By Khushboo Soomro

When I was in my early teens some 10 years back, the idea of living independent of restrictions had always fancied me. I remember being rebuked once by my mother for accepting a birthday invitation without asking for her permission. Despite the admonishment, I was allowed to go (my mum is sweet and I know that).

Well, that was the day when for the first time I imagined myself being somewhere far from home, a place with no restrictions. It was no less than the Utopia island described by Thomas More ... rendering me being sauntered by a breeze of contentment! There came a time when I drowned myself under a pile of books because I wanted to be a doctor and so I had to get through a scorching furnace without getting myself burnt (the furnace being what they call an entrance test). I appeared in many aptitude tests but got a call from a university miles away from my hometown.

Everything went smooth until my first night in the hostel, where I was surrounded by zillions of thoughts regarding what was to come next! But soon I engrossed myself in enjoying every bit of this new life until I was sick with a common cold and fever, when nothing else was offered by my hostel mates except for a couple of medicines. By nothing else I mean simple gestures like serving my favourite meal, as mum would do. Nevertheless, they were going through the same ‘away from home’ situation as I was. The tingling feeling of homesickness was felt terribly by me for the first time that day. Hanging out with friends was fun, combine study sessions were interesting, birthday parties and storytelling on Saturdays was pleasing. One day a flashback of my father ran through my mind – him telling me to avoid public transport – when I was in one while returning from shopping with friends and was asked to hand over my cell phone and bag to a young fellow with blank eye balls and no heart! I felt so alone without a family member by my side that day!

I have learnt a lot during my hostel days, such as being confident, sharing, compromising, and the most important lesson of all – there’s nothing that can replace one’s family and home. I’m excited with the anticipation of being able to live with my family soon as I’m about to graduate as a doctor! And long ago I stopped dreaming of being in a place with no family or restrictions!