The West Side Gang

• Playing Cricket (in which, they are goin' to conquer the almost the whole field everytime they play)
  
• Eatin' Briyani (I eat it too, but try my best not to admit it when asked by East Side gang. To the East Side, eatin' Briyani is taboo, unless it's free or no other choices.)
  
• Very active in dakwah (which is an embarassing defeat to the East Side)
  
• Can play badminton. (As opposed to only me from East Side, and Umair Syed when he was there.)
  
• Got swimming pool at Farhan and Usman's resident!(The closest East Side has to swimming pool is my bathtub!)
  

Since i only bought my camcorder about 5 months before leaving States, I can't capture the photos of all members of the West Side. These are the lucky one:

Ahmad Sammy
Origin: An American of Tunisian descent
Affiliation: West Side gang.
Remark: I think he revives the practice of arranging our shoes nicely in Downtown Mosque. He was the one who keep reminding the brothers to do that every time. So, whenever I see shoes arranged nicely wherever I am, I always remember Ahmad Sammy. I remember him wanting to settle in Tunisia, but I’m not sure whether he has started doing it or not. Active in soccer and basketball.

Atef
Origin: Pakistan
Affiliation: West Side gang
Remark: We are in the same department, but he is doing his Masters. Always stay in the computer lab where I worked till late at night, which turns out to be great for me since I can claim overtime in my paycheck. Very critical thinker, full of ideas.

Azim
Origin: India
Affiliation: Adopted West Side gang.
Remark: Very humble and smart brother. His mom prepared a farewell dinner for me before I left. Thanks Azim. Very knowledgeable about IT and computer as well. Got a nice job in Austin after graduated from UT.

Bilal
Origin: Pakistan
Affiliation: West Side gang
Remark: A good badminton and squash player. I think I never beat him in badminton. He looks like one of those Bollywood actors with that handsome face. Pakistani Squash champion in UT.

Faiz
Origin: Pakistan
Affiliation: West Side gang
Remark: Very reserve and quiet brother. A regular cricket player together with other West Side members.

Farhan
Origin: Pakistan
Affiliation: Important member of West Side gang.
Remark: Very active in dakwah activity and bringing us into it. One of the pioneer in establishing Islamic Dakwah Foundation (IDF) in UT. Always smiling. Can suddenly turn into this hyper, highly agitated robot that results in bad kungfu/karate movement. When this happens, his brother Usman is always the target.

Harun
Origin: Pakistan
Affiliation: West Side gang
Remark: Good badminton and tennis player. Always pair with Bilal to beat me up in badminton. Has the intention to continue his study in UT, but I’m not sure whether he still wants to continue doing it or working instead.

Mu'tadir
Origin: India
Affiliation: Adopted West Side
Remark: Azim’s younger brother. After he graduated from UT, we rarely saw him. He was a regular in North Mosque since the start of his working life. Just like his brother, very humble and smart dude.

Sehban
Origin: Pakistan
Affiliation: West Side gang
Remark: Very quiet brother. Doesn’t talk too much. I just knew he is a good badminton player right before I left to Malaysia.

Sarmad
Origin: Pakistan
Affiliation: West Side gang
Remark: Just knew him right before I left Austin. Big guy, always up for soccer though.

Khalid Ghori
Origin: India
Affiliation: East Side gang
Remark: Latest news by Tariq is that this guy has switched side. He used to be among the East Side. Traitor!!! heheh..anyway...very bright, friendly and loud fellow. Always got straight A’s at UT. He is the gangs’ hope to receive the best student award when he graduates soon. I remember him one time tried to box with me. We got to stop the fight after he received a punch in the face. Apparently, he doesn’t know that sparring requires receiving punch as well as giving punch. Very enthusiastic soccer player too.

Tosif
Origin: Pakistan
Affiliation: Adopted West Side gang
Remark: He was a medical doctor back in Pakistan, and before I left Austin, he was busy taking his exams to practice medicine in States. He is a very knowledgeable and easy going brother. Always join us for volleyball. Currently staying in Austin with his brothers.

Umair
Origin: Pakistan
Affiliation: West Side gang
Remark: Umair is one of the few brothers from sub-continent whose major is not computer-related or Electrical engineering. He was doing Mechanical engineering in UT. He came to Austin with Rehan (sadly, I have no picture of him whatsoever). Both of them look a twin to me and it takes me quite some time at first to differentiate both of them. An important member of the East Side.

Usman
Origin: Pakistan
Affiliation: West Side gang
Remark: Usman is very pious and friendly brother. He is my partner in badminton. He looks like his brother Farhan and most people confused both of them to be twin. Like his brother, he is very active in dakwah works as well.