“When you finally go back to your old home, you find it wasn’t the old home you missed but your childhood”—Sam Erwing
Having lived through many decades is like being on a massive roller coaster for the first time, the ups and downs of which are totally unknown. Every bend is a surprise, each upward movement is filled with a rush of adrenaline that peaks when reaching the top, each downward fall causes tremors of apprehension, and the ride itself is both exciting yet tumultuous. Perhaps the most pronounced effect after the adventure is playing back different moments in the mind, re-living the state of one’s emotions, akin to reminding ourselves of the good and bad times of yesteryears—memories.
As we tread along the path of life, we carry baggage on our shoulders, the burden of which increases with each step, forcing us to stoop to a point when it becomes unbearable, indicating the need to shed this weight and rekindle the zest to live once again. They rightfully say that the child within never dies no matter how old or frail one gets. The desire to run around, to skip and jump, to expend energy like in the good young days, never seems to vanish. Despite the ordeals associated with failing health and difficulty in movement, the inner child perks up the moment someone mentions the past.
St. Joseph’s Convent Girls’ High School, Karachi (which completed its 162 years), is where this scribe passed her Senior Cambridge exams back in 1975. Recollections from the six beautiful years spent in this fantastic institution include the many lovely classmates from different faiths and religions who started on this journey but either moved to other sections, left the city or migrated to another country.
Thanks to online social platforms, many have reconnected to complete this bouquet of students who were once together in school. As children, they may not have understood the importance of their relationship with each other, but as grown-ups, they have realised its significance as being integral to their very existence.
To be more childlike, you don’t have to give up being an adult. The fully integrated person is capable of being both an adult and a child simultaneously
To strengthen this bond, a decision was made to celebrate the golden anniversary of camaraderie as we all, with one exception, managed to transcend five long decades. A decision that proved to be super successful, as fourteen of us from different parts of the world gathered together in Karachi, led by two of our most active mates who had taken the trouble of planning, arranging, and organising four days of absolute fun and frolic. This was coupled with getting made event-specific souvenirs to mark the occasion. Participants also brought along tokens that reflected their love and affection, bringing delightful smiles and hugs, enhancing the tenor of sisterly companionship.
Perhaps the most invigorating moment was visiting the school dressed in our sports uniform, and the band represented by the colour of our respective houses, evoking profound nostalgia. The moment we got off the coaster, met our esteemed teachers who taught us fifty years back, the child in our spirits suddenly imploded, brushing away the huge gap of years since 1975. The burst of energy was contagious as we all felt ourselves drawn into the past, reminiscing about multitudes of happy, sad, and exciting experiences we had during our school days. Fortunately, the entire four days saw the euphoric state that kept us all deeply engaged, accentuating the occasion with bouts of uncontrollable laughter, making it even more memorable.
This was followed by a visit to the largest mall in Pakistan, covering an area of 3.4 million square feet and then a trip to a recently well-developed locality in the suburbs of Karachi that reminds one of cities like Dubai with its modern layout and architectural landmarks. Ending the day at a popular restaurant on the seafront refueled our energy for the next couple of days.
A trip to Thatta’s famous UNESCO World Heritage Shah Jehan Mosque after a hearty breakfast at an amazing eatery on the National Highway took us along the corridors of history. Technical and decorative works of Moghul artisans were highly appreciated because the hot and humid April weather did not seem to have any effect on the cool interior of the mosque, where we got the opportunity to say our prayers. After a restful high tea at a delightful farmhouse in Gharo, this group of elderly ‘young girls’ found it best to get some rest before embarking upon the next day’s excursion.
Day 3 was spent visiting and revisiting different historic places like the Mohatta Palace, Flagstaff House, Frere Hall, Empress Market, Karachi Municipal (KM Corporation) Office building, Denso Hall that now boasts of a pedestrian rahguzar (pathway) with urban forest plantation that allows the residents respite from the city’s pollution caused by vehicles which by the way are disallowed in this area. One must commend the wonderful initiatives taken by thoughtful members of Karachi who are keen on restoring certain aspects of the city’s heritage, even if it means fighting against all odds and suffering death threats.
The latter part was at the Sandspit beach with a strong, cool breeze blowing away the angst of heat, mild waves of the Arabian Sea crashing around our feet as we waded in the salty waters, and where a scrumptious barbecue dinner igniting our taste buds became the crowning glory of the day.
The fourth sunrise saw us having breakfast at a café in Defence Housing Society, run by people who have cognitive disabilities, followed by shopping expeditions in Sadar and later at a grand Mall located in Clifton. With the celebrations coming to an end, the air turned slightly sombre as we got ready to again part ways with our school buddies after a final rendezvous with food stalls on the Creek Walk. All good moments do end, but leave in their aftermath an eternal sense of friendship, love, and compassion. With promises to repeat these moments, we said our goodbyes.
We did what Wayne Dyer said: “To be more childlike, you don’t have to give up being an adult. The fully integrated person is capable of being both an adult and a child simultaneously. Recapture the childlike feelings of wide-eyed excitement, spontaneous appreciation, cutting loose, and being full of awe and wonder at this magnificent universe.”