Sonya Syed

To say something in a dream state is not a very good idea, it is always better to be fully awake and in complete awareness of our mental faculties.  It was I think in 2007 or 2008 Umrah (Muslim religious pilgrimage) or probably on both occasions when I sat before Kaaba Muazzama, prayed, cried with all my heart for the approval of my three deepest desires.  One of them was to visit Europe/ Paris or London, I wasn’t very clear but these three words were echoing in my mind.  In 2005, when we sent our travel documents via a tour company, they were all returned to us as UK embassy was not allowing tour groups. In 2007 when we applied directly to the embassy, our passports were amicably returned because we provided insufficient documents. It was since then my heart was burning with an intense desire but somehow nothing happened. I always thought no prayer is ever refused when we are on the pilgrimage, so why am I unheard?  I knew little then, that not only my cries were

What could be a better way than to start my post with warm and loving wishes & many prayers for all of you.  May Allah bless us with His divine light, guidance, love, peace, health, joy and wealth. Many of you have already celebrated first day of Eid and for people on my side of globe will celebrate today and also tomorrow. Wherever you are my wishes for all you shall remain the same. Eid in Karachi, especially chand raat (a day before Eid) is the most enjoyable- sometimes more than the Eid day. Many of the Karachites spend chand raat shopping, window shopping, ladies waiting in long waiting lines for henna, last moment salon calls and of course the dresses- which by the way are never ready on time. Husbands or brothers are continuously visiting tailors to get the dresses and every time master sahib (the tailor) gives them a highly logical answer to get extra fifteen minutes until the dresses are finally done.   Every Eid I promise myself that this time I would no

Saw some old pictures and found couple of my favorites of my Dad. It’s been around seven years since he passed away but it feels as if he is still with me and actually he is. Whenever I need his advice I could feel him around, guiding me- showing me the ropes. Daddy Birthday with Abbu, Amma, Kanwal, Fariha, Tabussum Aunty, Saman & Touseef ul Haq I don’t like to talk about my relationships especially the people who are no longer with me, it frightens me. This father’s day I so much wanted to write about my father but there were so many things that jumped right between me and my writing, and probably that was not even the right time. I don’t get this father’s day or mother’s day. What are these? I don’t understand the logic except that it is a great marketing stint for manufacturers. Every day is a father and a mother day. Why does it have to be that one particular day that we are showering our parents with so many facebook and twitter updates? These soc

Getting back to life and some kind of normalcy, it has been crazy few months. It feels really nice to be back to the point where I have started this wonderful journey for all of us to be connected and share, to vent out.  Teaching is one of the best thing that could happen to anyone, it changes you for good. In my class when I bombarding my students with last moment tests and course extensions, one of my students said ‘you are like our Mom, and Moms don’t give children tight study schedules’. It is funny how I suddenly became what I am today, yes like a mom of more than 80 children. And then came the finals, long grueling hours of checking every paper carefully so no injustice is done. It is really a proud moment that all my students worked hard and got wonderful results especially when I pushed them over the edge. Ramadan came and now they are leaving us, it has been an overwhelming month with Amjad Sabri’s sudden death. It was in 2005 when I went to Sonu Nigam’s concert