FOR the last more than two decades, I have been driving down for a walk to the Zamzama Park on Khayaban-i- Shujaat in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area rather early in the morning.

On the way, soon after the intersection of Khayaban-i-Tanzeem, I have been observing an old lady sitting on the road divider selling dusters enthusiastically by waving them to the approaching motorists and motorcyclists. Over the period, I have never seen her absent from her specific spot.

Amazed by her energy and consistency, I recently stopped and asked her about the reason for facing such hardship. She told me her name was Shamim, and she lived in the nearby Neelum Colony in a rented place costing her Rs10,000 every month.

She has been selling dusters from the same place for the last around 25 years. Shamim’s husband died a long time back, and her two children do not support her, leaving her to take care and bear the expense of her paralysed brother.

Professional beggars tend to exaggerate their deformities, if any, and project a miserable picture in order to gain sympathy from the people. However, Shamim was a pleasant person to talk to, and possessed a nice sense of humour. The human capacity to endure adversities, provided there is a will, is amazing.

Parvez Rahim
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2025