Love, actually

Sitting with Solom and Zain on the sofa; Zain's head in Solom's lap.


Solom: MmmmUAH *kisses Zain*


Me: Zainoo loves you, Solom.


Solom: And Mama also loves Solom.


Me: Yes.


Solom: It's so beautiful.

#thatawkwardmomentwhen

you're singing your 1.5 yr old to sleep and he takes his pacifier out of his mouth and starts shouting, "CHUP! CHUP! CHUP!"

Lost in Translation

Me: Solom, I love you. Do you love Mama?


Solom: Yes.


Me: What do you love about Mama?


Solom: A tiger.


Me: Okay, let me explain. What do I love about you? I love your nose. I love your sweet personality. Now tell me, what do you love about me?


Solom: A globe.

Someone kill me now

Solom and my cousin Omar were scrolling through pictures in his iPad when they came across a horrific, distorted picture I'd taken of myself just for fun.


Omar: Suleiman, is this Mama or is this a monster?


Solom: This is MAMA. (Pointing at me) That is MONSTER.

Mother of the nation

Solom (waving a thousand Rupee note at me): Look, Mama, whose picture is this?


Me: Now, Solom, don't tear that jaani...!!


S: Is Quaid-e Azam Mama Ali Jinnah.

Dastan-e Musharraf Ali Farooqi

If you haven't seen this yet and are so inclined, check out the interview I did with Musharraf Ali Farooqi for Vol. 9 of Papercuts. He had some interesting views on Urdu and the creation of Pakistan. You also get to see his cat, Mano. After meeting a literary critic recently who said, "Everyone's in conversation with someone or the other" though, I'm seriously questioning the title of this piece! Anyway, enjoy.


A Writer's Passion: A Conversation with Musharraf Ali Farooqi