Difficult Dialogue

Haji was sitting with his grandson Haseeb, anxious to know his thoughts for future career planning. Haseeb was trying to avoid this discussion because he wanted to pursue his university education in the field of medicine while Haroon Sahab, Haseeb’s father, wanted him to pursue career in a such a field which can be beneficial for the family business.

Haji family was amongst those who immigrated and settled in Pakistan after partition in 1947. He used to work as a manager in a textile factory owned by a family. Although, with his entrepreneurial mindset he had the vision to initiate his own business, but his financial position didn’t allow him to leave his job at that time. Therefore, when they were starting a new journey in Pakistan as a family, he decided to follow his dream and initiated a basic looming factory with the financial pool of investments from each of his siblings and assistance from government packages.

“Haya”, a brand name owned by Haji and family – all of its products are manufactured in-house which shows that they are completely processed and designed in their factories. Over the past fifty years, their family has established a credible name in the textile industry of Pakistan. Accordingly, Haseeb is expected to continue this legacy, which he thinks is not justified.

Haseeb and Huda both are raised with intense love and affection. Their grandparents have developed a natural bond with them. Both Haji and Hawa have capitalized on their skills of storytelling, so Haseeb and Huda are aware of the various ups and downs which as a family their elders have faced. This emotional attachment leads to an indecisive stance of Haseeb regarding his career.

“Should I join my family business?”

Why am I thinking in this way? Isn’t going to be unjustified with my elders who has done all could have done for me.

But all my friends will be working in their selected area of interest, will that be fair decision for my career?

Can’t I just continue with my career and be a shareholder of my grandfathers founded textile business?

And the questions continue to come in Haseeb mind.