From the moment clarity dawned upon my thoughts, a pressing question emerged: How could I escape the confines of poverty and carve a path to prosperity? The landscape around me offered little in terms of guidance or infrastructure. My aspirations were boundless, yet the path remained elusive, devoid of role models or signposts.

Determined to change my circumstances, I embarked on my first professional endeavor, accepting a clerical position at a local school. (The tales of this school and its surroundings are numerous, and I’ll recount them in a subsequent note.)

With a steady income, my dreams evolved. The vision of establishing the Water Works cricket club took root. The spirited youth of Water Works, driven by shared passion, toiled to secure a ground in the heart of the city, laying down a cricket strip. This marked the onset of my cricketing journey. Our team is a unique ensemble of gifted individuals, trained with enthusiasm, and eager to prove our mettle on the cricketing field. (Numerous anecdotes and humorous incidents from our cricketing days await in another chapter.)

While cricket brought immense joy, it wasn’t a sustainable future. Mounting financial pressures and evolving challenges compelled me to relinquish my beloved sport in pursuit of a brighter horizon.

A more lucrative position with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs beckoned, promising progress and stability. Yet, the road to contentment remained elusive. This phase, too, is replete with stories that I’ll share in due

My early days with the job were dull, it was routine work without any challenge or effort and my salary was paid after 30 days. I started inquiring if there were any better positions available within the organization.

My colleagues secretly told me not to worry about salary, I would get way more than my salary every week, How? I wondered upon further digging,  I found out there are secret funds collected  (Bribery) from clients, in return to save them from bureaucratic obstacles and that fund is distributed among the staff under the table. I was hesitant to receive that money in the first place, but then my ongoing needs and colleagues’ encouragement I got calmed and did as Romans do in Rome.

When life became easier I got my first motorbike. I started dreaming about a life partner who could ride with me. This also reminds me of my first love which began when I was employed with a City school On my way to work I used to see a Tonga (a cart and horse for transport) across my house picking school girls every day. I used to see a girl sitting in front staring at me and when I made eye contact, she always smiled and looked away. She was beautiful be a grade 10 student. Since it was happening every day. Now I am dreaming in the night as well. I did not dare to talk to her it was against the norms. My fear was it could have been just a misunderstanding. So many days passed by just looking and ignoring. But one day I decided to say hello….

I was expecting some harsh words, but she said O thank God you said something I thought you were suffering from Dysarthria…..and then laughed. THAT
was first encounter…

After that we regularly exchanged words, her name was Ume Rubab.  sometimes I write a poem and hand it over to her. She did as well. We met a few times briefly…and life was hunky dory… After some time she was no longer in that tonga. I was wondering but unable to ask fellow girls. But soon I found out her parents were and as she told them her seriousness about this friendship. And they have a big mess within the family. One day my Buddy ‘Moh’ came running to me and said run for your life as Rubab’s father is coming to see you in your office. He is very aggressively mad Her father walked into the office introduced himself and requested to have a few words with me privately. So I came outside, his questions were like criminal investigator officer, he was asking how old are you…what do you earn? I did not have much to show, I said my salary is not much at the moment but in the future will be able to have sound earnings. He got upset, he shouted you are making a fool of my daughter, you don’t have enough to support yourself, and have stupid dreams at this young age. I warned you if you come close to my daughter from now on or try to approach her, you will face consequences. I felt so insulted, there was nothing to offer. I put my head down and listened to his harsh words for a good 20 minutes.

I got scared, I was trying to divert my thoughts elsewhere, but my mind kept on asking questions, about how embarrassing the situation I caused her. In this insult, I was the only one to blame who encouraged her to stand by me while I was not financially able to alongside her.

At this point my hunger to improve myself and prosper miles faster. I was assured that would be the end of my little love story, but to avoid further setbacks I needed to do something different.

Many sad days went by I started to forget her but the reason for the insult was never gone.

Now working at the Ministry, I spent most of my time making alternate plans generating more money through legal channels. I was frustrated with the money I was earning My conscious blamed me for wrongdoing. There was not a single night when I didn’t pray for a legal/clean source of income Day by day I was affirmed to look for an alternate source of income and that should be ASAP.

After a long period, the only good news I got was that my childhood buddy ‘Hussain’ was going abroad. That news lit my eyes. I was assured when he is settled, he will pull me along as well.

Hussain has been my Buddy since we were toddlers. We went to KG to high school together, we spent so much time together as we may not be with our parents or siblings. He was my backbone and aspiration me. I was excited and assured my dream would become reality very soon.

Cricket Chronicles: Days of Youth and Passion:

 Remembering my cricketing days, when Hussain was leading the W square cricket team, he was the first to gather all other members to head to the cricket ground every Friday morning. A night before the match, the biggest task was to collect money to buy a new cricket ball. That was a heck of a job, Hussain was the primary motivation behind this. Heading towards the cricket ground was a journey full of fun, I barely had enough money to pay the fare for the Tonga ride or sometimes tried to sneak away without paying, which looks like a very shameful act now, but those days used to be additional fun.

On the field it was difficult to select 11 players out of 15 members, we were all friends and no one wanted to be left out. Sometimes Hussain manages by just counseling the players or promising them for the next match. So much so that he had to flip the coin to choose one of the two brothers on our team. It was a laughing situation when the elder brother tried to convince the younger to sacrifice the spot for more experience while others insisted that young talent should be given a chance for a better future. It was only the least important fixture, but their enthusiasm for the game was remarkable, although it looked funny.

Let me also introduce a few other characters and characteristics of the cricket club. we had talented players like H. Wasti the dasher,  Sajjad the little master, Tannu the trouble maker, Shahid the decent boy, Nadeem the lefty, Sarfraz and Mazhar the speedster, Zafar the bullet and Saeed the low riser. We also had Zulfi the hitter, Basit the hooker, and who can forget Billu the big bird, and Achha with their extra skills as an empire.

Then we had Riz Sheikh, an undisputed opener, N Sheikh the middle order also with a strategic brain, and of course Hussain and myself. If I recall correctly,  we had our well-wishers and occasional players like Mubasher,  Khalid, Moh, and Chechi were always there for morale-boosting

At this moment  I do not want to miss out on our deceased players like, Anees the rush blood, Izhar the stiff man, a very young led ‘ Happy’ And Billo the big bird, who are no longer with us. ( may God almighty bless their souls).

Our Matches were mostly every Friday and net practice every day, during this time we not only played cricket, but all kinds of jokes, and comments, rubbed with each other, and cheered each other’s performances and criticism all happening at the same.

Before I go back to my original topic, I must say, those were the days of actual life. Rest is all around it.

Journey to Dreams: Hussain’s Odyssey from Pakistan to New York

Hussain was all set to leave for the USA en route to a short stay in the Middle East. It was such an uphill task to get this far. Obtaining required visas and airfare amounts were bigger than the piggy bank, things depended on family and friends, and how much they could chip in, many friends got tested at this very crucial stage.  But finally, Hussain has high hopes and dreams.

He had a daunting task in front of him, not only did he want to secure his future, but had to look after his parents and siblings. He was the kind of person who had buddies and close friends on his tab. It was remarkable of a personality that cares for others before even getting himself on his own feet.

During his stay in the Middle East the kind of hardship he faced, was another chapter, that I will unfold later in the story. Finally, he landed in the city of New York. Where challenges for survival were as big as the New York towers.

Here my body was in Pakistan but my mind stayed in the airs of North America. My colleagues at the office could feel that I was not paying any attention to my work. Hussain never forgot friends, he usually called every other day if not every day. I was aware of the hardship he was going through but still had a hope that he would call one day and say, all arrangements are done, you will be flying soon. In this hope and waiting my frustration went up to such a level where my mind was so ungratified that I resigned from my job. It was a shock for my family and friends but I did not want to think about anything else than flying to North America. From that day to the actual departure, many days and months of life were like a roller coaster. There was no motivation for any other job or business but chances to go abroad were also not looking great. Hopelessly this realization further doomed that quitting the job was a mistake. FINALLY, that news thrilled me

Journey to New Beginnings: Bonds Beyond Borders

 One of my dearest friends, Chechi’  got his arrangement finalized for the USA, and that too with Hussain’s efforts. Chechi was trying for this long before me, his circumstances were not different from mine. He struggled hard to get adjusted to Pakistan’s civil services, he got a couple of opportunities to acquire good positions in the department but could not last for long due to his straightforwardness. His ability to see things in black and white and honesty could not help him to compromise with corrupt bosses. He was bold enough to say ‘no’ to his bosses right to their faces. This attitude put him in trouble time and time again, consequently losing his job. He was very frustrated with the system and wanted to exit here. When I saw him off at the airport. It was a day of joy and sorrow both at the same time.  I was happy that he succeeded in breaking the shackles he was chained in, on the other hand, my fear of loneliness would further destroy me. When Hussain and Chechi got together in New York, they kept me in the loop, their sympathy via phone calls never let me go into depression and kept my hopes alive.

That was June 1985 when things started to work out in my favor, I received my traveling docs for which Hussain and Chechi worked tirelessly. I was so delighted, feeling like I was in seventh heaven. I uttered that quote’ The only goals you do not achieve in life are the goals you do not set’. At the same time, I was trying to look for those words best suited to thank my dearest friends who came to rescue me when I needed it most. I appreciate this more than you will ever know…

When I left Lahore Airport, my other buddy ‘ Taenee Qureshi’ who was seeing me off broke into tears, that scene is still sticking in my mind. And I always thank the Almighty and the kind of friends who gave me,  their thoughtfulness is a gift I will always treasure.

Toronto Tales: New Beginnings, Old Friends, and the Warm Embrace of Choudhry Frank

Finally, I reached  Toronto Pearson Airport, the only person I knew in this city was Choudhry Frank, who had settled in Toronto a few years ago. I was heading to his home without even informing him, but was glad to see, that he received me very warmly. He was working from 7 am to 7 pm every day and had no time to cook, so he told me, you are on your own for cooking. 

I never even tried to make a cup of tea, so I decided to make a meal for myself and him, which was the biggest task. I am pretty sure if today that food is in front of me, I would prefer to pass it on to animals. But somehow we inhaled happily and then probably we got used to it.

Frank was looking for a job for me, every evening he gave me courage and hoped not to worry about it,  we would be able to find something soon. My problem was neither I had skilled labor nor any technical know-how, however, I was determined to take any kind of job which would earn me some money. One day Frank took me to a Lumberyard, where I got employed after a brief interview,  my task was simple but not easy. All day I had to carry heavy lumber to the cutter, and then take the pieces to the assembly area, where technical staff built chairs and tables for it. If I remember that company name was Prima Chrome where I worked for a few months. During those months I learned it’s not only me who is working hard, everybody’s life was hectic, especially Frank was such a workaholic person that I never saw him taking a single day off. His dreams were very high, he wanted to set up his own upholstery business and live stylishly. He was a small guy with a big heart, and the way he accommodated me and cared for my needs, I cannot forget forever. He was a friend indeed. His biggest credit was to be helpful to others, regardless if he could afford it or not. There are many individuals I know who are still living in Toronto who benefit from him. When I am writing these lines, literally tears are running down, and praying to God for his highest place in ‘Janna’, as he is no longer with us. Now his kids are grown up living in Toronto, I am not sure if they know how great their father was as they were small when he passed away. 

After a few months, I got hired by a Swiss Chalet Restaurant where I got better wages and was entitled to some benefits. This was the time I got a learning license and used all my savings to buy my first car. That was the Buick Century 1980. All my colleagues were Italian or other nationals in Swiss Chalet,  I badly missed my buddies, they were scattered in different parts of the world. Hussain and Chechi were in New York,  ‘Moh’ got married and migrated to the UK, while Riz, N Sheikh, and Taenee Qureshi were still in Pakistan. I wished that if we could all gather in one city, it would double the pleasure.

Navigating Life’s Twists: Guzman Baig’s Rise from Taxi Driver to Entrepreneur

Life was becoming easier in Canada, I moved from shared accommodation to my apartment but my hunger for further improvement was nonstop. My next improvement was to join Diamond Taxi Company where I spent 10 years and made good money. During that period there was a lot of pressure from parents to come to Pakistan and get married. I was hesitant to take that step, but my mother’s authoritative orders didn’t allow me to prolong this and finally got married in Pakistan. My wife was not any stranger to me. She was my first cousin whom I had been friendly since childhood. My next biggest goal was to bring my parents and wife to Canada, after a year or so all members of my family were in Canada and life became as beautiful as paradise. My wife was such a noble personality who changed me altogether, she was selfless, caring, and supportive and helped me move into a big detached house in Mississauga which was also a long-time dream, she deserved the full credit, words will not justify her support but I must say ‘ You are the finest, loveliest tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known and even that is an understatement ‘.

Meanwhile, my other buddies such as Moh, Riz, and N Sheikh all headed to Mississauga and we created a little Sialkot in Mississauga. This Era was a beautiful time of my life, there were uncountable cherished moments like we bunch of families getting together for BBQ in Niagara Falls and parties at other places. On every occasion and downtime, Hussain’s family and Chechi would also join us which doubled the pleasures.

During that span, God was further kind to me and gave me 4 beautiful children which enhanced my joys and gave me feelings of being only the luckiest person on the earth. I recalled my past where I started from zero, now where I am standing it was only the blessings of God and contributions of those.. ‘Truly great friends which are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget’. Today the smile I am wearing you gave me my dear friends!!!!!.

Transitioning to a Balanced Life: From Entrepreneurship to Corporate Growth

All my buddies in North America were progressing well. They were simply magnate moneybags. Hussain’s Financial consultancy firm was based in Hempstead rather than all over Nassau County in the USA.

During that span, God was further kind to me and gave me 4 beautiful children which enhanced my joys and gave me feelings of being only the luckiest person on the earth. I recalled my past where I started from zero, now where I am standing it was only the blessings of God and contributions of those.. ‘Truly great friends which are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget’. Today the smile I am wearing you gave me my dear friends!!!!!.

I was handling a couple of Marts and Gas stations where my wife, myself, and a few employees stayed a busy minimum of 14 hours a day. Meantime my children reached high schools, and those were happy moments, I also flipped a few properties and earned a few extra dollars which made me comfortable financially, and the days of hand-to-mouth situation were no longer in sight. But at the same time, this realization was dominating that we are not justifying our household needs. Our children deserve more time from us and we were tied up so badly, that we just looked over the things helplessly. The only thing we could do to revisit our priorities and make a new action plan.

My Job with Kenco Group was a new experience in life because I spent most of my time as a self-employed (entrepreneur). Working under someone was a new experience, but I was lucky, the leadership I was under, was such a nice group of people who made a great impact on my life.

Initially, I was hired as an HR safety Representative, but with time, I improved my skills in other areas of Better Business management. My company was kind enough to provide me with training and certifications in business management.

The Key learnings and Certifications are:

• OHSA,  ISO 45001 CERTIFICATION
• Workplace Health and Safety Act of Ontario, WSIB Safety Manager, dealing with workplace injuries.
• LEAN SIX SIGMA Certified
• Champion, on Lean Strategies as
• Business Process Improvement,
• Standardized Work
• 5 S.
• Kaizen Events etc.

This type of environment kept me engaged with writing and training over 100 employees for the next decade. Engaging with different personalities and their behaviors was a new challenge for me but enjoyed working there as this job was most suitable to my growing age, family needs, and traveling.

End of story

After giving my children a smooth footing, I wondered what my role was going to be in life. Should I just wait for my retirement from Kenco group, which is still a few years away, or find other activities to keep myself busy? At this stage, many ideas came to mind. One of them was to build a vocational property somewhere in Toronto’s superb area or build a cottage somewhere in warmer areas like Florida or South America. My decision-making abilities were getting dull– maybe due to the age factor or I was not energetic enough to conclude.

My youngest son was the only buddy around whom I interacted with most. He was an artist, a great guitar player, and a songwriter, and he usually had unique ideas. He suggested I go to places where you are not a stranger, you must have people around. You must have known him. So you will not feel lonely and your last phase will be enjoyable. I was surprised that such advice was coming from a young 23-year old kid, but I seriously started thinking about building a house in Pakistan, where I could meet my old buddies and relatives, and I may be able to help some deserving needy people.  Lahore city was the obvious choice as it was my childhood favorite city. So, before starting that project, I made sure that everything was in its place. My daughter was well settled working for a reputable airline, holding a great corporate position.

My other two sons were very successful in their careers. One was a banker and the other was a drama writer-producer for CBC TV. The youngest one had a full-time job but his passion for music was sky high. He produced his album at a very young age and had many more projects in the pipeline. It was enough for my mind to go ahead with building a retirement house.

For the next few months, I traveled between Toronto and Lahore numerous times till the completion of the house project. While I was away in pursuit of building a house in Lahore, one day I received a phone call, that shattered all my dreams and left me speechless that my youngest son suffered from a massive heart attack and left the world. I hardly believed this news, but the sky had broken down on me. A part of me had departed. I wish we could have even one more moment together. Grief is still like a weight on my soul. I believe grief is the price we pay for love.  I love you, my son if you can ever hear me. You are gone yet not forgotten. Although we are apart, your spirit lives within me, forever in my heart, always in my thoughts. I never said goodbye to you. And I will never say.

Life was not the same anymore, my whole family had difficulties coping with this death, and, especially, my wife and daughter who were present at the time of death are not out of grief yet. I salute their resilience and the way they handled the situation in my absence.

Although this scar is not going away any time soon, in fact, the reality is that we will grieve forever, and we will not get over it, but my responsibility was to save the rest of the members of my family from further damage. My wife, especially, who saw the last moments of my son leaving us, was vulnerable to any emotional setback. She was already having trouble sleeping, exhaustion and my daughter’s restlessness and hyperactivity were worrying. I knew it would take time for us to be whole again. Some drastic changes were inevitable, such as moving away from the scene and environment.  So I packed my bags and moved to Pakistan.

Over time, I observed my wife’s sleep pattern was getting better and I was more relaxed and tension-free. We started going into mountain areas so often and it had a further positive impact on us. Wilderness and isolation impact well, the clean air allows for deeper breathing and soothes the mind, and the relaxing effect of the mountain landscape certainly reduces stress and anxiety. Whatever the case may be, we were coming out of this tragedy steadily. Sometimes I think my son showed me this path for reasons.

As I am consolidating my 65-year life span, where lots of ups and downs have come and gone. God fulfilled my dreams, nothing I can complain about. I have not enough words to thank the Almighty, life’s painful emotions are minor while his blessings are uncountable.

Now the lesson is that departure from this world is inevitable, but it is up to us to make our time here meaningful. Leaving this world is not a terrible thing if we have lived a life filled with love, joy, and purpose. “In the end, what truly matters is not the length of our time but the impact we leave behind.”