Countdown began and the days went by until Friday came and went during the flight, when Minha's little nap broke with Fajr's call in Karachi on Saturday. She smiled and inhaled the purity of Muslim city, her homeland. They went through all the stuff at Jinnah airport and ended up in a Van leading to the Royal Inn Hotel. It was a 20 minute drive from the Jinnah International airport to the hotel they booked a room in. The driver continuously kept talking and telling the girls about the Shah e Faisal town, and the Pakistan air force museum and the Hill Park. Minha seemed to be lost in the convo, excited and fresh.
"We are going to the breakfast spot after settling in the room, and have a delicious Desi breakfast. Then a trip to a Mall, buy some traditional clothes, and wear them. Then I am gonna take you to some of Karachi's most famous and amazing food centers. Then we can go to some cool place like a local park because I don't have a lot of money in my pocket. Or we can go to Frere hall. It's an amazing place. You would love its history." Minha kept saying in her own mist.
"Frere hall was initiated in the British era as a Town Hall in 18s something. The Hall served as a house for King Edward Vll or VI, I don't remember, and er Seth Dinshaw. In the same century, British rulers accumulated in the Hall to establish rules for the game of badminton. And you hella love Badminton. Know what? We can play badminton there! I hope we can buy this from somewhere nearby. And then boom to the old city area!" Minha was overjoyed. Kay couldn't object and point out that it's a lot for a day.
They walked in the white hallways of the Royal Inn Hotel. "This was the nice cheapest hotel I could find for us. We both are obviously staying in the same room. And we divide the budget." She laughed at the end. Kay didn't object. Their room was fancy, the service was better than ever.
"As Salam O alikum, Karachi!" She bumped on the bed throwing the suitcases away.
"You are supposed to say Walaikum as Salam." Minha barbed.
"Is that supposed to be the way Muslims greet? I just googled it."
"Yup, Baba used to say it every time he came home." She smiled curling the strand of hair on her finger.
"Your parents were Muslims?" Kay asked.
"Yeah. Actually." She answered with a faded smile now.
"And…"She hesitated. They never discussed religion before. "What about you? Aren't Muslims supposed to like to do this religious offering and read the Holy Book," She paused to think, "Quran?"
"I stopped praying to God after Maaz died. I felt hopeless and," She pursed her lips again as she used to do in her edgy condition, "I just couldn't"
Karina didn't know about the religious side of Minha. Surely, she played a good introvert game.
"Okay, so where are we going for breakfast?" She took her coat off and looked warily at her friend who smiled croakily. "Boat basin!" She jumped and shoved Kay against the wall and bent down to her ear, "Welcome to Karachi the City of lights. Lights that never let darkness rule." She smirked and carried her leather white purse out of the room. Kay followed her.
Climbing down the stairs and into the white hallways decorated with beautiful paintings and green plants, Minha looked relaxed. After a long while, the introvert was observed as a teenage girl who loved exploring. As Kay noticed the positive change in Minha, she ran beside her and held Minha's hand. She was a little knocked for six, but she smiled and let Kay take her hand. They both walked down to the counter, "As Salam O alikum, my name is Minha, and she is Karina. We needed guide support. Do you guys have a tour guide or something?" she asked politely to the lady sitting beside the glass counter. She smiled and nodded. Dialed a number on the telephone and talked to the person on the other side. Then keeping the receiver back, she said, "The Van outside is available for today. They will take you wherever you want." Asian woman addressed the girls kindly and guided them outside to the same Van who dropped them to the hotel. The girls thanked Asian woman and climbed into the Van.
"Where do you go?" the driver asked, speaking in raw English. Kay pursed her lips and raised her brows at Minha.
"Aap hamain boat basin tuk lay jaye. Block 6 main hay, I guess."
She spoke in Urdu to the driver. Urdu. An Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the official national language and bridge language of Pakistan. People of Pakistan, or Pakistanis, do not only speak Urdu, but many other languages like Panjabi, Balochi, Sindhi and Pashto etc. all over the country.
Kay gazed at her friend in an impressive manner and the driver turned and looked at her in an awkwardly surprised face. "You speak Urdu?" Minha chuckled, "bhai sahib, main yahan paida hui thi and I grew up here. Bus 4 years pehlay bahar chali gai thi, is hi liye Rasta yaad nahi hay." She told him and then looked at Kay who was trying to understand the conversation between both the Pakistanis.
"I told him to take us to this breakfast place and he was surprised that I speak Urdu so I told him that I have been living here all my life." She translated. Kay looked satisfied.
"Are you Muslim?" Driver asked in Urdu. Minha pursed her lips and said yes.
"Where else do you want to go? We can manage the routes and time accordingly." The driver asked.
Minha told him the plan of the day. They made arrangements and Minha pointed out and acknowledged her friend with the places they went by. Kay was excited and she was eager to know more about Pakistan. All the beautiful places they drove through made them smile and know the people and country more.
Pakistan is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population exceeding 225.2 million, and has the world's second-largest Muslim population. Pakistan is the 33rd-largest country by area, spanning 881,913 square kilometers (340,509 square miles). It has a 1,046-kilometre (650-mile) coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south, and is bordered by India to the east, Afghanistan to the west, Iran to the southwest, and China to the northeast. It is separated narrowly from Tajikistan by Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor in the north, and also shares a maritime border with Oman.
"Min, I never heard of this country. Is this under development?" Kay asked suddenly.
"Yeah, it is under development. But the people here are really hard working and until 2030 it will become like ours." Minha told Kay.
"Our country has been part of a wonderful history ma'am." Driver busted in the exchange of dialogues.
"Oh really?" Kay moved forward on her seat and she seemed interested. Minha rested her head on the head of the seat making a boring face since her friend was a history lover.
"Definitely, presently Pakistan is the site of several ancient cultures, including the 8,500-year-old Neolithic site of Mehrgarh in Baluchistan, and the Indus Valley Civilization of the Bronze Age, the most extensive of the civilizations of the Old World. Pakistan's land was the realm of multiple empires and dynasties that had the world on the tip of their fingers, including Alexander the Great; the Seleucid, the Maurya, the Kushan, the Gupta; the Umayyad Caliphate in its southern regions, the Hindu Shahi, the Ghaznavids, the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, the Durranis, the Sikh Empire, British East India Company rule, and most recently, the British Indian Empire from 1858 to 1947." He turned and looked at dazed Kay and sniggered, "Of course you should be surprised. Our country is just as full of secrets and amazing history."
"You are such a boring driver." Minha interrupted.
He laughed again, "My brother was diagnosed with Chickenpox recently and he is a tourist guide so he asked his Head to replace him with me for a while and they taught me this stuff." He seemed embarrassed.
"Nah man, I am loving this country even more. Can you tell me more?" Karina leaned forward and rested her arms over the front seat beside the driver's. "Wait, what's your name?"
"My name is Abdul." He replied.
"Okay so Abdul, continue please."
"During the second world War, the British were the rulers of Pakistan and India collectively known as the Indian subcontinent. Hindus and Muslims encountered everyday rivals and thus after a long time of struggle, the viceroy of the subcontinent decided to divide the subcontinent into two: Pakistan for Muslims and India for Hindus. Our leader Quad e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and many other leader played an important role in fighting for this homeland and we respect their hard work and struggle of our ancestors from the depth of our heart. I hope you guys are going to visit Quad e Azam's tomb, his house and museum if you are already here." Abdul smiled and waited for a response from the back seat.
"Not to mention our leader died immediately after the partition due to Tuberculosis." Burled Minha.
"Sad." Kay responded after a minute. Then she jumped and her head bumped on the roof, "Sorry," she mumbled, "But damn it Min. Your country's history is so amazing. I am definitely gonna research more about it and I am going to include this in my journal for my school extra credit project. I love you." She kissed Minha's cheek. Minha made a face and rolled her eyes.
"Don't get too excited Kay. Don't forget the purpose of our visit and that our stay is just for this weekend."
"Who cares about your purpose?" Kay rested against the seat cushion, "I am going to enjoy this trip." Minha punched her in the gut after Kay spoke. "Sorry! Just kidding."
Then they both looked outside the window. Conocarpus trees were planted on both sides of the roads. Cars rushed at all times. People appeared to be in long shirts and loose trousers, travelling on bikes and cars. Traffic, noise, and commercials all around seemed to keep the people busy. "Oh my God, I love this city. Which mall are we going later?" Kay asked suddenly ardently.
"Thank God you asked. We are going to Millennium Mall. Just for window shopping." She rubbed her fingers smoothly over her nails and bit her lip. Kay narrowed her eyes at her, "Window shopping?" Kay pouted like a kid.
"What? We don't have enough money!"
"Not even one dress? These long shirts and loose trousers look enchanting!"
"Long shirts and loose trousers? They are called Kameez Shalwar. This the national dress of Pakistan." She giggled and made fun of her friend's cute observation. Kay looked upset, "Fine. Just one." Kay accepted and shrugged.
"We have arrived." Abdul stated. Both the girls seemed excited and they jumped off the car.
Minha guided Kay to a Royal seating arrangement also known as Takht in Urdu. They ordered halwa Puri. Halwa Puri is a Pakistani popular breakfast platter that consists of puris (deep-fried bread made from unleavened whole-wheat flour), chole masala (Indian dish including chickpea), suji halwa (toasted semolina in a fat like ghee or oil, with sweetener like sugar syrup or honey) and aloo ki bhujia (traditional crunchy snack made with potatoes, gram flour, moth beans & spices). Making the early breakfast more delicious they ordered hot tea made from caffeine which was delicious. After paying the bill, they packed a parcel for Abdul.
"Hey Abdul. This is for you." Minha offered the parcel to the driver. He hesitated at first but then thanked and kept the parcel.
"You can eat until we walk around this place."
The girls walked around the crowded area under a little warmth and googled Karachi's tourist attractions. There were a lot.
Later Abdul drove them to Millennium Mall in Gulshan e Iqbal.
The lovely place was filled with all the lovely things anyone can get easily attracted to. Wonderful games, jewelry, cosmetics, breathtaking clothes, shoes, and other accessories. They stopped at every shop in the mall and pretended like they were there to actually buy but then exited the mall like they didn't like the product. They were enjoying that.
"Look, this one looks nice." Kay pointed out a magnificent black kurta. It had embroidery over the whole dress but with silk black thread and it sparkled decently. The multicolored Stole, also called Dupatta by Pakistanis, attached with the dress was breathtakingly beautiful. "I want this." Kay leaned forward and read the tag, "I can pay." Minha shrugged and let her take it.
While Kay was outstandingly rating every dress 10/10, Min's eyes caught a beautiful peach dress with red embroidered flowers on it. It had a beautiful silk texture and the full fishnet sleeves. The red flowers had a delicate shining star attached in its center and the dress looked awfully gorgeous.
"Aren't you choosing any?" Kay saw Min distracted and ignoring her rating.
"Actually, I know what I want." And she walked towards the dress. Karina walked over beside her and looked impressed by Min's taste in Pakistani wear. "This is expensive." She blabbed.
"I don't care." And she removed the dress from the showcase and brought it towards the counter. "Pack this."
After they were done shopping, Abdul took them to the nearby shakes and Sodas' parlor and they both drank light blueberry sodas. They were tired and wanted to go back to the Hotel.
"I knew we wouldn't be able to cross al Karachi's tourist attractions in a day." Karina said, exhaustedly resting her neck over the van's window. "Abdul take us back to Hotel."
"I think we should take a nap right after we reach the hotel. It's 1 pm right now. We can go to the old city area after we wake up and then get done with our meal there." Minha explained her wary thoughts.
"You know better than me. I'll go with whatever you decide." Karina replied.
After both the girls were pretty tired and were planning the rest of the day, Abdul wondered why they didn't ask him to take them to a mosque. Just as he was thinking about the awkward situation, nearby speakers were turned on and the beautiful Arabic call was made. Abdul thought this might alarm the girls but none of them took notice.
"Ma'am, I need to offer Zohar prayers. Allow me to excuse you for several minutes." He spoke in Urdu to Minha who was drowsy. She stared at the Asian driver for an instant and then looked away with a realization.
"Take me to the mosque. I need to pray too." She decided. Karina who was half asleep next to her looked alarmed once again. "Can I enter your mosque too?"
Minha looked at the driver immediately. "Is she Muslim?" he asked and Minha shook her head down east to west. They both looked at Minha with a sorry face. She took the hint and rolled her tongue inside her mouth just the way she did in an undesirable situation. "Okay. I am going to stay here and look out for the van."