Day 20: Home
Guest blogger: My dearest aunt Dr. Khala (Dr. Khaleda Zaman)Dr. Khala is my mom's youngest sister. She is also my confidante, my comfort, my friend. She's an integral part of who I am - and who I want to be. Dr. Khala has done some amazing things in her life, but in the past few months she did the most extraordinary of all. She made it possible for her daughter to adopt beautiful Leila (Dua 14) . And in the process taught us all what it truly means to be a Mother. My dua is for her, may she always know what she means to all of us, how much she's loved, and how extraordinary she really is.This is her dua:
"Having left Pakistan as a young adult, and since then visiting just two weeks at a time, I had over the years developed a distance and disinterest in my country.
This year I had reason to stay there for a longer time for the wonderful task of bringing my beautiful grandaughter Leila home. HOME....which home? I was torn between the two homes.
I felt the warmth and love I used to feel. The smells, the sounds of carefree and happy bygone days. During my stay in Lahore and the many trips to Karachi where I went to places I had never been before, from the Edhi Center in the heart of the old city to the court house for hearings before the judge, to Sarafa Bazaar where the Nazim wrote the birth certificate, the people were so hospitable, kind and helpful -- you just could not leave without a cup of tea or coffee in the 118 degree heat! From the driver who drove me everywhere, giving me tips on how to navigate the busy and at times dangerous streets of Karachi, to the lawyer who sat for hours with me in airless, stuffy court rooms, to the people at the passport and visa offices who had to deal with power outages every hour, I developed respect for them and was amazed as they kept telling me, "Aap bey fikr rahein' (don't worry every thing will be O.K.). And it was.
I don't know if my mood and feelings were mellowed by the wonderful reason for my trip this time but my heart is full of love for Pakistan and for all the people that I met and my Duas are for all of them that Allah SWT keep them safe happy and may they all prosper. Aameen."
Day 20, Dua 20: for the beautiful people of Pakistan, and for home, wherever that may be