A testimonial...

This is a tribute to the man who birthed the man that birthed me: my grandfather. In a series of heart attacks reckoned as other chest pains, Dada-Abbu [paternal grandfather] passed away yesterday at Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Lahore. It is a sad and unexpected demise of someone so close at heart (but so many miles away). When I got the news, it took me a while to digest the fact that he was really gone; for good. I regret I will not be able to attend the funeral that will be held today and I feel stupid and cheated for coming all the way to Singapore to "enhance my career", so far away from home, when I can't even make it to the Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral-prayer) of someone I love.

There is no doubt of the complex relationship I had with my grandfather, but I always felt close to him somehow. He often used to complain that I do not spend time with him and that he will be gone some day... I used to argue over this, giving excuses. I guess the time has finally come, and I didn't spend enough time with him.

He had an interior decoration shop in the famous Liberty market of Lahore by the name of "Bajwas", where he used to go everyday whether in sickness or in health. My friends [and friends' parents especially] used to go up to him when purchasing lamps from the shop [what it's famous for] to ask him for a discount by mentioning they're related to me, and he always used to give them great discounts. I regret passing-by the Liberty market area so many times in a day with hardly ever stopping for a few minutes to say hi to him. But I did visit him a couple of times before coming to Singapore this July, and that's the last time I met him.

Inna Lilahee Wa Inna Ilaehee Rajeoon. "We belong to Allah, and it is to Him that we are returning." (2:155-56) May God bestow His blessings on Dada-Abbu and his entire family, and give us patience to absorb this loss.