Breathe In, Breathe Out!

Life, for many, is a series of unpredictable turns. Some are blessed with smooth roads, while others are thrust onto paths fraught with challenges. My story is one of those winding roads, marked by loss, heartache, and ultimately, a triumph of spirit.

I was just seven years old when I first encountered the harrowing pain of loss. My mother, my first source of love and security, was taken away by the cruel hands of cancer. The pain of losing a parent at such a tender age is incomprehensible, but the blow was even harder when my father, who should have been my refuge, chose not to keep me. I was a child without a home, without parents to hold me close and tell me everything would be alright.

In what seemed like a stroke of fate, I was adopted. The love of my adoptive parents began to heal my broken heart, and for a while, I believed that life could be beautiful again. But life had another test waiting for me. My adopted mother, the woman who had given me hope and a second chance at a family, also succumbed to cancer. The loss was devastating, and before I could even begin to grieve properly, my adoptive father passed away too.

I was left alone once more, to navigate a world that felt cold and unforgiving. In the patriarchal society of Pakistan, where girls are often expected to stay at home and serve their families, I was determined to carve out a different path for myself and my siblings. I decided that I would work, not just to survive, but to build a future that was secure and independent.

It was 2013, and the cultural landscape in Pakistan was far from welcoming to working women. I was met with judgment and criticism from all sides. The stares and whispers were constant reminders that I was defying societal expectations. Working late hours, coming home when the streets were dark, all of it made me an object of scrutiny. I felt the weight of society's disapproval bearing down on me, and in my weakest moments, I sought a way to shield myself from it.

I decided to wear a hijab. It wasn’t something my parents had ever asked of me, nor was it a practice I grew up with. But I saw it as a sanctuary, a way to create a barrier between myself and the prying eyes of the world. I believed that by covering my head, I could protect myself from judgment, from being the topic of conversation in a society that wasn’t ready to accept women like me.

In communities like Pakistan, women are only considered secured with father, brother or husband so when I met my husband, a man who became my protector in the eyes of society, first thing I did was remove my hijab. I thought that shedding it was a way of leaving behind that period of vulnerability, of moving forward into a life where I no longer needed to hide or protect myself.

Years have passed since then, and my journey has been filled with countless challenges and successes. I have achieved more than I ever imagined possible, but along the way, I have also come to understand myself more deeply.

Today, I have made the decision to embrace the hijab once again. But this time, I do so not out of fear or a desire to hide. I wear it as a symbol of my strength, resilience, and pride.

My hijab is no longer a shield—it is a crown. It represents the strong woman I have become, a woman who has faced unimaginable hardships and emerged stronger on the other side. I wear it as a testament to my journey, to the battles I have fought, and to the woman I have become.

In a world that often tries to define us, to put us in boxes based on our gender, religion, or appearance, I have chosen to define myself. I am a woman who has found strength in adversity, who has learned to stand tall even when the world seemed determined to pull me down. My hijab is my pride, my voice, and my identity. It is a reminder that no matter what life throws my way, I will continue to rise, to fight, and to shine.

I wear my hijab as a powerful statement of hope and strength for every girl out there who is fighting her own battles and facing judgment from society. This hijab is not just a symbol of my faith; it represents the resilience and courage of all women who dare to be themselves in a world that often tries to define them. To every girl who feels isolated or doubted, know that you are not alone. We stand together, united in our struggles, drawing strength from one another. Together, we are unbreakable, and together, we will continue to fight for our rights, our dreams, and our dignity.

It's Journey of Resilience: Finding my Strength Through Adversity!!