'Home Sweet Home', Artwork created by the author.
What is a home? Is it simply a place of comfort? For us, a home is more than just a roof over our heads. It’s where we feel comfort. Buying our first property filled us with accomplishment, but with the constant rise in housing costs, affording a home has become a real struggle, something we experienced firsthand when we decided to move to a better property.
Owning a house is just the first step; turning it into a home is another emotional rollercoaster. For my family, buying our first flat in Karachi brought immense relief, finally free from the watchful eyes of landlords. Some landlords, unfortunately, can be quite intrusive, questioning your personal life, counting how many people visit or live with you.
One experience that stands out was when we rented from a religious family. The house had everything we needed, and we thought we were settled. However, we soon uncovered an uncomfortable truth, the landlord had been charging us double for water bills. This was confirmed when the tanker driver revealed the actual cost. When confronted, the landlord’s wife argued with him, but tensions escalated. We had no choice but to move.
Through this, we learned an important lesson: in Pakistan, a rented space can never offer true peace of mind. There's always someone interfering.
More than a decade ago, we purchased our first flat, hoping it would bring comfort and stability. But we hadn’t anticipated the challenges that come with apartment living-politics, restrictions, and corruption by the apartment representatives. Despite owning our space, it still felt like there was a landlord constantly looming over us.
As time went on, the lack of maintenance in the building became apparent. Corruption within the apartment meant funds were mismanaged, and the building began to rust. Rust spread through everything, our clothes, our dishes, and despite our best efforts with cleaning chemicals. After 10+ years, we were facing a losing battle.
We’ve now decided to move to a rental flat, where we hope to find fresh air, no rust, and peace. Our flat, located in a prime area of Karachi just 15 minutes from the airport, will be rented out. Though the decision wasn’t easy, the challenges we’ve faced make this the right choice for us.
With three earners in the family and my youngest sister’s upcoming marriage, finances are tight. We plan to pool our resources, rental income, salaries, and my father’s retirement fund to finally move into a house. Our goal is a double-story house in a prime area of Karachi, but it won’t be easy. We also own plots in Lahore and some heritage land, which we may sell if necessary.
The journey is daunting, and we’re mentally exhausted from the daily struggles. But this step feels necessary, and we’re determined to make it work.
Pencils, pens and color markers.
Sketched the basic structure, and introduced foliage for a touch of nature.
Refined building features, added texture to foliage and figures for depth, and balanced the composition.
Inked the building structure, enhanced window and shade details, and emphasized figures and foliage for clarity.
Colored the building, foliage, and figures to bring the scene to life.
Enhanced colors, added final details, and ensured balance and cohesion.
