what a treat to spend a day with this beautiful human! from IBA (karachi) to grown-up life in the US, we’ve come a long way baby 🙂 love u jalila. may u always shine and continue to bring ur brilliance, humor, honesty and kindness to our world <3

i have been so insanely busy working on talks, an art exhibition and a film, and promoting as well as collaborating on the execution of numerous events, that i have not spent much time simply hanging out with ammi abbu. last night i took a small break. made some barbecue chicken pizza and a big salad with a spicy mango dressing. then watched mughal-e-azam (1960) with my parents. an indian classic set in emperor akbar’s court, the film is kitschy of course and requires the suspension of disbelief, but i have to say, i was captivated by madhubala. her real name was mumtaz jehan begum dehlavi. she was born in delhi in 1933. not just a beauty. there’s something magnetic about her screen presence. the film is two hours long and we were up until midnight but what a lovely way to spend an evening with my ammi abbu. #grateful
aug 13: when u see ur dearest friend from toronto after 5 years and ur grown up daughters get to spend time together <3
aug 19: spent a relaxing day in northport with my lovely taz. we had lunch at bistro 44, walked around town and talked about our lives. there’s nothing as fortifying or delightful as the company and wisdom of a true friend.
my feed, on all platforms, is still enriched by sinéad, the beautiful shuhada’ sadaqat. people are reminiscing and sharing personal stories, others are writing about her courageous, unflinching activism, her incomparable, transcendent voice and music, her deliberate decision not to embrace commercial success and its oppressive demands, her painful childhood and mental health struggles, but also her unique, unforgettable, otherworldly presence, her incredible generosity… i cannot help but think how this kind of validation/admiration would have meant so much to her when she was alive. a warm blanket made of countless memories, words and emotions that could have held her. perhaps it’s easier to write obits and tributes than to be there for people. it shouldn’t be that way.
photo: getty images/ringer illustration
with lovely friends on sunday. here we are at west meadow beach after lunch. wonderful discussions about everything in the world but especially languages: the directness and clarity of english vs how spanish is more of a dance around words with firuletes that ornament much like curlicues in calligraphy.
spent the day in DUMBO, brooklyn, with our wonderful kids. had brunch at vineapple on pineapple street, walked around brooklyn and manhattan bridges, then relaxed at my son’s apt in midtown. got so many flowers from my puppies. what a lovely day! happy mother’s day everyone!
p.s. yes, my husband and i are twinning:)