Day 1
2 am
I'm in the lounge waiting for the flight. It's supposed to take off at 2 30 am. Jal boys are supposed to be on the same flight. Gohar (Mumtaz) had told me on the phone. I still haven't seen them.

2: 10 am
I met the Jal boys finally on the way to boarding. There is a queue outside the plane door so we end up cracking some sleazy jokes. Don't be surprised. All normal boys do it but ours weren't that bad… I hope.
The flight is long but the air hostesses are pretty sweet. One of them offers a smile, twice. The other one offers a portable DVD player, but I am thoroughly enjoying my book by Naveed-Fikar by Sibt-e-Hassan where he explains how secularism was labeled totally anti-Islamic during Zia-ul-Haq's period and how religion has been used throughout history by individuals of states/power to endorse their own interests and form of law on other people. It goes on to describe how the Quran and the Prophet (PBUH) have been silent on what precise form of government there should be. And that is because of being aware that humans will have to formulate and adapt to new ways of state order according to their own times and circumstances. Hence laying down a harsh plan of governance will be, in all ways, against the spirit of Islam, which is a thoroughly progressive religion.

An idea obviously opposed by many till this day.
5 am
It's five according to Pakistan time. I have no idea what the time is at the place the plan is flying over. I'm sleepy. After a lot of effort to recline the seat and realizing that this is as far as this baby goes, I put on a fantastic classical ghazal by Ghalib. This always has a serene effect on me which instantly puts my mind to relaxation and sleep.

10 am (Norwegian time)
I have reached the hotel and head straight to bed. Knocked out!

4 pm
It took much effort to get out of sleep and those lovely romantic dreams. There is interview planned with some mainstream publication here at 7 pm so in my dream I was constantly trying to make out if it was 7 pm yet and thought I had missed it! I couldn't let them say "Pakistanis are always late".

6: 55 pm
I'm waiting in the car at the venue for the press guys to show up! I am escorted by two nice ladies with a great sense of humour. I am glad I am before time. I meet Ali Noor and Ali Hamza on the way. They are meant to perform tonight. The foreign reporters wanted to move a little further to have a more colourful background for pictures and were pretty amused by the local crowd gathering around for pictures and autographs.

7: 30 pm
I'm off to a place called Aker Brygge. I always visit this place when I come to Norway. Water and happy people all around, not to forget the fish and chips. It's perfect. With a conversation with friends who grew up there I learn how the Pakistani community sustains a culture where most of them (especially the young ones) do the "fun stuff" but hide it from others in the community to maintain reputation. Obviously it's a dilemma most are stuck with even back home – trying to live up to pseudo expectations. I wonder what is more hypocritical: doing everything undercover and pretending to being saints or being honest about who you are and doing stuff in moderation? Well… I guess we all know which most of us embrace.
9 pm
I'm back in my hotel room.

10: 30 pm
Out of the room!

12: 30 pm
Can't tell you!

Day 2
3 pm
My father's friend picks me up and takes me to a serene area where I have the fish my father had the last time he was here and had strongly instructed me to have. After lunch I have a strong urge to ly down some place with green grass next to the water area. I am escorted to a place very similar to what I have seen in my dreams, read in books and seen in paintings and have been told that if I do good deeds I'll end up in a place like that.

I guess I had done some that I'd landed there in this life time. I couldn't resist but take my t-shirt off to use as a pillow under my neck and lie down on my stomach on that same green grass under the oak tree.
This is life… I can feel all the toxins, stress and negativity (courtesy of various individuals from the society) evaporate.

9 pm
Showtime! I head to the venue. I'm told in the car that the venue is packed with around 80,000 people waiting. Now this is Norway. How could so many people turn up? When I went on stage I can see people till my eyes can focus.

People are even standing on the roads and the whole area is sealed with roads blocked. Mostly Asians but mixed with some locals. It is indeed a very proud moment for me to be representing my country at this level. I have chosen to wear our national dress.

Rest of the experience can only be felt, not told.

All I can say for now is "Pakistan Zindabad / Pakistan ka Allah Hafiz (Mush style)!