Ceasefire

Pakistan and India have finally announced ceasefire. After a few difficult days, both countries have shown that better sense can prevail. Last night, I could barely talk to my sister without holding back my tears. I thought about the imminent danger exposed to not just her but to millions of civilians on both sides. My Indian friends and their families. What about them ? My sister asked.

In Cambridge, cricket matches were a big part of our student life. I remember sitting through a really tense match between India and Pakistan once, with some Indian students. During the match we all felt the pressure, tension and excitement but when the game ended, life moved back to normalcy.

Perhaps better more peaceful days can come and stay in the region. In 2007, during a brief window of peace-full time, I visited India with my college. We drove to Wagah on bus and crossed the border to India by foot. Walking into India, will always remain one of the most memorable moments of my entire life. We spent eight days, touring three different cities, and I loved every moment of it. I remember, in Jama Masjid, Dehli, I was performing my ablutions as a man approached me and asked where I was from ? I told him, he said, “Why are you here, this is the same mosque as you have in Lahore, constructed by Akbar the Great.” I sheepishly replied, “I have not been to ours”. We both laughed heartily. I had never been nor will I ever perhaps go to another place where people speak the same language and have the same culture.

Hopefully, better days lie ahead for our countries.

But as always, a classic from Bollywood, always Bollywood.