When you’re living in the concrete jungle that is Karachi, a city that erupts into violence resulting in rioting and deaths, a city with constant power outages that may last for hours  – it is often very difficult to be optimistic. It is almost as though you’re at odds with the city, if that is even possible.

I am in a love-hate relationship with the city, which is why when things go wrong, it is best to look for the positive aspect of things, the silver lining if you may. Last week, driving down Sea View past Salt n’ Pepper towards Creek Inn, to my surprise I saw purple flowers growing along the street. Yes, you read that correct – flowers growing along a street in Karachi. On closer inspection, the flower was in fact the Morning Glory creeper which is growing wild for miles on stretch. Over the rocks, barren land, in and over the thorns and bramble, on cracked, dry earth – the stubborn lavender flowers are growing everywhere. At one point, on a newly-constructed street, the creeper (shown below) has literally taken over the road.

Much like these flowers growing on saline land, stubbornly defying odds, Karachiites have been doing the same. We don’t give up when the world expects us to; we keep trudging along – trying to make a difference or trying to lead ‘normal’ lives. It isn’t because we’re in denial about the situation in the city or in the country at large or that we don’t care about what’s happening, but because we need to do that for our well-being and to rebuild the morale of those around us. You see, we may be cynical and jaded, but we don’t give up – just like these flowers.

The flowers have taken over a newly-constructed street in DHA that isn't currently in use.

Growing wild for miles along Sea View, past Salt n' Pepper towards Creek Inn.

Still flowering on dry, cracked earth.

Photos and text by Amna Khalique, the Features Editor at Dawn.com

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