Hey folks,
As I am closing on to celebrating 30 years of my life, I am using this opportunity to express my gratitude to the few dear and near ones! I’ll start with my parents and then proceed with the relatives and friends who have made me the person who I am today.
It’s a really long post. If you just want to read your part, please use Ctrl + F. If you can’t find yourself and don’t want to entertain yourself, jump to the second last paragraph 🙂
Mama and Daddy, it is impossible to thank you amazing two for all you have done for me. Gratitude is there for every single moment but it is impossible to mention all the moments when you have nurtured my soul and touched my heart. I’ll try nevertheless.
Mama, I remember when I was in nursery and I had become friends with Sobia Anwar. I used to insist that I would not leave my friend alone and wait with her until her parents had come to pick her up. Thank you for listening to me and staying back with me every other day until her parents would come to pick her up as well. You taught me that it is important to care for the people in our life.
Mama, I am thankful to you both for getting my school the School Bus no. 4 so that the school can end the double bus shift and I can come home in time rather than being late every day. It helped me in watching the mid-day cartoon transmission (until they increased student count and introduced the double shift again) :D! I absolutely loved it 🙂 Thank you for telling me about the bus years later so that I don’t become arrogant or a showoff, and stay humble.
Mama and Daddy, thank you very much for letting me name my siblings. I feel honored that you have held me close and my opinions dear and important. I am sure very few siblings have the honor of naming their younger siblings in addition to bossing them around! I have enjoyed the privileges thoroughly 😛 I also learned that I am a person, I matter, and my thoughts and views count. Thank you!
Mama, I loved it when you celebrated my birthday with jelly instead of a cake and gave me “balanced diet” birthday greeting card, all because I was in bed with Jaundice. Thank you for making my birthday special despite the situation. You taught me that the show should never stop.
Daddy, you know what I miss the most here. I miss when there is no one to tell me to get up when I oversleep. I miss the time when we used to go for morning walks and jogging together. I miss the night when you introduced the “The Village” restaurant and its traditional food to your shehri (urbanized) daughter. I miss the days when you would take us all out for long drive through the city. I miss our secret talks 😀 God, I used to be so lame :$! I miss that there is no one to tell me that I shouldn’t eat junk food because it is not good for liver. No no, I don’t eat junk food here. I know you are not watching, but the respect in my heart for you demands that I respect your views and instructions even if you are not around. I learned this from Mama. Mama has always told us that she doesn’t do certain things because if she had done the same in front of our grandparents, they wouldn’t have appreciated. Thank you Mama for telling me that respect and love are not circumstantial. It has to be there all the time, irrespective of the situation, emotions, and company. Daddy, I miss that there is no one to tell me that I need to move myself and work out, “Baita, a person should be fit and healthy. Mota aur kahil insaan namunasib lagta hai.” Despite all our arguments during my teenage life, I love you the same, I miss you and I am thankful to you for being such an integral part of our life.
Daddy, thank you for the patience you exhibited when we used to keep playing in the school while you had to wait for us in the car at pack-up time. Thank you Mama and Daddy for paying for school bus every month while usually picking us up yourself. You ensured that we have a backup in event that Daddy can’t come to pick us up. Thank you for teaching us that we need to have backup plans. I didn’t learn it quite in time, but I didn’t as such need this lesson so far either. Nevertheless, it is a valuable lesson and I am thankful to you two!
Daddy, I remember one day I was coming back from FAST-NU and you had gone out for evening walk. I was on the path near United Bank Limited (UBL) building and I sensed someone walking behind me, and increased my pace. I didn’t know it was you until I reached home. Once I settled down, you called me and told me that I should keep my posture straight, walk with confidence, and should never increase my pace. There is no need for me to be afraid of anyone or anything. People sense fear and weakness, and you two have raised me with neither. I am thankful to you for teaching me our legacy. I wouldn’t have been able to survive in this big world if it wasn’t for you.
Thank you Daddy for always being very particular about teaching me the angles while playing Carrom board. I think I learned most of geometry during our family game sessions. Also, I am very good at aiming at anything now :D, thanks to you 🙂 Once we meet up, stay prepared for our game of the century!
Mama and Daddy, I am amazed with the consistency and patience you two have. I have never even once heard ‘tum’ (informal you in Urdu) for me from you two, not even during lecturing-sessions. You guys taught to use ‘aap’ (formal you in Urdu) and you always referred me with ‘aap’ word used in proper Urdu sentences. I remember when I first went to FAST-NU and one of my class fellows called me ‘tum’. I was shocked, in fact, mortified. And, the wanna-be Aniston said, “of course he would call you tum. He wouldn’t go saying aap, unn, li jiye na!” :D! In such situation, the epitome of grace was around to give me comfort and tell that there still are kids from family who retain their identity while being cool. Thank you for teaching me that I need to address people with “aap” and I need to be addressed the same way. This is one thing that I will pass on for sure irrespective of well-expected reactions and judgements.
Mama, I admire you and Daddy a lot for introducing the real world to me in a very protective and guided manner. I remember the first day when I had to go to FAST-NU, you came along to introduce the public transport to me. At that time Varan was functional and was reliable because of its service and the fact that our relatives owned it. You told me all the stops on the way and walked me to the old campus building. The first year you used to both drop and pick me up. The second year and third year you alternated between one side trip. The fourth year, you used to come half way occasionally. You treated me like a baby, and didn’t drop in the river to see if I’ll manage getting across. I simply can not thank you enough for the way you and Daddy prepared me for the real world. I hated sitting next to the type of people commuted in those public buses. They smelled, sweated, and sometimes stink. Also, traveling in those buses made my morning shower useless. But, you told me that there is no gain without pain, and that I should never look down on anyone. There is always more than what meets the eye. Mama and Daddy, you both told me that in life we meet all kind of people, and we should have tolerance and respect toward them as they have a life story and a struggle going on which we are not aware of. Here I have to thank Seema Baji as well. Seema Baji, you are one gem of a person and you truly deserve everything best in this life. Mama doesn’t say that you are her first daughter for no reason. I remember the talk we had before I went to FAST-NU. You told me about the potential judgements and disappointments. You told me why it is important to face the real world practically. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have made through FAST-NU with all the energy-sucking know-it-all class and batch fellows. I miss you, our Sehri sessions, and of course choori 😀 Thank you!
Mama and Daddy, thank you for educating me in so many ways! I remember the days when I would go to Mr. Books (and even other bookshops) with you Mama, and you’ll get me literally as many books to read and comic strips to savour as I would like to. Thank you for empowering me. Daddy, you not only gave us the diary as new year gift every year, but you also showed us what to use it for. Thank you for teaching us the importance of contemplation, self-management, and discipline. Thank you Mama and Daddy for so many subscriptions that helped us in branching out while remaining rooted. If The NEWS’ US, DAWN’s weekly magazines, Reader’s digest taught us about the world beyond our boundaries, Taleem-o-tarbiyatt and Naunihal educated us about our own little beautiful world. The variety of reading content at my disposal kept me thrilled. Thank you for keeping us entertained! Thank you Daddy for letting us watch a new movie every single afternoon after getting back home from school. I am sure no parents spoil their kids this much :P! But, see, we turned out pretty fine 🙂 Also, thank you for letting us see those horror shows :D, and joining us in playing video games and watching crime and thrillers.
Mama and Daddy, when I was in FAST-NU I insisted on doing naqab and you told me explicitly that we are moderate people and you won’t encourage my idea of doing naqab but will definitely respect my decision and stand by me. You did as you said. Every single day you gave me my space, respected my decision, and supported me among relatives and people. Thank you for teaching me that we need to give space to each other, we need to respect each other’s views, and despite our personal views and expectations we need to stand together as a family and look out for each other. Thank you!
Mama and Daddy, we have seen almost all colors of life from eating in plated dinner sets to eating plain bread with fried onions, from enjoying pinniyaan (traditional sweet yet very healthy snack) from our grandmother to Fatima’s husband’s Nargasi Koftay (here I have to say that although I have forgotten his name but he was one hell of a chef!), from only wearing the imported clothing and accessories to plain slippers from utility stores, and from this to that. Through it all, both of you ensured that we hold fast to the most essential thing in our life i.e. Allah and His religion. I think this is one reason why our clothing didn’t decrease as our stature increased or vice versa. Amid all the problems, peer pressure, judgements, and disappointments, you two told us to hang in there, stand together and by each other. We learned thankfulness, patience, and strength from you two during these few difficult years.
Mama and Daddy, I remember the night I spent in Milan, Italy when I called you two and cried like a baby because I was alone for the first time and I wanted to come back home because everybody spoke Italian and I felt lost. Mama, you told me to relax and see Italy, Spain, Malta and then come back home without any worries. You told me that there is nothing to be afraid of, and I have not messed up anything. And Daddy, you said, “What do you mean you want to come back? At least go to Estonia, and see the university. If you still don’t like the university then come back without any worries. It won’t be a problem then.” You knew that I was afraid of taking the next step. The entire situation was overwhelming. You told me not to chicken out. If it wasn’t for you two, I wouldn’t have managed to spread my wings and take the flight I so yearned for. Mama, thank you for telling me that I can always take a step back with out any worries because you have got my back. Daddy, thank you for telling me to stay strong and not to give up on my dreams this easily. You two have enriched my life forever. Thank you!
Aila, thank you for always acting like the big sister :D! If it wasn’t for you, I still would have been the shy, quiet, and least confident person on this planet. I am amazed with how you can read me. You and Maha notice and acknowledge what all those highly educated oh-so-cool friends of mine fail to see.
Shumail, I have always looked for your approval intentionally or unintentionally. Thank you for giving me the faith that I can rely on your opinions and views.
Khala Aapa, I am in immense debt to you for making religion an integral part of my life. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have developed the habit of saying prayers five times a day. When I was a kid you told me how one can open an account with Allah. You told me if I say Subhanallah e wabehamdehi Subhanallahil azim 2400 times, I’ll get an account open with Allah. Any additional saying of Subhanallah e wabehamdehi Subhanallahil azim will only increase my account balance. I have no idea how and why your description worked on me, but I managed to open many accounts with Allah. Thank you for this, many times. I miss the nights when we would stay up late, and I would recite these Arabic phrases and duaas on tasbeeh and dates with you all. It was these nights that nurtured the spiritual side in me, and I worked on my relation with God. Jazak Allah Khair. May Allah bless you with health, Aameen. I am waiting to hear all of the life stories of Prophets again from you as soon as you come back home 🙂 Also, thank you for teaching me a whole new level of generosity. I learned from you that we can pick up 54 inches television from our living room (or anything else for that matter) and gift it to anyone without thinking at all. My big heart comes from you, and you have no idea what a priceless asset it is! <3
Barri Khala, thank you so much for my wonderful childhood memories. I love the days I spent at your place when Mama and Daddy used to go to work. I enjoyed us all going out for picnics to new places on the second (and third) days of Eid and even on other occasions. I cherish the sleepovers, the shopping sprees, workout sessions, birthday parties, and evening walks between our houses when we were living in the same street. I think if Mama made me an independent and confident professional woman, you cultivated the germs of house-wife in me :)! I absolutely love your cooking. Thank you for teaching me doing pancakes, Besan ka Halwa, and gazillion other things. I acquired the habit of reading newspapers from you. Aunty Saeeda (Maha’s Mama) also stressed upon the need of reading newspaper everyday. I am thankful to both you amazing ladies!
Choti Khala, our summers were fun because you and our beloved cousins used to come over. Khala your delicious Hyderabadi recipes have left us in awe over and over again. You are gifted, and you made our vacations incomparable. Thank you very much for your loving presence, great memories, and above all the Russian toys that you used to bring us every summer. I haven’t found those beautiful toys here so far, or even over the internet! And, I can proudly say that select kids in Pakistan got to play with those fancy little things 🙂 Thank you!
I am amazed how so many people together made me truly all that! Only now I understand why nuclear family structures are important.
I am also immensely thankful to those who I have failed to mention. Your presence has made a lot of difference in my life in the way and at the time God wanted you to do so. If we meet up and talk, I am sure I’ll recall gazillion incidents to thank you for. I don’t forget anything 🙂 and the beautiful time spent with you is safe in my heart nourishing my positive energies every single day. Thank you for playing your role so very beautifully.
With this I am off to celebrate new year’s eve with my friends. I hope you all also get to contemplate about your blessings and come up with positively challenging resolutions. I wish you all a very very happy new year 🙂
Think beautiful, stay beautiful!
Love,
Shaz
PS. I wrote this scheduled post before new year’s eve. To stay honest, I didn’t get to celebrate new year. I was working that night and watched the fireworks out of my office window!