Gilgit to Lahore, Story of A Young Girl
Coming to a Lahore for higher education was never the issue as almost every student in Gilgit did that. However, a lot of people demotivated me to reconsider my decision of getting in NCA since it was a liberal arts college, but I believe that not listening to those people was the best decision of my life.
The really challenging stage was after graduation, when I expressed my desire to stay in Lahore to start my career. My family expected me to move back home to Gilgit, and assumed that I could just as easily find employment there.
They didn’t realize that the real market for art is in a big city like Lahore, not Gilgit. Furthermore, all my professional contacts were in Lahore; so it just made more sense to establish myself here. They tried hard to convince me otherwise, but I held my ground.
Living independently comes with its own demands: you have to take care of everyday chores all by yourself. But I enjoy that. If, for example, I have to grab a rickshaw to go somewhere, I don’t hesitate. Living alone means you have to be comfortable being self-sufficient, which I am.
I have an elder brother and three other sisters, two of which are also in Lahore. One is studying in first year at King Edward and lives in the university’s hostel and the other one shifted to DHA after marriage. Actually, my parents had harbored hopes that I would tie the knot, and tried to induce me by saying that I could work after I got settled into marriage; but I just am not ready for it. So instead, my sister, who is two years younger than me, got married earlier this year.
All in all, I am very grateful that my parents have been very supportive of children in letting us pursue our dreams – whatever they may be.
( source: Humans of Pakistan )