Imtiaz Ali once said in an interview:

"If I had to choose between death and leaving home, I'd always choose death."
[Imtiaz Ali] 

I heard it and I thought, he must be exaggerating. There's no way death would be easy than leaving your own home. Then I watched Odyssey, and now it all makes sense.

It's been four years since we left our home, the home where we lived our entire lives. I'm 24 now. Since that day, we switched homes, but nowhere we felt like we were at HOME. I thought it's just a phase of time and that things would get better later on. But no, I was wrong, utterly wrong.

Home is not a place, it's a feeling that you create. The blend of all those memories, smells, feelings and adventures that you have there. 

I don't think people ever find peace after leaving their homes. The worst part is when your home no longer exists. You can never go back to that HOME.

It's been four months since I've moved to Lahore. The heart of Pakistan. The city known for it's vibrant gardens, rich culture and yummiest food. I've always loved this city, because of it's architecture and heritage. But I have one complaint from this city. In urdu we call it "SHIKWA".

Which is....

"Dear Lahore,

I hope you are doing well.

I know you don't care about me or anyone who lives in you. You are unbiased, unjust. There's no justice in your eyes. All you care about is how you look and people perceive you as something vibrant and beautiful.

I don't blame you for the damage you've done to me or others. I don't think it's just to blame. But I do have one complaint. A "shikwa".

You've stolen my sleep. I don't think I've had a deep sleep since I've come here. You have stolen it. My sleep. My Peace. You are not to blame.. but, It's a sin to steal someone's PEACE. I know there's  GOD. And HE knows justice. I hope he doesn't do justice. Because, the wrongs that you've done to the people are so severe that the justice itself would cause to cease to exist, which I would never want. I hope HE forgives you. I'll personally ask for you infront of HIM. To forgive you for your sins. 

In return, could you please give me back my SLEEP? I need it. I can't get back my HOME, but at least I can have some PEACE. If I don't have it, then i'd rather prefer death.

They say that one can make a home within yourself. I wonder what that is, and I'm still trying to figure out.

"Sleep is the most innocent creature there is and a sleepless man the most guilty."
[Franz Kafka: Letters to Milena]