Born and brought up in Mumbai, with father who was part of armed forces, specially during war with Pakistan, I never thought I would ever be friends with Pakistanis. But if you look at my friends list on Facebook today you will at least find 3 Pakistanis friends. What’s more is that they are not just on the list but the are actually my friends. I remember when one of Paki friend finished her studies I actually had a good bye dinner arranged for her, all desi food. All stuff which she couldn’t take back with her was passed on me. It is funny that I have more Paki made pain killers in my first aid kit than India made. Chat Masala and even Iodex with instruction Printed in English and Urdu instead of Hindi. I even got invited to her wedding or at least for a visit to her home town and I am really looking forward to it.
I know if a hardcore Indian would read this would think that I have lost my mind, but then he/ she would not have spend time in a International school. Once you get into a international school the way one looks at nationalities changes Indians and Pakis are one group they are no more citizens of countries which hate each others, but citizens of Indian subcontinent collectively know as desis. They cook together, eat together and even party to together. It was amazing to see once when all they had cooked was chicken masala and table was full of Indians and Pakis seating in a random order. One night while closing up, I knocked on one of the study rooms to find Indians and Pakis (desis as I would call them now) seating together and studying solving each others problems and helping out in projects.
Now when I watch news and see politicians and extremists playing a blame game and terrorist blowing up people, in the name of country or religion, it only reminds of a game at which was played at the football table in one of the bars I work. It was a doubles game. If you are thinking it was India vs. Pakistan then you are totally wrong It was 2 teams with one Indian and one Paki on each side. I regret not having my camera with me as I could have taken a picture and show it to all the extremists in both the countries and tell them that we are still desis no matter what happened some 65 years back.
I don’t know who won the game. But it doesn’t matter as it ended with hugs and laughter and joy as both the countries had won.
This is the magic of International School.
