Shakila is a 31 year old American woman. She has been with her husband for 7 1/2 years. The couple is inseparable.
They met at the wedding of a mutual friend. It was love at first sight. Her smile grabbed him and never let go. It didn’t matter that he was nearly 10 years older. She knew, that he was the one.
Born on August 20th, 1975 at 3:30 in the afternoon, everyone realized right away that this girl was talented and intelligent.
Shakila was only 16 years old when her father, Sharif A. Chowdhury, moved her, and her family, to America in an effort to give them the best education possible. You see, Mr. Chowdhury was a stickler for education. Beginning at her high school in Arlington, Virginia, Shakila received a number of accolades and degrees throughout her years at school. In 1998 she became a citizen of the United States and in 1999 she received her degree in Management Information Systems (MIS).
Over Labor Day weekend, 2001, the Chowdhury’s went to visit their daughter and son in law at their residence in Brooklyn. Shakila pointed excitedly at the Twin Towers and told her father that this is where she works as a computer assistant at Marsh & McLennan on the 97th floor. The best part of that, to Shakila, was that her husband, Nural, worked for the same company only a couple of floors away. They have lunch together every day.
Shakila Yasmin was on the 97th floor when the plane hit Tower 1 of the World Trade Centers. Her husband, Nural, was in a metting on the 99th floor. From the moment they met, these two never left each other’s side. Shakila was made for Nural. And he, was made for Shakila.
Shakila perished on September 11th, 2001 in that World Trade Center Tower. As did her husband Nural. God planned on these two spending eternity together. God spared them by allowing that plan to carry on, in life and in death.
In honor of one the most horrific days of American history, and the absolute most horrific day that I have lived to see, I choose to remember. I choose to feel, to cry, to mourn, to honor and to respect those that were hit the hardest by this tragic event. The families, the rescue workers, the city of New York. America as we knew her before 9/11.
Today I honor a civilian life. A woman whose life was just beginning. 26 years old, married only one and half years to the man of her dreams. Taken to be with her God, far before her time. Her voice can no longer extend to the living in a manner that we would be responsive to. Only her family can hear her now. Just because terrorists quieted her voice, does not mean that we cannot speak for her, or speak for the thousands of humans who lost their lives, 5 years ago today.
As of this post I will also choose to silence myself for the rest of the day in honor of the lives lost. I will not blog. I will not comment. I will read the tributes. I will remember. I will light a candle beneath my own memento from that very tragic day, and I will celebrate the lives of so many.
May God continue to Bless those directly, and indirectly, touched by this event. May God continue to provide the strength and the direction needed for us to come out stronger and wiser in the end. May God watch over the earth.
If you have an extra moment, please stop by my daughter, BTP’s, place. She wrote a tribute as well. Thanks.
Shakila Yasmin: 8/20/1975 - 9/11/2001
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