It was my last day in Karachi as I was leaving for New York in search of a greener future,  I stopped by at the office  to wind up my professional life, something that till now has been the biggest learning experience. As I packed my few personal things including small teddy, Yousufi Sb’s ‘Aab-e-Gum’ my coffee mug etc. While on my way back, in spite of the hustle bustle of the traffic, it felt serenely quiet in my head, and I asked myself, why was I leaving my country? The noisy streets and crazy traffic bothering me? Or the countless hours without electricity? Or is it the incident last year when my car almost drowned in the heavy rains? Or Is it the tedious hours at work? Or because of the family networks’ constant harassment regarding the delay in my marriage? Or the charm of the land of opportunity which America is famed for, none of these even remotely answered the question.

No wonder if you are shocked to read what follows as I am shocked myself too when I realized this, it was in fact the people, the community around. The people I have worked with, interacted with, my colleagues, some beautiful, some talented but all non-sense. None disappointment in life could be this much devastating than to lose your trust and respect for the people who have been a part of life.

I was once a very highly rated anchor person of the only fm radio. This was year 2000, while doing a roadshow at hyderi market area a gentlemen came to me and said ‘meri biwi aap ki bohat baree fan hain’ (my wife is a big fan of yours), and he introduced his wife to me, the lady was. ‘Miss X’ (let’s call her that). I auditioned her for radio, I interviewed her, recommended her, she went on air live first time from my show. Now she is one of the most successful TV personalities, a TV anchor doing very well in life. She never looked back and including rest even I am history for her. I came to realize this when last month I called her for one small thing and she said she is busy, me being a media person and trained to understand the  CELEBRITY nakhras, called her the next day again and since then she is not picking my phone and neither answering my sms. That’s our media and that’s how people are to others. Very normal!

There are many good voices of radio including one ‘Mr.Y’ (let’s just call him that) voice. I liked his voice the most due to its vocal quality. He was the one with the attitude as he came from ‘humfm’ Dubai. When I left radio and joined a major TV channel, one of the producers raised a request for a male voice, I was at that time working as talent manager, I called Mr.B despite his chauvinistic attitude to me in past. He is in the limelight now, he who once admitted once that he could never imagine climbing the stairs of JUNG BUILDING, where he now works as a producer.  Month after, I once needed a male voice for promo, called him and asked if he could spare time to do voice over? He plainly refused by saying that he didn’t have time and can’t entertain my farmaish!

My ex-boss, husband of a known TV personality, an experienced director/ producer, but a weak human, gave the hardest time I could imagine ever in my life for my only limitation of not being able to spend quality time with him. I refused, resisted for my idea of promotion and money is not through physical interactions. I resigned, what was sad is that I can’t even complain about it to anyone as I would end up being blamed for  ”provoking” his desires for he is a big name, elite  and me, I am just the girl next door.

That’s media! this is what so called classy people do to the other people …very normal.

So I left for New York… But the destiny has it, on November 27^th the same year 2007. I rushed back to JFK airport desperate to go back to Pakistan. Younger sister diagnosed with cancer, I am back in realms, almost devastated. Fortunate for me, destiny also aligned me with a dear old friend  “GURU”… the pain finally shared, the unspoken finally said and the help finally arrived…. I shared with him what I shared with you today… and what a wonderful email he sent to me. Sharing his words with you….Guru  wrote

“That Media… that is not likable…. and it got taken over by people like Miss A…… I am sad… because I never am /was like this… u never are/were like this…. but the world is … This is Duniya (Earth)!  You are original…. I am original…. I fell like picking up the microphone again, picking you up again… and taking the stage again…. and we can just take them by storm…. yes we can… because they are all hollow…. when I watch the shows of their world on TV… I see through them…. they are all made up… they try to make up jokes, they try to seem interested in their guests … they are not… you know that… I know that….. This is Duniya! It’s people like Mr.B and your ex-boss that make us ashamed of this Duniya…… Need not say more

In the last he wrote..
But… It’s not Duniya that’s bad… just to remind you…..  It’s the people…… showbiz media….. Very sketchy… but it doesn’t mean we have to be like that.
I am happy that your confidence is intact… I am joyous because your faith is strong…. I am thrilled.. ‘cause you still have the adventure in you… This is Duniya!  Mine and yours…”

And I am remembering that famous Subhash Ghai buster song…
Duniya ri Duniya veyy good very good… Duniya waaley very bad very bad…

So ladies and gentlemen I am back to the planet Earth and let me admit that it’s the people who brought me back. My friend who wrote me this wonderful note and part of my inspiration, my sister who needed me, my mother at the age where she needs to see through my eyes, needs my support to walk exactly as I did when was toddler, my father who always been a less vocal character but conveying through his dull eyes that he is tired now and off course my pet dog whose wagging tail tells how unconditionally he loves me ..

And I am learning, there are also the people who never let u down, never fail you, and never leave you. They remain intact so as keep your faith on people, as strong as your faith in God ………our unfailing friend. And I am Keeping the Faith!