March 24, 2013

Spellbound

There is this thing about Karachi. Dozens are murdered on its streets everyday. Crime and corruption are at their peak. In fact, it has been compared to the fictitious Gotham city.When you'll come here, there is going to be so much violence that you're gonna want to run away. You might witness people firing at each other. You'll probably see tires burning on some major road. And you will definitely read a newspaper filled with news you wouldn't want to read. The city will leave you breathless because nobody will let you take a break for even one moment. But that's not all there is to Karachi.

Karachi has magic. It has beauty so wild that it will leave you amazed and love so passionate that it will shake you to your very core. But it's not something that you can just find in a day. It's something you'll have to live here to see. Something you'll have to observe and appreciate over the days that pass by. You'll have to take a walk on a chilly night (Just don't take your wallet or phone). You'll have to give in to its evening's gentle wind. You'll have to learn to move with its broken roads. You'll have to survive a day without electricity in its brutal, summer heat. You'll have to dance in the rain on its dirty beaches. You'll have to ride on top of a bus. You'll have to enjoy a cup of tea at a dhaba. You'll have to stick through a bad day to see how, in the end, its people come together to help. And you will have to have people here, who you love, to be able to see the magic. And once you've seen the magic, this city will enchant you in a way that you won't be able to leave.

As I was writing this, a random guy asked me why I was smiling. I said one word and the smile was on his face too: Karachi.


14 comments:

  1. amazing...it made me laugh and cry.....

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  2. Replies
    1. really amazing writing , I have posted this on FB, can a twitter account be connected to yr blog?

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    2. Yes, if you press the 'Join this site' button on the right, you can follow this via Twitter :)

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  3. Loved, totally LOVED it, & its all soo True, glad someone else feels the same as I do!
    Sharing this on my fb & G+.

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  4. so simple and heartfelt. induced so much nostalgia.
    i loved every bit of it.

    also, it is okay to take your camera and cell phone along. that is characterized with thrill of its kind.

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  5. touchyyyy (: and yes I LOVE KARACHI <3

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  6. Amazing! Im glad that there are still people who look at it in a positive wway. We Need tthis. Karachi is Not lost yet!!

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  7. I love Karachi and any one who shares that feeling is my soul mate,, You have the gift of expression,, succinctly written..Spellbound and in love with Karachi all over again..Karachi is here to stay!!

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  8. Thankyou so much for writing such a beautiful piece about Karachi.Its people like you who will keep this city going,no matter what,and inshaaAllah,things will get better.We just need more people to feel like you.Am sharing on my FB.

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  9. I visited Karachi 2 years ago for one week that was a time when everywhere (news etc etc) that there is a lot of violence going on between some groups (of course mqm and others) so i went there in one of the worse times. Even though it was worse time i cant forget the living in Karachi. that two weeks i went everywhere different local restaurant, tried different food, markets. everything has its own distinct charm. I am from Lahore born and raise there and now i am living in New york, i went to some many different cities in Pakistan i was never so much amazed to see city like Karachi. This has that magic in this worse time, how is it gonna be in its best time, i cant describe that sad feeling inside me, but proud of this city because after all this trouble this city is breathing and running. I really wish Karachi get better i so wanna go live in Karachi. Love you Karachi May Allah bless you with peace and love,
    Ali

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  10. A smile spread on my face as soon as my eyes fell on the word 'Karachi' . Great post! Your words describe Karachi's essence beautifully.

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