As most of you already know, I was really young when I left Karachi for Canada. I was around 6 years old, so no wonder I am not able to recall much. However, while in Canada, there were a few things that jogged my memory. For example, certain tastes and smells would remind me of certain events that occurred while in Pakistan but I couldn't understand whether these events actually happened or if I had dreamt about it a while back. I hope you know what I mean...
I remembered the taste of Halwa puri (sweet breakfast) for 21 years. I remembered the taste of Kulfi (on a stick!) and Gola Ganda (see picture on face book). As you may already know, it rains almost everyday in Vancouver, Canada but there was always a certain smell after the morning rain that would some how remind me of Karachi. It was a wonderful smell...a sweet smell....and it always made me feel at peace, no matter what type of challenges and issues I was dealing with at that time. Oddly, that sweet smell would always make me miss Pakistan but I always wondered, "what am I missing when I cannot even remember much?"

Today I woke up in the morning to thunder storms and rain! This wasn't just any rain...it was a downpour! We had been anticipating rain like this for a while, especially since it had become really humid due to the trapped heat and the grass and trees were getting dry. How can a person sleep then?! So, I walked around the campus and enjoyed the rain, of course. Girls were dancing in the rain at the female hostel. Children were playing. The greenery was breathtaking. The campus looked so beautiful, I had to take pictures! My elders and the wise have always told me that rain is a blessing...I believe it! *It's rainin' Love!*

I then decided to walk to my department to get some work done. Suddenly, I smelled something in the air....something sweet....something peaceful....It was that same smell I had smelled back in Canada. Some feelings and emotions are just indescribable and no amount of words could ever do justice to those feelings. Therefore, I am not going to even try to explain how I felt at that moment. But I will tell you that I became emotional (very) yet I was extremely at peace. I had entered another world and I was loving every moment of it....

Not to disturb any one's peace, but I want to add something here about the rain in Pakistan. More than 80% of families and men use motorcycles as their means for transportation. In one motorcycle, a family of three to five can fit as this is least expensive than cars. Not everyone can afford a car, especially in a country like Pakistan. However, when it rains it is a terrible scene on the roads. Because rain mixes with the oil on the road and motorcycles do not have proper traction, you will see these motorcycles slipping. There are NUMEROUS accidents and deaths because of this. I have witnessed these accidents just a few nights ago when it showered. It is a really sad scene because you see that same family of five (with little children mind you) in serious medical conditions.

I have seen this over and over again that some one's happiness is another person's misfortune. As much as rain is a blessing for all of mankind and nature and as much as I love the rain...I cannot help but worry about these individuals whose lives are at risk.

Please pray for them.....