‘So, when are we flying then?’ I asked.
‘On the 2nd of May,’ he responded in a casual way.
Life sometimes gives you bolts from the blue. Eid fell in Qatar on the 2nd of May. We knew little that we would be coincidently traveling that day to Pakistan. Our day started with ‘S’ offering his Eid prayer, which usually commences one and a half hours (more or less) after the Fajr prayer here in Qatar. He came back, had a little sleep, and then off we were to the airport at 11 in the morning. Our flight was at 2 pm, so we had ample time to enjoy our Eid lunch at the airport before we boarded our flight to luckily celebrate yet another Eid day in Pakistan with our loved ones who awaited us.
Yes, for those wondering, it was my second trip to Pakistan within a month’s time. You can read and see more about my first trip here.
The boarding.
We landed at about 6:35 pm (PST) and rushed out to meet my kid’s Nana, who came to collect us from the airport. It was officially ‘Chaand Raat’ in Pakistan, so all the festivities were in full swing. We reached my parent’s home at about 9:35 pm and got warmly welcomed by my mother, sister, brother-in-law, and their lovely kids. It was an Eid like this after 11 years (Waniya & I though celebrated Eid in Pakistan in 2017 before Yahya’s birth).
This place is capable of taking away all my woes and despairs. It is my happy place and will always be.
Coming on Eid also means coming to this. Your mother prepares and gets everything ready for you, your spouse, and your kids beforehand.
We slept very late that night but somehow managed to wake up early and get Eid ready. It has been a ritual in our home to be Eid ready before ‘Papa’ comes back from Eid Prayer to get Eidi from him. So, we diligently cut short our slumber, got our Eidi, had our vermicelli, and shied not to reunite with our beloved sleep.
We were sorted for the evening that day. We had a little Eid get-together dinner at my sister-in-law’s place. ‘S’ was meeting his sisters after three long years. It was an evening well spent, with good food and pleasant dialogue.
The mandatory Eid BBQ at my parents on the second day of Eid.
We had three days at our disposal at my parents as we had to move to my mother-in-law’s place since she was arriving from Saudi on the fourth day of Eid. So, this trip was primarily for her as ‘S’ had to meet her since covid restrictions eased out. Rest of our holidays we spent with her.
My sister-in-law made visits time and again to spend her time with us and to let the cousins bond.
The weather was in harmony with my taste and liking.
The weather called for a trip to the Margalla Hills, or was it them calling us?
Exhilarating, right?
How does nature place and replace? Not so long ago, it used to be my hand in the same flowing harmony with my Papa’s. (This little hand is Waniya’s)
Finally came the day when we said goodbyes with a silent promise and a blind trust in The Almighty’s Divine Will to unite again in good health, good faith, and happiness.
Our aircraft awaiting to fly us back home.
The beauty, the aura, and the warmth of this piece of land stay unexplainable. It is where I belong. It is where comfort, reassurance, and tenderness lingers.
The morning of May the 23rd. Back home. Settling in after having a great start to 2022 and a lot of traveling these past three months. So yeah, back to where it all started with a heart that is full of praise, love, and thankfulness.
To good times…
~ QuratulAin Hamza
QuratulAin Hamza 