It’s been over six months since I’ve been living outside my
homeland i.e. Pakistan and I occasionally am asked, ‘Do you miss Karachi?’
At first I wonder what
the person means by Karachi. These
days the very word Karachi sketches
an utterly grim picture in one’s mind – sacks filled with dead bodies, corpses
hanging by bridges, labor starving because of frequent strikes, etc. But then
giving my perception benefit of the doubt, I re-think the question.
Of course I miss Karachi, or more appropriately put, the things
that make Karachi feel home! So what Are these things?
1.
People – This is an absolute no brainer but it
has to be said. Home is where heart is. Heart is where love is. Love is where
my beloveds are. And my beloveds include my mom, brothers, grandparents, aunts,
cousins, nieces and friends – all of who happen to be in Karachi, so hell YES I
miss Karachi because I miss them.
May Allah reward the creators of the internet and Skype and
every medium of long distance communication. Skype is such a fantastic remedy
to homesickness that I could write 10 blog posts in praise of it. Hearing your
20 months old niece sweetly chirp ‘Khalaaaa’ months after you left her in
Karachi is sheer bliss.
Food - Some of the
people I love cook food I love. My nani’s pasandays and kabaabs, my mom’s dozen
recipes, my aunt’s desserts and my super talented cousin brother’s sandwiches!
(YES, boys make sandwiches too :P). Nothing can beat these. Plus, food from
local eateries in Karachi such as Hanif Rajput’s biryani, Hot n Roll’s
ahmaazzinggg rolls, Aga Juice’s falooda, PG
(Karachi University)’s chaat, etc.
are things whose very thought gets me drooling.
Interestingly, I’ve observed, the ingredients there are also
so much better than those in Dubai – veg, non-veg and everything in between.
It’s probably got to do with the freshness factor.
Holidays – I absolutely condemn, detest and *add relevant synonyms*
uncalled for holidays in Karachi due to strikes, unnecessary commemoration of
the deaths/births/wedding anniversaries of figures of little insignificance and other ridiculous reasons. In
recent months these city-shutdowns became as frequent as thrice a week
resulting in severe economic loss of the city and the starvation of thousands
of poor families.
However, I will honestly
and guiltily admit that I miss the uncertainty of Karachi. Imagine going to bed
late on a Sunday night, scrolling through text messages on your phone and finding out that Voldemort Avadacadavra-ed the bitterly hated Mr. Monday! Ah, nothing
like it.
Weather – I am not a morning person but I do find mornings beautiful. And Fajr time in Karachi is just
heavenly. Right half an hour before Fajr,
the chirping of the birds, the especially cool breeze in the air and this
specific fresh fragrance about the place is sheer bliss.
Also, no matter how hot and sweaty afternoons are, evenings
in Karachi are almost always drastically cooler and breezy. This I miss, since
I live in a city which is essentially a desert and live by the air conditioner
which keeps my room constantly at 18 degrees centigrade.
Places – Of course, I also miss certain physical things and places in Karachi. First and absolutely the
most missed place by me is my living room’s sofa. What would I not give to sit/lie/lounge
on it while reading a book, having a meal at 3 am or simply pondering over the
great mysteries of life! Other places include my grandparent’s home that had
been my very own half of my time in Karachi, my neighborhood, IBA and a few
others.
There are of course many other reasons that make Karachi
miss-able but these reasons made it to the top of my list. Forgive me for not praising the city for reasons close to your heart because it is past four in the morning here and whatever I have managed to write with droopy eyelids is quite an achievement!
