Daniyal’s workshop: GT Garage in E-11 Northern Strip, Islamabad. I had opted to drop my friend Zeni, we were on 9th Ave, on our way to F-11 and E-11. She was admiring my car, and I proudly told her, it has driven over 250,000 km. She couldn’t believe it. I told her, that 1,50,000 …
Ursula Ansari’s Cottage in Nathagali
“I’ve been inspired by you to drive to Nathiagali myself!” I said when I met her last weekend. “Oh, so you have driven all the way from Karachi, too?” asked Ursula Ansari. “Oh no! – From Islamabad.” I said sheepishly. I guess, I can’t beat her record! I can’t beat her age record either. …
Fairy Tales (and video games) are true.
As a kid aged nine, I remember standing outside my gate, in Lahore’s Cavalry Ground, waiting for the newspaper man to bring the latest magazine of ‘Bachon ki Duniya’ and ‘Taleem-o-Tarbiat’. Mom made sure I read these to improve my Urdu. I don’t know if it improved, but my friends and I loved the …
How God helps!
This happened last week… I am sitting in this strange office, in a very familiar building in Islamabad. I’ve finally signed a peace treaty and have what is mine. The man in this office, who used to help me, is no longer in this world. I’m suddenly feeling insecure. As I feel insecure, I shake …
Give taxes, as proud Pakistanis
It is vital for development of our country. “I’m not signing, till you write the number of the hundreds of kanals of lands I am giving you all.” I said furiously, to my rivals. ”You have written about every inch and yard of my property. But kept all yours’ hidden! “ “Who will pay the …
My exercise bicycle
My experience of the exercise bicycle. “Uff! – this bicycle is constantly coming in my way.” I mentioned to Waliya. Now, it is getting on my nerves. I’ve put it near my bed, writing desk, and chair. The idea is that I’ll use it on way to each of these. What a hope! Its …
Advice to my younger self?
“What advice would you give to your younger self?” is something I read, which got me thinking. I think, no one is in a position to advise anyone. Not even ’ I’ to ‘me’ of my past. I think everyone is intelligent enough to know what is the best thing to do in a situation.
A freelance writer in Pakistan
Found this article about how my life began as a writer. I became a writer quite by accident. And like all accidents… it happened rather suddenly. One fine morning Najib (my dearly beloved husband) walked into the room, the shaving foam still on one side of his face, and announced that “Kuwait has been taken over!” …
Life begins at Fifty!
Phases and Stages in Life. Life is a one-way journey, with no u-turns. As you go, the journey has different phases and stages. One can say that the phases are like childhood, teenage, adult, middle age and then old age. But you see, all the books and media mainly caters to babies, children, teens …




