Welcome To MIR SALEEM ARIF'S Homepage     

So by chance or willfully, but finally, you landed up here to catch a glimpse of me, in this infinite web world. Hi! Mir Saleem Arif heartedly and warmly welcomes you to my cyber home. Here you will find my life’s ideology, attitude, beliefs, future plans, and many other beautiful things about me. In short, It's my autobiography. By profession, I am a Project Controls Scheduler, nowadays working with ALMUTAA GROUP (www.almutaa.com). Daydreaming is my hobby; I do it whenever I get time.

In my words “ Chance always favors the prepared mind.” & “Nothing is impossible but what matters is the extent up to which you can go for that thing”.

About myself

Hi Everybody! I’m Mir Saleem Arif. “Saleem means safe and peaceful” Everyone in the family calls me Jehangeer-It came from the famous Emperor JEHANGEER. I was born and raised in Sonwar Bagh, Srinagar, Kashmir, India on May 19, 1976. A place where God has graced with such beauty- “KASHMIR” is called a paradise on Earth and the meadow of flowers. I am so proud and lucky to have Kashmir as my birthplace. I was born from the Muslim ancestry of Mr. and Mrs. Mohd Sidiq Mir. I love my parents and I’m proud of both of them. They nurtured us to be a good citizen and as well as pampers us with the love and care we need as their children. What I am right now and what I achieved I owed this to my parents and above all to Allah. I have one brother and one sister. I am the eldest among the siblings. I learned my first A, B, and C at Woodland House School Sonwar Bagh Srinagar Kashmir India, and continued my secondary education at S.P. Higher School LalChowck. I graduated with my college degree at S P College in 1996. Soon after I graduated, I got my first job at Mir Sales Agencies- which deals with telecom items I joined them as Marketing Sales Representative for eighteen (18) months. I got another job at G.M. & Sons a distributor of Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL). I worked for two (02) years as Marketing Officer for HLL Products in which I gained and learned my marketing strategies. Again, Mir Sales Agencies enticed me with their good offer, position, salary package, and benefits so I decided to join them the second time around as Marketing and Servicing Manager for their telecom products but only lasts for two years because G.M. and Sons hired me again as Marketing and Servicing Manager with the hefty salary offered and I worked for them for two years again. Then land another job as Branch Manager at Synthen Forest Ltd. which has a headquarters office at Dalgate having a chairman from Kokernag Kashmir, We attract depositors/investors to putting their money in our financial institution with the slogan “double your money”. People that I convinced couldn’t resist the allure of huge interest in their money in a matter of time. The money from our investors was also remitted to our Headquarter office as I told to do so. But after I had recruited so many investors I couldn’t reach the HQ Office, they were gone like bubbles and nowhere to find them. From that time, our office was doomed to collapse. It saddened me because all the burdens lie on my shoulder. I need to handle the furious clients and the venom of their words no longer surprised me. They are the victims and so do I. It didn’t occur to my senses that were all a scheme. what I got is their bait(enormous salary). Ohhh! What a gullible I am. Despite that, I had already a piece of advice from my Uncle and Father that they already perceived that I'm working with the scammer, I never paid any attention to that allegation but in the end, their instinct is more than reliable. The damage has already been done and I have nothing to do with it anymore but to face the reality that I need to pay the victims or else they will sue me for laundering. My father sold a piece of his land to help me overcome the adversity of my life. To sustain the needs of the family and to pay the rest of the victims I worked hard to earn an ample amount at Mir Sales Agency the third time. It’s hard to explain why I keep returning here. It just seems like I gained a wider perspective on things when I started working in this company- Mir Sales. My monetary obligation to all victims was paid eventually and that’s all water under the bridge now. With my indomitable courage, I struggle my life and my hard work and dedication have a good outcome because another offer laid on my hands- it’s an OXFAM INGO based in London, United Kingdom. I signed a contract for two and a half (2.5) months as Field Logistician for earthquake victims in Northern Kashmir. I met my two roommates; one is Engr. Shailesh Bagtharia, we shared stories before we went to sleep, and upon seeing my hard work he asked me if I wanted to go to Afghanistan and earn much better. He said he came there already but he went back because he is a vegetarian and he can’t adjust easily to the food served there. He said if I'm willing to relocate for another job in Afghanistan he knew someone he could recommend to me, it is Mr. Muhammad Gul Sahibzada. After I finished the contract on OXFAM I stayed at home for one month but Engr. Shailesh and I exchanged emails frequently and update him if he already told Mr. Sahibzada about my interest to work with them. Until such time he did contact Mr. Sahibzada and they talked about me and He gave me a go signal to contact Mr. Sahibzada through an email and He replied that I will send my resume and other pertinent information and he informed me to wait until March 2006. In mid-April 2006 I received an email from him stating that he needs my passport and he also included the salary they offered me. After negotiating my salary and privileges, I sent him all that he needed. On April 30, 2006, I received the visa number but I asked him for a twenty (20) day extension because I need to prepare my family emotionally, as well as motivate them to allow me to go and I explained to them the reasons why I need to go. It’s a big help to the family and it's a great opportunity to explore new avenues. Only my sick father gave me a go signal after I answered all his queries (Who is this man, Is he a good and trustworthy person? Is the place safe? How much salary you will have?), the rest I have a hard time to convince them, especially Mom. I assured them that I will be safe and I promised also to be in touch with them right after I’ll be in Kabul, Afghanistan., It was May 20, 2006, just a day after my birthday when I left for a new challenge to New Delhi to process my visa at Afghanistan Embassy in India. It was issued on May 24, 2006, and my ticket for Kabul was booked the next day, May 25, 2006, but when I went to the airport I was advised that I need to see immigration to officially check my passport, I wasn’t aware of that so I called the agent and paid their services to process it for me and I informed Mr. Sahibzada for the delayed of my travel. On the 26th of May, I got my passport duly stamped by immigration. Well, money talks. At last, my flight to Kabul was pushed through on the 27th of May 2006. That was the time I joined the best company in town- Kainaat Construction Logistics & Trading Company LLC and now renamed to Kainaat Group of Companies (www.kainaatgroup.com). For three (03) months, I worked as a logistics officer, I used to call home once or twice a week so that they should not be worried but the more I called them the more they were worried about me so I requested a vacation from my boss for 15 days and that was granted, I went home with an enormous amount of money from my earnings for three months, As soon as I arrived at Srinagar Airport my mother was already waiting for me and by watching me she couldn’t hold her emotions and cried a lot then I hugged her and made her calm, then those who are against me in joining Kabul company was astonished to see the remarkable improvements on my personality, that was also the time when I begin to fulfill my first dream — to construct my own house ( our new home ). After 15 days I don't have a hard time convincing everyone to let me go back to my work because they saw the fruits of my labor in Afghanistan. As soon as I arrived in Kainaat I got a promotion to Project Manager then after six (06) months they promoted me again to Program Manager. In August 2007 Kainaat Company sent me to Dubai to attend seminars and training on scheduling software (Primavera program) and it also gives me an opportunity to visit the landmarks of Dubai. As I returned to the Kabul office, the management gave me another role as program and submittal officer for all the projects handling Quality Control system (QCS), making project schedules in the primavera program, and a responsibility to handle Dr. Check (program between USACE and Contractors) furthermore, I applied all that I’ve learned from the seminar and improved from it. I am thankful that I’ve grown professionally at Kainaat. After rigid work, I went home for vacation and that was the time also to prepare things for my engagement. It was November 5, 2007, when Rehana and I announced our engagement. She’s the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ghulam Nabi Rather of Sonwar Bagh Srinagar. She’s been my life for seventeen years. I’m pretty sure that she’s the one I wanted to share my life with for a lifetime, I want to wake up next to her every morning and know that she’s mine and mine alone. May 16, 2009, is the date chosen for a very joyous occasion- our wedding! To our friends and relatives who read this hope, you will mark your calendars and save this date for us. I spent most of my time with my family and Rehana, we made up for the lost time. I went back to Kabul for work again and it was smooth sailing for three months. 19th Feb 2008 when I got a call from my home that brought bad news for me, my father passed away, after a long battle with asthma. And without a second thought, I immediately left for home on 20th February and reached home on 21st Feb. My whole family is grieving and my Mom needs support, as well as my sister and my brother. My mom is having a terrible time dealing with this. They have been together for more than half of their lives. It is impossible to fathom the scarred emotional landscape of my mother; her struggles, concerns, and maybe insecurities but I assured Mom that we (her children) are here to support and help one another. As the eldest son, the responsibility of helping my family is totally on my shoulder. This stress is overwhelming but I don’t want to let my family down. I love them so much. The memories of my father will linger with us forever. May Allah fills his grave with noor and may he rest in peace in heaven. The transition period is not easy for us. Time will heal all wounds and we need to move on. I spent some days at home. I went back to my work, and after some time I returned home to attend on my father’s 40th day(March 30, 2008), I went back to Kabul and I was working smoothly in Kainaat when our big boss Mr.Sahibzada hired a new General Manager, I was anxious because He is not mean to me. We clashed with each other. I can’t enjoy my work anymore because he even controls my thoughts. My resentments produce too many stress hormones in my body and I become fatigued after only a few hours of work. The work I formerly enjoyed is now drudgery. The result of my work is also affected and there’s no way to avoid it but to look for another greener pasture, I come across Road & Roof Construction Company (www.rrcc.af) and worked there as soon as I came back from my vacation at my hometown. It was June 2008 I started working in RRCC as Quality Control Manager and I was assigned to the most dangerous place in Afghanistan-(Khost). I was there for four (04) months, On seeing my work I was promoted to a project manager & reassigned to Kandahar Project Manager, a dangerous place too. Bombs roared every now and then. Blistering attacked everywhere. There was also a time when my office was hit by shrapnel or it might be the effect of a shockwave that made our office window glass fissured. The worst scenario I ever had and that gave me an idea to find a safer place to work with. December 1, 2008. I went home for vacation, and without wasting my time I started looking for another job with good compensation in a safer place- I rehashed my perspective along with my credentials to meet the real world’s expectations, and finally landed a job at Encorp International Inc,(www.encorpinternational.com) an American Construction Company but having branch office in Bagram Base in Kabul. I went back to Kabul on December 31, 2008. And on 1st January 2009 officially went to my new company Encorp International Inc. There were a series of physical and mental examinations before I went to the Bagram base camp (One of the biggest Camp of the American Army in the world), I spent my six to seven days at Encorp Kabul office. My designation is Planning Engineer. I tried to cope with my responsibility to the best of my ability but office camaraderie is not good and it is very essential for office staff to work in a harmonious atmosphere and to have an A+ outcome of work. Teamwork has a key role in a company’s success but Encorp employees are not equipped with this. Buttering someone up is very rampant inside the camp and it’s not my cup of tea. I am a very straightforward person. And I fight for my rights. What you see is what you get. I was pissed off many times by the company’s administration officer which made me realize I couldn’t grow in this company. Luckily, Allah made me a better offer from an international company Es-Ko International Inc, (www.es-ko.com) they hired me as Quality Control Manager, and as we hammer out contracts and privileges, I was thinking about how to bid goodbye to Encorp, and one day a chance came to me that the President and I had a heart to heart talk. I laid all my cards to her and maybe understand me. After Nikki and I talked I felt as if a big burden was lifted from my shoulder because there was no need to tell lies and alibis for my exit. Finally, I sent my formal resignation letter to them on Feb 20, 2009. And it is effective on February 28, 2009. I am scheduled to join Es-Ko International Inc. on March 1, 2009. There was a sudden change that made me join Es-Ko as early as today, February 25, 2009. Wish me luck! Inshallah! Allah is always with me, He guided me in every step I take.

April 22, 2009

Now I have a fulfilling and challenging job at Es-ko. I exert all my efforts to make my superiors satisfied with the work I have done. Most especially I dedicated my time, my commitment, and abilities to all the tasks assigned to me and the proof is I got an appreciation certificate from the USACE. (see photos) It put me on a pedestal but it couldn’t be avoided petty jealousy among comrades. I work with great clarity- so, what I have now, I sweat it out! It’s the time to reap the fruit of my hard work.

I am working to the best I could but we could not please everybody. As I don't know all the keys to success, but one key to failure is to try to please everyone. The crab mentality of a person sometimes works when they feel that someone was promoted or has a higher salary than they have. I have a hard time dealing with this kind of person because they couldn’t accept the fact that there’s someone much better than them. Instead, they would work hand and hand with me, they will argue and talk against me. It irked me when they do this to me because it can hamper the progress of a project. I have high regard for respect for elders that's why I tried to hold my own temper and give long rope for my patience to deal with my elderly officemates who always annoyed me at work. I hope and pray that they will understand why I am here and if they need compliments they will also focus themselves on their work or task given to them rather than on criticism.

“Team members don’t always agree, yet they work together to find solutions.”

April 23, 2009

As of now, I'm counting the days and am so excited for May 1 because it is the day for me to have a vacation at home and prepare for my wedding on May 16, 2009. I have done already all the technicalities for vacation leave at the Personnel Department and it is approved. I’m ready to go.

The countdown for my wedding is 23 days more to go than goodbye to my bachelorhood and hello to Family man.

April 26, 2009

I’m so busy at work. Four days to go I’m leaving.

April 28, 2009

I’m on my rest day because of Independence Day in Afghanistan, a time for me to sort and pack my things. Whew! so excited. Two more days to go.

April 29, 2009

Tonight my friend give me a surprise wedding party, all my officemates enjoyed a lot at this party, one more day to go……

I got my plane ticket from Travel Department.

April 30, 2009

My flight from Kabul, Afghanistan to New Delhi, India will be tomorrow- May 1, 2009, ETD- at 9 a.m. then from New Delhi to Srinagar, Kashmir on May 2, 2009. Home sweet home.

So much excitement.

Watch out for the updates 3 months after my Wedding.

October 14, 2009

Hi everybody, It’s so nice to write again here after a long time, Sorry it took me 6 months instead of 3 months to come back over here, but don’t blame me as you know I was with my life ( Rehana ) enjoying. You all should know that our marriage was impossible to dream which came true…..don’t worry I will let you know the detailed story about these 5 months the next time I got a chance…

Feb 10, 2010

It’s been a long time since I haven’t written on this site since I got married. It was a long wait to completely have Rehana in my arms. You already read our love story, we have a very long engagement — like 17 years and it was love at first sight that blossoms into true love and now we are united as one in marriage. Our wedding day- nothing could ever alter the thrill of this hallowed occasion. From now on, no one can detach us from each other. We savored every moment that we are together as we are still in the limelight of our marriage. It’s a blessing from God to have Rehana as my better half.

Now, you understand why I stopped writing temporarily.

My Life and I enjoyed every moment after we got married as I knew that I have a job waiting for me in Kabul, Afghanistan. My last employer ES-Ko promised to accommodate me and my wife in the company. I hold it and really trust that they can do it for me, the proof is I brought my life’s visa when I went home before the wedding but there was a complete twist when I made follow up to them 15 days after the wedding. On the 30th of May 2009, I went to New Delhi and tugged my whole family with me so that while I’m busy at the embassy they could also enjoy life in the city and explore the beauty of New Delhi. ESKO turned me down and I can’t really enjoy staying in New Delhi because I started to panic and hunt for a job through the internet. I asked for help from my colleagues and friends and send my Resume. I talked also to my former employer ( KAINAAT) Mr. Sahibzada said he could give me accommodation at the company along with my family as long as I will go there first and arrange everything for my family. As I’m about to join Kainaat, on that same day I got an offer from Marcopolo Construction Company with all the preferences I wanted. The company is from a local investor while my previous one Esko is an International there are a lot of differences in terms of benefits and monetary aspects. I had to weigh all possible options but more importantly, I have a job and my wife with me. June 7, 2009, I made up my mind, so I decided to accept an offer from Marcopolo Company. June 8, 2009, soon after I got a visa at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi we went home to Srinagar and manage to prepare all the necessary things to pack up for Kabul.

On June 22, 2009, we headed to Kabul Afghanistan, and officially joined my new company. They provide us with a semi-furnished apartment. My office and my apartment are very near just one garden in between. Rehana can see me through the windows. One good thing about that company is they paid a salary on a fixed date which is every 1st of the month. I got only 8 days of work but they released my salary on payday July 1, 2009. My job was going smoothly for 1 month but I had a problem with my visa because Rehana’s visa will expire on the 28th of June as it was just an entry visa, while mine was July 22, 2009, fortunately, it was extended for another 3 months. With all the privileges that they gave me still, I’m not happy and contented because I already experienced having an enormous salary from my previous employers.

In a fortuitous email from my former officemate whom I hadn’t seen or communicated with him since the abduction 1 year ago, He said in his mail that I need a job because they need a highly experienced planning engineer. The mail was authenticated because it was duly signed by Him and the company address was written under his name. I checked the website of the company and it was really impressive and without second thoughts, I replied to him that I am presently in Kabul with my wife and I need a job that he laid on me but I asked him if they could give my wife a job as my assistant. I am hopeful that the company approves my desires. I sent my CV and the next day I got an overseas call from a representative of the company but I told him that I am presently on a job site, so he said he will call me later... When we got a chance to talk we discussed my preferences, first I want to know if they could accommodate my wife as my assistant, second my salary rate, and lastly, if they will wait for me until at the end of the month. We finalized our agreement after a week and we both hired from BYA International, Inc.(http://www.byaint.com/) the job site was in Jalalabad but they told me to rent a house within the city of Kabul with a complete internet connection so I could work from there for the Jalalabad. I asked help from a friend to find a house that we need, The Company paid for it separately as my housing allowance. We bought the necessary things for the house and the prime commodities as well. It was like a complete home for us as newly couple.

I began to work for BYA on July 27, 2009, through the Internet, my wife and I knew that the problem is how we could leave the local company. There’s one thing that helps our problem, Rehana and I had arguments that lasted for almost a week then that was my excuse to talk to the proprietor of the company. I told him that my wife wanted to go home and I will send her home because I couldn’t concentrate on my work. He immediately approved us to leave with his word that if ever she won’t let me come back please advise us so that we could hire someone for your job. It was almost a week that I just keep quiet until I got my one-month salary on August 1, 2009. On the third day of August, we hired a taxi to take us to the airport as we are going to leave Kabul but we headed to our new location thence I worked for BYA freely for about a month then there comes an invitation from my project Manager- Mr. Garry Abbot, if I would like to go with him at Jalalabad and without further ado, I said yes I am willing to relocate at Jalalabad. Rehana and I worked there for 3 months. It was November 27, 2009, when we went home to celebrate Eid with my family. We stayed in our hometown for two (02) months.

While I’m on my vacation at home- December 22, 2009, to exact, I started to push my long overdue dream of having a business on my own. I remember the saying “Others can do it why can’t I” Then I gathered all the necessary things and I processed a business permit and licenses so that I could operate my business legally but it lasts for two (02) months to officially have the ARIF ENTERPRISES. I also ventured stock market under the name of MEGA SHARES as a subsidiary of ARIF ENTERPRISES. I entrusted my company to my brother because I am also leaving for work in Kabul. After all, we could communicate /update each other through high technology gadgets that are now common. Since it was a newly opened business may close supervision is needed with the help of the Internet which I also provided for them.

January 26, 2010, is my original scheduled flight from Srinagar to New Delhi, and in the evening my flight to Dubai with connecting flights to Jalalabad but the Jet Airways flight was canceled and they transferred me to another flight. Unfortunately, the plane arrival at New Delhi airport was already delayed for one (01) hour and I didn’t catch up on my flight going to Dubai. I informed immediately my employer of that mishap and they rebooked my flight from New Delhi to Dubai and Jalalabad since there were no available flights that time from Dubai to Jalalabad they advised me to stay in New Delhi until January 30, 2010, because the next available flight to Jalalabad was scheduled January 31, 2010. Thanks to Allah there are no untoward events that happened on that flight and arrived safely in Dubai & then Jalalabad on the expected date 31st of January at 4 pm. To my big dismayed my luggage was not transferred to my connecting flights and it was nowhere to find I thought it was all taken care of by my agent (Marhaba Services) in Dubai.
At Jalalabad airport, the company vehicle was already waiting for me, and from the Chatter plane, I rode straight on that car in which I forgot that I need to pass by the immigration to let them stamp my passport. The next day I followed up on my luggage and the passport.

To date, February 9, 2010, but yet I don’t retrieve my luggage. I hope and pray I can have it the soonest as possible.

12 Feb 2010

Hey everybody!!!!!!,Today I have good news… my luggage came to me and I gave myself all my clothes for the laundry.

05 April 2010

Wow! I’m back.

Every workplace is usually compromised of a large group of people from different backgrounds with different opinions. Unfortunately, are not always going to get along in the workplace and we are not an exemption. Conflict in a workplace is inevitable like what happened in our company. Our Project deputy manager arrived from his vacation, at the first day he went to the mess hall at the usual time before his vacation but he noticed that was all empty. He was so annoyed to know that the dinner time schedule was changed to 7 pm. When I and my friend Rafiullah went to the mess hall to eat our dinner I heard him asking our country director who changed the schedule with his roaring voice enough for us to know he is angry. The country director glanced at me as if telling me I am the one who changed it then the DPM asked me are you the one who changed it? I replied No, it is the admin who changed. it was written in black & white in the form of a memorandum (Notice) duly signed by an administrator. I remember that I only suggested that idea to the admin because the old schedule which is 6 pm with the sun still shining is because we are at the stage of daylight saving time (we have longer daytime than usual) and it is only a one-hour time adjustment. It was a consensus or everybody agreed upon it along with the prayer time being adjusted also. A transition of an hour is very minimal to adjust if we only embrace the idea. Our DPM took it personally and moved back the old schedule to 6 pm from then on we are not on good terms and it irked me because it wasn’t my fault. Why they are not open-minded to what is best for us we are supposed to work hand & hand to achieve the goal of the company. It is clearly written in the profile of the company “We are individuals with a high personal standard, strong work ethics…..” then it should be applied. And always remember this “Employee morale can make or break a workplace. Happy employees tend to enjoy their jobs more and take pride in what they do, leading to higher production and a better quality of work.”

14 May 2010

I’ve been burning the candle at both ends for so long to achieve and meet the standard requirements of my job.

Working away from home makes me homesick. I’m lucky it’s easier these days to communicate coz of the amazing wonder of technology. I make the most of it. We tried the video chat system online. YM and Skype make me stay in touch with my family especially my life Rehana any time of the day. I talked to her every day. It feels like she’s just around; she’s a joy and wonder to me every single day. With her, my life is perfect and she’s my inspiration to focus on my work or in every endeavor I have. Until such time our internet connection back home encountered technical problems- it started last April 15, 2010, until to date and there’s no way for us to chat live. It saddened me and I couldn’t concentrate on my daily routines (work) coz I’ve missed her so much. I always feel incomplete like a part of me is missing when I can’t see my life. (She is my life since I met her way back 17–18 years that is why I love to call her my life.) In the absence of an internet connection, I called and talked to her every night which lasted for 5 to 10 minutes. Calling home all the time and thinking about how I miss her only perpetuate feelings of homesickness that is why I’m counting the days to come over so that I could go home as soonest as possible. Nothing beats personal time together, you know!

Hopefully, Allah will grant our wish when I got home. I want to have a child… I really do. I think about it every day. (Readers help me pray)

To ease the pain of loneliness I immersed myself in work and watching movies in the evening until my eyelids are heavy and engulf me to sleep.

Sept. 27, 2012

It’s time for me to update here.

It was June 1, 2010, when I got my vacation from work; I went home to my hometown — my beloved Srinagar, Kashmir. At night, my sister and my life Rehana called me into the other room, and to my surprise, they have a cake for my birthday and for our first-year wedding anniversary. I blew the candle on my birthday cake and made a wish that I and my life would have a bundle of our own joy. I earnestly prayed for a child to come our way.

I have only 15 days of vacation leave so I took all the opportunities to be with my family and I visited my business Arif Enterprises which my brother runs for it while I’m at work outside our country. I saw that there are no improvements in my business- I hired another guy to work with us. I keep an eye on it daily and I also took care of the leasing agreement of the office which I made notarized to be official and legal.

When I dreamed to have good work — I promised myself to do three things in life. 1st I want to build our family home, 2nd to be wedded with my life Rehana and 3rd to give my Mom her longest dream to attend the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. As I already achieved the 2 priorities of my life maybe it's time for me to make my Mom happy this time. When I told her about my plan I saw in her face how happy she is with the good news I laid on her. We started to look for convenient travel agencies and then find my Mom her companion to travel it should be Mehram — a husband, brother, or son. We decided that one of my uncles will accompany her because my Mom is already widowed. I took all the responsibilities and expenses to pursue the plan.

My 15 days of vacation was already consumed and I extended it for another one month because I’m also working for the company online. I asked the HQ to allow me again to bring along my wife with me to Kabul as she worked with me at BYA and one of the benefits is they will shoulder her airfare her salary was already included in me and it was directly deposited in my account every end of the month. Finally, I got a positive response from the office to allow me to go back to work with my wife and it was also stipulated in our contract that I will have my own accommodation in Kabul instead of Jalalabad province. I’ll be working online too for the project at Jalalabad.

I got help from a friend Yunis Weyar- a proprietor of MACC Main Wand Asian Construction. He has a three-story building which has an office and a vacant room to accommodate us. We stayed at his premises. I also introduced him to my company so that he can transact business with them as a subcontractor for any project if given a chance.

At that time there was also scheduled training for 7 days by USACE. It’s all about project scheduling and I don’t want to miss it so I attended that seminar but I never neglected my online work for the company. I made them contented and happy with the work I made every day so that the idea of bringing us to Jalalabad won’t be their option.

It was August 1, 2010, my one year and one month at BYA company. I mailed my office for the renewal of my employment contract and the 20% increment as we agreed in the previous contract. The company has its rule for a yearly salary increment which I understand that it’s their sole discretion whether to increase or not depending on my work performance but I’m confident that I gave my best to the company. End of August when HQ called me via Skype and we have to compromise deals about the employment of my wife and my tenure of work. The provision is I have to work in the company without a family member with me — which is my wife and I have to work three (03) months instead of four(04) months and I’m given fourteen (14) days vacation leave with pay.

Rehana was sad to know that, though we live together for six months still there’s no new development of having a child. We need another thorough check-up when we got home. We had a deliberation about the proposals of the company and we need to sacrifice for our future. Anyway, it’s only 3 months since I’m away I told her then we come up with the decision to accept it. I informed the company about it and we requested our tickets.

Our approved ticket was given and we went home on September 1, 2010, and while I’m home I worked online for 10 days. It was September 14 when I went back to Afghanistan to work; I went directly to Jalalabad as our job site. I constantly communicate with my family back home then until they announced that the hajj pilgrimage departure will be November 7, 2010, but I want to be home when Mom will go so I ask the management to allow me to have a vacation before my mother’s departure and it was granted. I left Jalalabad on November 3 and reached home on November 5. We gave Mom a farewell party and we see to it that it was a memorable day for her too. We invited our relatives and I’ve decided to let my elder uncle accompany my Mom on Hajj. On the day of their departure, we went with them to the airport and I made sure I gave my mom the best pocket money they could have because they will stay at Hajj/Saudi Arabia for forty (40) days. When I went home I ask my wife to stay with my sister at the old house because my brother will be at our new house and looking for it as I’m away yet. November 9, I went back to work and I promised them that I’ll be home again on Dec. 15 so that if Mom arrived I am there also to welcome home her.

I arrived safely at Jalalabad. I went back to work but after 3 days we had a new Project Manager named Shawn Horton. He is a very nice guy and easy to be with. He is so professional and we had meetings every day which is uncommon for us. We always talk and update with our project and he always encouraged us to speak out and suggestions are welcome to him. I really like the way he works and the way he treats his subordinates. We all had a good rapport with each other. And I used to talk with him after dinner time as we smoke outside our rooms. We can talk about anything with him, until such time that he noticed that all my work is online and no job site work I shared with him how I miss my family and I also told him that I need to be back home before my Mom arrived from Saudi Arabia. He suggested that I can work back home online but he needs to talk it first to the head office and they might get back the increment of 20% — without a second thought I told him please do so I need your help on that so that I can be with my family. I’m hoping and praying for approval on that matter. I had a go signal from him to go home, On December 13 I left Jalalabad and reached home on December 14 and I started to plan for a welcome party for my Mom and Uncle because they are now Hajis. There were changes in their flight supposed to be their arrival is December 16 but their flight was delayed and we fetched them on December 20 at the airport. We came home and everybody wished them as new haji. It was ten days or more than every day we got visitors to congratulate and wish the new haji.

I discussed this with my Project Manager about he offered to work online at home if it was approved by the management. He said they agreed on it but there was no increment at all- without so much ado I accepted that offer too but he said I need to work on the 4 projects that they have now in Afghanistan before I just concentrate on one project at Jalalabad. I said it was fine for me as long as I’m with my family. We used email and Skype as our communication and if I am not online to both of that they called me through my cell phone too. Since December 2010 I worked online. I gave the best of my ability to handle the work I had. I gave them my 200 % to all 4 projects as their scheduler and worked at their QCS systems well.

See you next time…

June 08, 2013

Working online from home keeps me at peace with my own time enabling me to spend more quality time at home and my supervision of my Arif Enterprises -Mega Shares (stock market) business in our place. For doing so, I have doubled my income from the company where I worked (as they sent my monthly salary through my bank account.) and another income from my business. I juggled my work online and the supervision of my staff at my office at Pantha Chowk and I usually extended my work at home with the BYA office via Skype coz I’m a nocturnal person so I have so much time in the evening with the company I work with @ Afghanistan Office. It was March 2011, when I have a client who suggested I could open another branch at Habba Kaddal, Srinagar. I considered that as an opportunity to spread my business and accommodate clients from that side. I visited the place and I’ve found the right place to open another office, after negotiations with the owner of the place, I also prepared all the necessary things to be accredited to my head office in New Delhi and got their approval in the mid of June 2011. While my Habba Kaddal office was in process, I planned to build my own house on a parcel of the lot at Kursoo Raj Bagh that I bought last 2010. I have already constructed a new house at the other place in 2009 but I considered it to give it to my brother and our ancestral home that was built by my father will be given to our sister. On the 3rd day of April 2011, I started the foundation of my new home and at the same time, we celebrate my wife’s birthday. On the 4th day of April 2011, my life is not the same because there was a circumstance that cannot be avoided that made me decide to separate from my wife. (Updated on “My true love story”)

June 19, 2011, was the inauguration of my new office at Habba Kaddal. I invited some guests from neighboring shops and my employees from the other office whilst every day I am at this office since then. My market strategies didn’t work out here because traders or my competitors in this business outwit me and I never got a chance to redeem my loss anymore even though I struggled to get it back again. It was November 2011 when I decided to declare bankruptcy and I closed the office. I went to my Office at Mega Mall from then on, I concentrate on it but another setback to that business, and maybe it was not meant for me so it was closed again. All of my income/investment during my work abroad was gone…gone with the wind because of the Indian Stock Market Crash.

It was September 01, 2011, when I got a message from my colleague via Skype he said he left BYA International and now working in a new construction company in Afghanistan and He recommended me to his company after a week or more Lakeshore Engineering offered me a hefty salary package but I couldn’t decide immediately because it was also the time that I and my wife are back with each other again and considering her jealousy every time I’m away with her I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t allow me to go alone in Afghanistan though I asked the company for a married accommodation it was not granted at all so I denied the offer telling them that I’ve already a job online.

December 2011 when I decided to shut down the Pantha Chowk office because of the great loss I have in that business and I was not even recovered a single cent from my capital of 35,000.000.00 Indian Rupees (around $75000.00usd) — I am bankrupt now. What was left for me is my office which I also put on sale but until now I don’t get a buyer for that place. It was like a curse that my 4 projects online job was also terminated one after the other. January 2012 BYA cut half of my salary — and in February another half was cut-it means I only received one-fourth of my salary, when March came the company told me frankly that they only have 2 days in a month for me to work so they will pay me in the minimum wage which I can’t oppose to it as they say “beggars can’t be choosers”. I live it up. I keep searching for new jobs online and to other comrades who could recommend me to their company but one thing that come up to my mind was I regret that I turned down the golden opportunity way back month of September 2011 from Lakeshore Engineering. April 2012 is coming up it was supposed to be a lucky month for me but it was a hapless month, there’s another problem that arise with my wife- we separated again. (My business and marriage life was a roller coaster). I thank Allah for giving me the courage to face the entire problem all alone.

In May 2012, I tried to contact the person who offered me a job in Lakeshore Engineering and asked him if the offer standstill, I got good news from him and he was upfront that it was for bachelor’s accommodation only, this time I didn’t have an option but agreed on it besides I’m alone. We’ve discussed salary grade even though it was a little bit lower than the offer before I gratefully accepted it. I told them to send all the necessary documents for my perusal and signatures. When it reached my hand I found out that there was an additional requirement for me to do — which is the medically required Laboratory test that includes Hepatitis B, It took me ten (10) days then I sent back all the documents to them. On June 5, 2012, I received the employment contract duly signed by the officials of the company. It was also stated that from June 18, 2012, I am fully engaged with the Lakeshore Toltest Company, (Lakeshore and Toltest have a joint venture). And they asked for my passport but it was already expired last 13 April 2012 I had already applied for another New Passport at the passport office before the company demands it for the processing of my ticket and visa. I hardly work for my passport that day and luckily, the passport office issued me my passport on the next day-June 6, 2012. I scanned my passport and send it to my company I waited till June 30, 2012, but there was no reply from them. On July 4th I inquired about the salary for the month of June coz it was clearly stated in my contract that I’m a full pledge employee from the 18th of June, the HR in charge replied that I’ll get a salary when I’m already on the job site. I told him that I was ready to go to Afghanistan but I never received a visa and ticket. He just forwards my message to the concerned head. After a day, I got a reply from the head saying that I will leave the 12 days of June salary because he will approve my salary to start on July 1st officially even if I’m still at home. He advised me to wait for the travel Department to send my ticket and visa. I waited almost a month again, and on the 26th of July @ 6:30 am I got a call from the travel Dept. telling me to check my email- when I verified it there was already a ticket and Dubai Visa. My tickets are from Srinagar to New Delhi — to Dubai on July 30, 2012. The next morning my flight will be from Dubai to Kandahar (I stayed 3 days @Kandahar) On August 3 is a chopper from Kandahar to Delaram (Nimruz Province, Afghanistan) — my final destination and my Job Site.

Jan. 15, 2014

Hi! I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update here, I have been super busy the past months.

Yeah! It was August 3, 2012, I arrived at Delaram and it was still Ramadan. As soon as I got there, the administrator showed me my room and the office where I will work for the duration of my contract. At dinner time I met my Project Manager Mr. Anton Van Staden and He told me I could start work the next day at 12 noon, August 4. And they invited me to play poker with them that night, where I learned to play poker for the first time in my life.

I started my work as I have told to do so; I felt that I belong with the group because they are all supportive. We worked as a team. We work hand and hand to achieve our goals. My only complaint was our food because they only served beef cuisine every meal. We have nothing to do with it because we are in a very dangerous zone of Afghanistan, it’s like we are in the middle of nowhere because it’s in the desert and we should eat what’s on our platter that’s good enough rather than to die of famine. As a matter of fact, a lot of people in the world have nothing to eat.

I worked with dedication and perseverance which also paid off because Mr. Staden recognized it too. Until one day in September, I felt pain and I thought it was because of the food I ate. I went to ANA (Afghan National Army) Hospital for a check-up and they found out that I need surgery for HEMORRHOIDS. The doctor gave me the referrals and medicine prescriptions as well. As soon as I arrived in our office I let my superiors know the result of my check-up and he called our supplier for my medicines but sad to say after two weeks the pain still persists. The pain reliever didn’t stop it, October 1 when I can’t bear the pain anymore and I told my boss and he asked if I could still manage it or not and I also told them that it really hurts me that’s the time they advised me to go home but I want to stay and asked them if I could get my surgery at KAF (Kandahar Air Force) or in Dubai. They declined my request, practically because it’s so expensive it makes sense when I will go home to my native land. My scheduled vacation leave (R&R) was in November 2012 but because of my unpredicted illness; it was approved earlier than the schedule for my medication. My flight was on October 3- from Delaram to KAF and on October 4 from KAF to Dubai- Dubai -New Delhi to Srinagar finally, I arrived home on Oct. 5, and as usual, my Uncle fetched me up then I just leave my luggage at home and went straight to the hospital. I had done a series of laboratory tests and the surgery was done on Oct. 7, 2012. And I was discharged the next day. I was recuperating at home.

I left home on October 29, 2012, and arrived safely at Delaram on October 30. I worked continuously until my other scheduled vacation came (R&R). I got the idea that I will meet my wife in Dubai because my connecting flight will be there so that’s the big opportunity to spend our honeymoon and let my wife experience a little extravagance of what I’ve earned in working away from her. I told her the idea and she was excited also because she will meet her sister in Dubai. She went first to Dubai stayed with her sister for 10 days and then met me at the airport with her sister on the 9th of February 2013. We spent half of my vacation leave there with her, we enjoyed and visit some landmarks of Dubai and spend our sweetest and very memorable Valentine's Day (14th February 2013) at the tallest building on earth the Burj Khalifa. And finally went home on the 18th of February because we need to handle the engagement of my sister. It was scheduled for February 24, 2013, but the weather before that date was not good, there was snowfall, and the advice of my uncle and my father-in-law was to postpone but I wanted it to push through as scheduled I don’t want any interruption to that event for my sister I tried my very best to arrange everything and thanks to God it was smoothly done. The weather is so perfect at that time.

I went back to work on the 27th day of February until June 2013 and went home for another vacation leave (R&R) I decided to continue the construction of my new house and we’ve planned that the wedding of my sister will be in 2014 but God has his own plan for my sister because her wound be sister-in-law told us to be ready for the wedding on Oct. 25, 2013, right after Eid, while I found a girl for my brother the last day of my vacation, both families met and agreed that my brother will be wed to their daughter. It’s like a double wedding will happen that year, my sister’s and brother’s wedding was scheduled for Oct. 24–25, 2013 respectively.

I went back to Delaram for work on the 30th of June but as soon as arrived at the site there was a terrible situation happened- the project was not good at all and our supervisor told us we should be ready we might go home earlier, before the vacation schedule. It was August 18 when our project manager held a meeting and informed us all that we will be sent home due to project issues and they will recall us as soon as the problem will be resolve. My Project Manager and I had a petty squabble over our discharge slip/ clearance because they wanted us to leave the company even without any documents and I’m against it until finally, I was persuaded to get what I want before our departure. August 19 I left Delaram and home sweet home on the 20th of August 2013.

It was a blessing in disguise because I could be hands-on with the wedding arrangement of my sister and brother, there are only one and a half months left for us to take care of everything to make the wedding memorable for them because it’s a once in a lifetime event of their life. October 24–25, the most awaited day of their life came and it was so perfectly planned and it turned out so fantastic.

On the first day of November 2013, I started to contact my boss in Dubai through email if there was a chance for me to work and he replied to me on the 10th of November that he needs me to submit Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) because there’s another project in Bagram base and he wanted me to support Delaram from there if the project will push through. I gathered all the requirements and sent him all on the 14th of November and after that, I never heard from him. I thought they don’t need my services at all and I almost lost hope. I sent him a followed up message on December 5, 2013, and asked him what happened to my application and he replied that he is just waiting for the corporate approval. December 20, 2013, when I got a message from my boss stating that I am hired and I’ll be ready to come. I asked a lay way if I could join them on the first day of January 2014 but my request was denied. So, I told him to arrange my travel documents and all the accommodation. I was all set on December 27, 2013, from Srinagar to New Delhi and to Dubai but unfortunately, going to Srinagar airport I met an accident (car accident) thank God no serious injuries only the bumper of my car was damaged. And my Uncle settled all the damages after he sends me off to the airport. At night was my flight going to Dubai. I arrived there at 12 midnight and my hotel accommodation got a problem. They informed me that the credit card of the company has some issues with the hotel so I need to pay for my room they asked for my own credit card but I told them I forgot my pin number. Still, I handed them my credit card but when they swipe it and asked for my pin I really don’t remember it. In lieu of the above, they asked for cash instead but honestly speaking I don’t have that much amount in my pocket. I asked the receptionist if they have internet facilities in the hotel good enough there is but I need to pay it in cash. I made an email to my company and told them about the misfortune I encountered with their hotel booking.

I Remember I need to meet my Project Manager from Delaram in Dubai also but sad to know he was checked in at the other hotel 7Kms away from me at around 2 am I started to walk towards that hotel, I’m not scared because the street lights are so bright and buildings around it had lights on also at about 2kms of walking with my trolley a taxi stopped and it's so awkward if I will refuse to take a ride when I got in I told him where I want to go that time. It makes him 10–15 minutes to get where I want to be, the hotel of my project manager way back in Delaram. It was 3:20 a.m. when I asked the receptionist if the person I’m looking for is currently checked in at that hotel and it was confirmed he was there. It was very early yet to disturb him so I went to the comfort room to freshen up and went out for a walk outside the hotel I just make myself busy watching the tall buildings of Dubai and having a smoke along the road and believe me that time was passing so slow as the stars on the sky, it's already 6 in the morning when I decided to back at the hotel but the receptionist told me its so early to give my project manager a call so I’ve waited for another 1 hour and 40 minutes, I sat on the reception hall, went outside for a walk and smoke and went back to the hotel I am about to dial his number when I saw him on the hotel lobby. And I saw him grimace when he saw me and told me why it was so early I am already there. It’s like he’s pissed off to see me without knowing what really happened to me that night. I just keep my patience as they said don’t face the fire with fire and besides, I don’t like to ruin my first job of the year. We really need to talk about the project at Delaram and at the same time at Bagram because I will deal with the two projects at the same time but I will be based at Bagram.

In my thought, I remember why my project manager feels animosity between us it is because when we are together at Delaram as he’s my project manager, He was the one who told us that we have a project shutdown and we need to go home. It was August 17 when he called the meeting and at early 18, he told us that we really need to vacate the project site. So I told him “You make everything as easy as pie”? I need released papers or anything that can prove that we don’t have any obligation from the company or vice versa and that will be the reference for our next employment. We should exit from that company officially as we had an employment contract when we first step in our foot in that company. He denied my request and I told him I won’t leave the place unless he will grant that release order and a certification/recommendation. I seek help from my direct boss but he told me that everything was an order from our superiors. I firmly stand in what I believe is very beneficial for me and my colleagues until arguments escalated and he threatened me that he will put me (forcibly) on the plane whether I like it or not I sent an email to the security head stating all that he said to me. I got a reply that I will get the release order and recommendation before we leave the place. True to his promise that night I got all the papers I want. The next day we leave Delaram's Office.

Now, I understand why my project manager acted that way. When we are already comfortable with each other we started to talk and I told him about the problem with my hotel accommodation that’s the reason why I am in front of him as early as 7:30 am one more thing is, I don’t know our office at Dubai he is the only one who can introduce and bring me to the right person. He asked if I already received the laptop that was supposed to be given to me by the person who hired me; he will be my direct boss. No, I didn’t I said. He then dialed the person and he let me talk to my boss and I also ask him about the laptop. He asked where I stayed and I told him I am currently at the hotel of our project manager so he said I will wait there for half an hour so that we could discuss everything and he could give me that laptop.

My project manager went to his room to freshen up while I stayed in the lobby to wait for the big boss. When he came I told him also about my problem then he called the Dubai office but unfortunately no one answered because it’s Saturday non-working day in Dubai. He tried to book my room at that hotel with the project manager but the receptionist answered that they are fully booked at that moment so he decided to bring me to the office and I was amazed when I saw our office because it’s so nice. The big boss said I could start to work there and to wait until 4 pm from there I tried to contact the person concerned about my hotel booking, she’s a girl. Finally, I reached her through her phone and I told her what had happened to their hotel accommodation for me and she advised me to wait for her return call because she will manage the problem at her end. I got her call after 15–20 minutes and she told me everything was fine and I got my hotel accommodation. My big boss came back to the office at 1 pm and drove me to the hotel. I thanked my big boss for his help then he left. I went to my room and freshen up and went to Dubai Mall and took my lunch. That night, I really have good sleep. The next day is my flight to Bagram. When I reached Bagram I am under a visitor badge with an escort until I am qualified to get a resident badge. For now, I need to abide by base rules, and on the third day, Jan 3, 2014, I underwent different interviews to get my resident badge. On January 14, 2014, finally I got my resident badge.

Today is January 15, 2014 I am hoping and praying that my stay at Bagram will be safe and my work will be beneficial to the company.

20th May 2023.

Hi, again after a long time, Well, have to come to let all of you know that the only thing I had missing in my life has been fulfilled by Almighty Allah. Guess what..? He showered me with a little beautiful daughter (Amyrah Saleem) today 20th May 2023 right after the day of my birthday. I don't have the words to thank Almighty Allah for this precious gift. Finally, He heard our prayers and gifted her to us today. Hope you all keep us including Amyrah in your prayers as always. 

See you next time….

I hope you learned enough about me and have enjoyed reading my life story as much as I have enjoyed writing it for you. Nice meeting you all.

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm”

Keep posted! Also, I have added a guest page for the comments/thoughts you may have any..!!!
Thank you!
Best regards,

Mir Saleem Arif

My ambition in life is to become successful man, I know everyone wants to become successful but life is a constant struggle and without struggling, determination and hard work man can't succeed! Work with Honesty, Integrity and Dedication and the rewards are sure to follow and that is what I ‘m doing right now so that I could start my own business. ( I want to start my own construction company like Kainaat, RRCC,Encorp and Es-Ko Construction companies) I want to be a good provider and could share happiness to my family and as enviable husband and father too as well as a man of esteem in the business community .Inshallah!!!!!   I will be what I wanna be in the near future!

Help me achieve my dreams by your prayers.

"Our purpose, our priorities, our plans and goals-these determine how we spend our time.  And how we spend our time determines who and what we are.  The critical step is to start listening before we decide - a made up mind is almost impossible to change.

Hard work alone is not enough, we have to balance out our time with other priorities in our life.  We can't possibly be called effective, strategic time managers unless we devote some time to things that have potential to last forever"

 

Anyone want to contact me can chat on below mentioned ids.
1) mir_saleem1@rediffmail.com.
2) mir_saleem2@yahoo.com.
3) mirsaleem3@gmail.com.
4) mir_saleem4@hotmail.com.
5) mirsaleem5@skype.

My only hobby is to collect unusual pens and diaries ,  I have now more than 1000 pens which are all incomparable with each other  and same as my 1500 diaries , every one is unique. They are my precious collections.

Malik Stationary,
Sonwar Bagh,
Srinagar,
Kashmir,
India,
190001