Sabeen Mahmud - Daughter of a Chaotic Metropolis

By Sasha Scheherzade


April 24th marked the death anniversary of late Sabeen Mahmud (shared) and amidst the people going through this pandemic drama-in-real-life, it slipped quietly by.
Gunning her down was a cowardly attempt to silence a brave woman who provided this chaotic city of Karachi with a  much needed wonderful community space for shared discourse and healthy dialogue between the have's and have-nots. It was everybody's retreat. It was my retreat.



My kid and I met some like-minded happy souls and participated actively in toddlers's music, craft workshops, Sheemajis theatrical activities, Pervez Hoodbhoy's very piquant lectures and soulful Qawwalis.



I made some great new friends, conceived my first Readers' Group, conducted active book sessions and stayed inspired.

After the quietus of the ingenious and brave Daughter of the ever chaotic yet all embracing Karachi, which was a traumatic demise for the peaceful people of my city, I stopped my visits altogether for almost an entire year. The ever bustling place now spelled a kind of eerie gloom for me.



A year or two went by and I perked up courage to attend drumcircles that soon became my favorite Friday night activity. Just the audience beating drums, no talks and gave in to the rhythm that synced straight with my heartbeat bought energy and with it solace.



Upon my return and it was after a long while when I literally felt like writing. I don't know why this has not made it to the wall art of T2F,  but I plan on doing it soon after humanity gets relieved of this uncalled sanction of a lockdown. I do pray we all make it safe and healthy to our usual routine selves soon.

Meantime I'll share it here...

Retreat at The Second Floor,
My first after Sabeen,
The misfits,
The craziest of oddballs,
Housed comfortably
In a den that
Let thinking prevail.

An open haven for
Witty brand of banter,
Where them burnouts
Turned out chirpy and still.

The weird lunge for
The Quiet studio,
Or the bustling café
Where I often sat
To sip the familiar falsa...
Not keeping my distance,

"Kiyun ke fasla
Nahi rakha jata
Kiyun ke piyaar
Honay kay leyae tha,
Sabeen sey,
Uski soch sey,
Karachi kay
T2F sey!"

- Sasha Scheherzade


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