were lost and no more. He gave me my peace and he gave me hope. He made you and your bothers the way you are. He raised men and he raised ladies. I only wish he could hear my thanks for him till today.. Bless his soul and may he always be safe and sound.” Sara slept that night while she looked at her wedding picture right next to her on the night stand. And tomorrow, she will remember the story again. She’ll remember it for the rest of her time. How her Sir gave her, her life back.

Part 7 of a 7 part series. By Laith Al Adham

[petatranquille]

Do you have tools that are really important to your production? . I find it almost impossible to create without music so my beats headphones or UE boom speaker are essential. . In order to have perfect parallel lines my parallel ruler is imperative. . The most important tool is my glasses! Age is catching up with me and as much as I don’t need them most of the day I really need them with the detail and precision I prefer in my work. . The piece in progress, that you can see, is for a collaboration with @corrie.y and @sarasirant . All will be revealed and then this piece will be seen at my solo exhibition in July. (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByMJ87CHKgM/?igshid=11gjejlg7xf3b

[petatranquille]

All I can think about is my upcoming solo exhibition. . I am currently working on four pieces. They are all at different stages. This is progress on one of them which is actually part of a collaboration with @sarasirant and @corrie.y. We are all painting our own interpretation of a location, where we all met a week ago. Stay tuned for more. . https://www.instagram.com/p/ByJt63xHyqF/?igshid=12dfbieqrsm3o

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Laith Al Adham - Sara & the Sir [Part 6]

No sleep that night. Not a minute of it. Rakan was a rage bomb waiting to explode. He never was the violent type but thoughts of violence kept ringing in his head. The thought of what happened drove him to the edge of insanity. The sight of his Sara crying would not leave him. He sends in an Email to his boss and takes the rest of the week off. He calms himself and decides to take action. He knows what he’ll do. He knows exactly what he’ll do.

He gets himself ready to leave. Packs his phone, smokes and heads to the elevator. Down to the ground floor and off to his car. Just another day for him so far.

He opens the car door and was getting in and someone says: “Zaid?” Zaid turned around and it was a man he never saw before. “Yes” he replied calmly. “My name is Rakan. Mind if we talk for a bit? It is a bit important.”

Being the cocky person he is Zaid agreed while thinking what it’s about. They ride to a calm area, and step out of the cars to talk. Rakan asked an old friend to track down Zaid’s workplace and he went to there to wait for him. Rakan was praying things didn't get too messy.

The last thing he’d need is the complication of police men and a story for people to talk about. “Sara.” Rakan said. “What about her? What’s it to you?” replied Zaid sarcastically.”I’m her soon to be fiancé, so I’d appreciate the change of tone and respect. What you’ve done was enough” said Rakan firmly.

Zaid froze for a second and tried to play cool but I was clear he was shaky. “Well congratulations buddy, she has a sweet taste believe me I’ve tried. Now what do you want with me?” Zaid again replied thinking his sarcasm would actually stop anything. Rakan replied “This!” and just like that Rakan let out a the hardest punch he had ever laid on anyone straight to Zaid’s stomach. Zaid was on his knees in pain, it was a shock of both mind and body.

Rakan reached down and grabbed a handful of Zaid’s hair pulling his head to the back and said with so much anger: “There will be no speaking of this. There will be no remembering it. There will be no contact from your side to her and you will not mention her in any way that displeases me or her. You sad excuse for a life masquerading as human garbage. Your mother’s womb was repulsed by you and had to spit you into our lives. If your mother knew what you are she would have drained you down a toilet where you belong! Lie down and stay down where you belong! Let this be a lesson for you and stay away from Sara. Or so help me God I will find you again and the next piece of damage I put on you will leave you with a lifetime of disfigurement!”

Rakan threw Zaid on the floor like the garbage he is and walked to his car and left. He felt calm, very calm. He drove away and never looked back. To him it was as if it never happened. To him, no one should know not even his Sara. To him this was just something he did. Rakan picked up his phone and called Sara to check on her. He asked to see her later hat day. He wanted to make her feel safe again. He wanted her to meet his friends. He wanted to make her feel welcome. He wane her to feel that she belongs. Sara hung up the phone with a smile. The smile that takes over her every time she speaks to Rakan. A smile she wanted to hold for the rest of her life.

Part 6 of a 7 part series. By Laith Al Adham

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Laith Al Adham - Sara & the Sir [Part 5]

As Sara was about to sit, after saying their hello's, Rakan noticed that she was not well and decided to take her somewhere else more private so she could talk freely.

The best place he could think of was his car. So they sat there and she was calm. Awkward small talk, catching up, nothing too important. He tried his best to make her feel comfortable and keep her from shedding the tears she was holding back so hard. Sara was feeling relaxed more and more as they went on talking. His way of reaching her has never failed even if un-intentionally. She felt a calmness of some sort that she had never felt before and she was ready to pour her heart out.

“The last time we spoke, I told you how I watched you leave after seeing me to my house. How I always was afraid of telling you anything. How I should have done so rather than think that I’m not good enough. I never told you how I felt like I belonged the last time we spoke. How I felt a serenity of a sort, that I am feeling now. But what’s in the past is in the past. I wanted to see you because I’m looking for that serenity you kindly offered.

I feel like a bag of dirt Rakan. Like a waste of skin. Like I should never have been born. And here come the tears I tried to hold back but you’re man enough to cry in front.

Zaid was not, is not and never will be half the person you are. I thought he reminded me of you but it seems that not every man in a suit is a man. He clearly showed me what animals are made of. In the months past, things got more and more intimate with both him and me. We went out a lot, had laughs, time alone, did things that couples do. Intimate things. Things I never thought I would do. And things were great as we were planning marriage.

But two weeks ago, two damned weeks ago he changed. He let the animal out and he left. He got a new job, a new life, new everything. He wouldn’t return my calls. He wouldn’t show up and he wouldn’t meet me anywhere.

He saw me one day and told me to leave him alone. He tells me that I was just some toy to spend time with. He knew I had no one to turn to and he played his game right. I am a toy. A big, stupid, walking, talking, dirty toy! I let my guard down and I let it down wrongly. Hate me, hit me, please do! Make me feel better and beat me senseless! Do what you wish! Make sure I am dead. I lost my chance of love, and I lost my chance of a real man ever wanting me. So please help me leave this bag of skin and die!”

Rakan froze. He didn’t know what to say or do. His crying just took away all that could be said. He wanted to scream, shout and even cry but he calmed himself. And then he spoke:”I can’t understand how a garbage bag sad excuse for a human being could drag you into this. I can’t understand how someone like you could allow it. But I do understand that you’re not to blame and you’re not to be held responsible. We follow our hearts all the time and it doesn't always serve us best. I know now I should have not taken your last phone call so easily. I should have tried again and again to win you.

I know now that I should have kept watching you as you walked home from your office. I blame myself for a reason I don’t know. For not stopping this from happening. I know now that I want you for your clear honesty more than I ever have. And I know I wish I could undo everything but I can’t. Sara my dear, wipe your eyes and things will be fixed you have my word on that.  And know this, I will NEVER hold it against you. I will never ask for anything in return.

I will hang from your lips even if I catch my death and for what you are I will love you. No matter what you’ve done I’ll love you and I’ll love you through it all. But no tears anymore please. Not a single tear for this animal. Not a tear. Hold your head up high like I’ve always seen you do. Show me that hard working girl that studied at night and never bent her head to the world. Show me that lady sitting in front of me in the bank knowing she’ll accomplish so much. Show me that brave, honest person who called me to thank me. And in return I’ll show you what life is like.”

Part 5 of a 7 part series. By Laith Al Adham

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Laith Al Adham - Sara & the Sir [Part 4]

She gets home that night and can’t focus on anything but what she heard and saw. Sara sits on her bed, still wearing her work clothes, shoes and everything. She couldn’t believe what her day had hidden for her. “What a rush” she thought. Her hands moved involuntarily to her bag and took out the card box from Rakan , took out his card and dialed his number. As the phone rang she didn’t know what she was going to say, but as soon as he said hello words started pouring out.

“Hi Rakan, it’s Sara” she said cheerfully. “Oh hello! I guess you got my gift then” he replied with a feeling of joy. “Yes I have, thank o so much. You really shouldn’t have” She said. “Am I keeping you from anything Rakan? I was wondering if you had a few minutes to talk” She continued. “Not a all, please go ahead” He said eagerly.

Sara spoke her mind for the first time in her life and told Rakan everything. How she watched him from her window, how she always wondered if he got home safely and how she was happy to see him at the bank and how shocked she was to see the gift.

For once in her life she felt safe enough to speak freely. Something she was never accustomed to doing. And then she told him about Zaid. She explained how he had taken her out for coffee the same day. How he told her that he wants to take things with her to a different level. How she has grown fond of Zaid during her work period. How a nice guy he is, and how she appreciates Rakan’s gesture but can’t be with him. How it was too late to do anything.

For some reason she expected Rakan to understand and he did. He was every bit the understanding person she thought he would be. He calmed her down, he told her to go for it an he wished her luck. He made sure she understood that he was only a phone call away if she needed anything and they said their goodbyes, hung up and that was that.

Rakan sat in his room just staring at his laptop’s screen. He couldn’t do anything about it and he couldn’t fight it. He wouldn’t even if he had the chance. It’s what she wanted and she will get it even if he wanted other wise.

He didn’t sleep that night. Didn’t sleep the next night and fell into deep sleep the third night because he was too tired not to.

The “what if” questions haunted him for days after as he kept asking himself what if I had only spoken to her a day earlier? What if I spoke to her when she worked a the restaurant? When she came to open an account. A hundred or more questions but with no answers. And days went by, everyday lighter than the other.

He was soon breathing normally and his hear no more ached, but still thought of his Sara every time he saw a bill in a café or a restaurant. He always went home to his room and opened a small box he had in his closet and looked at the restaurant bills he had kept. Bills that had Sara’s handwriting on them. They were the only thing to remind him of her.

Before he knew it months have passed and much has changed. He changed his job and went on to live his life. He had seen many girls and finally decided to settle down and look for a bride. And the search was on.

As Autumn knocked the windows with its falling leaves and wind, Rakan had no care in the world as he was now in a good place, a good position and a good life. Nothing was missing and noting is to be changed. What has gone is gone. Everything happened for a reason.

Sitting in a little café having his coffee and smoking his cigarettes, Rakan picked up his ringing phone to answer the unknown number calling him and as he said “Hello” a voice obviously waiting to burst into tears said:”Hi Rakan, it’s Sara from the restaurant”.

Rakan was shocked but kept his calm and was warmly welcoming her call and she asked him to meet her if he could. He agreed of course and she as on her way to see him in the café where he was. He waited anxiously to know what she wanted. |She sounded like she was afraid| he thought “I hope she’s ok", he thought. I hope that nothing wrong happened after I stopped watching her getting home from her new job.”.

He patiently waited. He secretly was afraid but he clearly was happy he will see her. Shivers all over him and his mind strayed away. Could it be that he’s still waiting for her? Could it be that those past months he felt better in were only the work of his mind trying to sedate his heart and force him to move on? Is it possible that the mere fact of her calling him would bring back to him all that he has put behind? And he waited. And suddenly, he woke up from his thoughts to her voice calling his name calmly:”Rakan?” and she was there. She was finally there.

Part 4 of a 7 part series. By Laith Al Adham

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Laith Al Adham - Sara & the Sir [Part 3]

July is here. Summer has taken over and the colors are different. The beauty in the light colors of summer always gave Sara a fresh feeling of ambition. She’d been working behind a desk at her new job for almost 3 months now and it’s just as good as she expected it to be. It’s funny how anything small or big to her seems like a blessing. But never the less. She had lost so much without a word that she seems to cherish what new things come her way. 

She left the restaurant with a big farewell party from the staff and she was happy but also sad. Rakan will be nowhere to be seen again. She will have to make do with that and with his picture in her wallet. She though of dropping by the bank for any reason but she could not really think of one that would be good enough and not give her away. 

So she focused on her work, her new job and life and thought to herself: “People like me are not meant to have what we want, but I’ll make do with what I need.” And so she has, she worked and worked and fate played its hand. Over the 3 months she had worked for she had developed a keen interest in a co-worker. Zaid, also a suit guy. Respectable, manly and fairly funny. But like with Rakan she did not speak of it and kept her distance. As colleagues she and Zaid talked a lot and even shared laughs but always among groups of co-workers. 

Being a girl, she’d sense Zaid’s actions around her, she was no fool but she could never make a move or even indulge it. She knew what professional meant and a professional was what she was. 

“Sara, want to go out for some coffee after work? I’m bored and everyone else is busy!” Zaid threw the question at Sra and she didn’t even think about it and answered: ”Sure! I’d love to. I’m bored as well!” And she went back to work. She felt the urge to smile hard and long, to get up and go for coffee right that minute but again, she kept calm, professional and quiet. 

She will have the chance to sit with him alone and see things for what they really are. She would be able to decide if what she saw was true, or just her imagination playing games again. 

Time moved slower than usual and for that day the girl that came first to her office and left last could not wait to leave. An hour before the work day is over, an hour before the time comes for her cup of coffee, someone walks in and asks:”Ms. Sara?” she looks up and it’s a delivery boy with a package “Yes” She answered. 

“Can you sign here please?” The delivery boy says and she does sign for the package and asks:”Who’s it from? What is this?!”  

The delivery guy says:”I don’t know Miss I just deliver the packages” and he leaves. 

She stares at the package for a minute as her mind blew a million times thinking of a million things. She unwrapped it and opened the box and she found a nice looking silver box for business cards with her initials engraved on it. Inside the card she found a business card that read on the back: “I told you I owe you a graduation gift, better late than never” and on the front it had Rakan’s name on it. 

He was still thinking of his Sara. He was still hoping he would have a chance she though to herself. Was he still watching her from a far making sure she’s safe? And suddenly, she felt it all over again, she knows it well and she said his name out loud for the first time “Rakan”.

Part 2 of a 7 part series. By Laith Al Adham

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Laith Al Adham - Sara & the Sir [Part 2]

Winter passed and here comes the new spring with its colors and the noise of life coming back to the world. Sara’s spring is a bit more exciting this year, she’d just graduated and got her degree in business. Time for her to move on and find a real job. Lucky for her that her current boss, the restaurant owner, always loved her as a daughter and helped her get a job at a friend’s company.

She gave in her notice of resignation and was waiting until the end of the month, so she could start her new journey. The only problem was the “sir.”

She had not spoken to him yet. Nor does she know his name. She contemplated the scenario of staying just so she could see him, and always dismissed the idea imagining what he’d tell her to do – imagining someone who wanted what was best for her and her future. But she still aches to know if fate will change her stars. Maybe he’ll gather the courage to actually confess to her, even better, maybe she’ll manage to gather the fragments of her admiration and explain it to him. 

As it is with any job, an employee will need a bank account to get paid. “Precious money” Sara thought to herself while she got dressed that morning getting ready to go down to the bank and open a new saving’s account. Just like any other fresh graduate, her imagination ran wild on the way to the bank imagining the life she’ll be giving her brother and mother, the things she will buy, the life they’d live.

She walks into the bank in her black suit looking professional and presentable and asks for someone to help her. The bank clerk was cheerful and showed her to a chair in front of a desk and told her to wait there and a colleague will be with her shortly to get tings on the road. She sat there excited not worrying about anything in the world, she had felt very little joy since her father passed away and this was a moment of accomplishment she wanted to hold dearly. She was reading the brochures on the table in front of her as she waited. And her heart stopped once a voice said calmly and cheerfully: “Hello Sara, what a pleasure seeing you here.” 

She froze for a second and could barely contain the smile that took over her lips. How could the Sir be here? She replied:”Hi! I didn’t know you worked here!” thinking to herself how his bank job would explain the suits he wears the whole time. “Well a man has to work doesn’t he Sara? he said with a smile.

“My name is Rakan” he went on and sat on his chair. In his head he could never have imagined the day when he actually met her outside of the restaurant, as just two people. It was better than he had ever thought it would be. Shaking and clumsy, he picked up his pen and started asking her the regular work related questions so he could fill his form for the account. He now knows her full name, marital status, college degree and most importantly how beautiful she looks with her classy clothes. “Well congrats on two things Sara. First, the new job and second, your graduation. Now I owe you a gift” he said. Thank you and you don’t have to, graduating is an enough gift for me she replied with a shy smile. And just like that, their first real meeting ended and she got her papers and bank account number and left. 

Her joy as she went out of the bank was beyond explanation. She knows his name, Rakan. Fits him perfectly she though. But she still thought of how she could possibly see him after she leaves the restaurant.  Back inside he sat there catching his breath. He was shaking to the thought of not seeing her again. Happy she’s getting something better. Amazed of how their foot steps crossed paths and praying he can hold himself from doing something stupid and ruining it all. Rakan is now a volcano of mixed emotions and hoping she feels the same.

Part 2 of a 7 part series. By Laith Al Adham