Daily Times

I was barely a year old when I lost someone very dear to me. Someone who I could count on in future, someone who could be there for me whenever I needed them,someone who loved me so dearly just like my mother. I lost my sister, my best friend and most importantly my second mother.

Her personality was one of a kind. Helping others since the age of five whether old people or young children was part of her nature. Speaking softly and being kind to others and never getting involved in any fights was her daily routine. At a very young age of eight, Shaheera was a firm believer that whatever good we do comes back to us in one form or another. I was far too young to see her actions and her gentleness towards human beings but I hear from people around me who even met her once saying these words for her, “she was truly a gem and an angel sent from above”. She was a beautiful soul who was too good for this cruel world and what keeps me going is that I will meet her; someday, sometime, somewhere in the afterlife. To be honest the thought gives me goose bumps because I can’t wait to see her perfect face again.
Shaheera lived and enjoyed her life to the fullest. There were no age limits when it came to her friendships with others because she had friends from all age groups; both younger and older than her. She lived in Manchester with our parents and me till we moved back to Pakistan in 1998 where her life was cut short by an electric shock from a garden light while playing in the neighbours’ garden. As much as her death caused pain to my family and most importantly my parents, we still moved on with life because Allah was too kind to help us.

She was eight years old and I was only eight months when she passed away. My mother passed this test successfully. She didn’t take any antidepressants because she knew she had to look after me because I was being nursed by her at that time. She is perhaps the strongest woman on this planet and a source of inspiration for so many people out there. I feel honoured to be a daughter of such a powerful lady; yes, I believe she has powers not because she’s very strong but because she’s a doctor and she does a lot for humanity. She heals people and these are the words I hear from her patients, “Aapki Ammi kai hathon mein shifa hai” (Your mother has the ability to heal people). I definitely take pride and am highly fortunate to have a mother like her and a sister like Shaheera.

As I mentioned earlier, Shaheera was brought up in Manchester; England. She went to an English medium school there; Cannon Johnson. In 2007 my parents decided to build and run a mainstream school for the less advantaged; the underprivileged. This school was built to carry on Shaheera’s legacy of humility, kindness and love and is financed by donations, contributions and from zakat and emoluments.
In my eyes all the 172 children studying there are the most beautiful and the most intelligent students in the world. They are happy and content with what little they have and every time I visit or teach those children, there’s not a single student who doesn’t have a smile on his or her face. When I see those 172 smiles, my day is truly brightened no matter what the situation may be. I believe these children are the backbone of this country and I sincerely hope that all the students studying in this school succeed and prosper, and achieve all the goals they have set for themselves, In Sha Allah.

The author is a passionate storyteller and takes a unique perspective which is distinct from the majority of the society. She aspires to become a doctor in future so she can improve peoples’ quality of life and help them. She also loves to work with special children and do regular social work.