Uncle, Rice!

“Mama, Mama, chawal dey do! (Uncle, uncle, give me rice!)” the kid pleads through the van window. The driver shifts into the reverse gear and turns the steering. Akhuwat’s white van swerves to the right, pushing children away but they somehow latch onto the window frame. “Why don’t you give him one rice meal?” I … Read more

Goodbye Los Angeles! Hello Karachi!

A couple of months ago, a friend took me to the Business Network International event in San Fransisco Bay Area where everybody gathered for networking. Someone came up to me and asked, “what business do you do?” “None!” I replied. “Do you work for someone then?” “No. I don’t!” “Do you plan to start something … Read more

Signpost: Mexico–Pakistan

If you draw a horizontal line on the world map at the 30.963280° latitude, somewhere this line is going to cross my hometown Layyah in Pakistan. During my bicycle trip from Argentina to Alaska bicycle tour, I crossed this latitude near San Felipe in Baja California, Mexico in January 2018 and thus, was in perfect … Read more

Another Letter to Dad

To read in English, please scroll down! آج پھر چھ جون ہے، تمہیں گزرے پورے بیس سال ہوگئے ہیں آج اگر تم ہوتے تو تمہاری عمر 78 سال ہونی تھی۔ آخری خط تمہیں تین سال پہلے لکھا تھا، پچھلے خطوط کا بھی جواب نہیں دیا تم نے ، کیوں؟ حالانکہ تمہیں تو خط لکھنے کا … Read more

A Journey of Laawaris

(اُردو میں پڑھنے کیلئے نیچے سکرول کریں) There was a time when a tyre puncture was 5 Rupees and air refill used to cost 1 Rupee. I was in school. During the school holidays, dad used to bring me to our shop “Quetta Tyres” where I would work together with other employees—washing old tyres in … Read more

Layyah Signpost in Mexico

If you draw a horizontal line on the world map at the 30.963280° latitude, somewhere this line is going to cross Layyah city in Pakistan. About 9 km south of San Felipe in Baja California, I push my bicycle through the desert. After half an hour of walking in the soft sand, I take a … Read more

Is Suicide Bombing a Tradition in Pakistan?

Is suicide bombing a tradition in Pakistan? While cycling across South America, the first question I get on the road is, “where are you from?” When I tell people that I am from Pakistan, the first reaction is, “aaaah, it is very far!!!” Then there are more questions. Where is Pakistan? What is the weather … Read more

Life: One Pedal at a Time

It was a crisp winter morning. My mum had bathed me and applied Surma (kohl) to my eyes. Then she made me wear brown pyjama pants and shirt with long yellow stripes which as a kid I was very shy to wear. I was only used to wear Shalwar Kameez. “If you wear this, I … Read more

How To Fly

Does a fish ever become afraid of the depth of waters? Be that fish and dive deep inside you! Does an eagle fear of falling when it leaps off the cliff? Be that bird! Who taught a bird to fly and a toddler to walk? He, who catches them before they fall. When you are … Read more