Pakistani sister's love for her 'Gujju bhaijaan'

AHMEDABAD: The tense India-Pakistan relationship has not weakened the bond between this Pakistani woman and her 'Gujju bhaijaan' in Ahmedabad. Afshan Zaigham, a Pakistani national based in London, and Vikas Desai, an Indian citizen whom she considers brother, firmly believe that humanity will prevail over hatred and ignorance. Every year, Zaigham sends a rakhi to Desai.
Seven years ago, Desai - who was in London at the time to study - found a job at a grocery store owned by a Pakistan-origin couple, Saeed and Afshan Zaigham. Over time, Desai was embraced as a family member.
On the Rakshabandhan day in 2010, Zaigham realized that the fun-loving Desai was unusually sad and when she asked him about it, he said that he was missing his sister back in India. Zaigham immediately sent one of her family members to buy a rakhi which she tied on Desai's wrist. Since then, the 'Gujju Bhaijaan' and his 'Pakistani ben' have never missed a Rakshabandhan. Even though Desai moved back to Ahmedabad in 2014, she has never failed to send a rakhi to him. "Didi never made me feel that I was miles away from home," Desai said. "Didi and Saeed sahib always treated me as a family member. People here in our country and in Pakistan see each other as enemies, but abroad we did not harbour any such feeling."
In fact, the relationship was so powerful that Zaigham also started cooking and eating vegetarian food that her "chhota bhaijan" relished. Vegetarian cuisine now dominates the menu of the Zaigham household.
"We have been celebrating Rakshabandhan for nearly six years," she told TOI. "The love between us has not been diminished by distance."
Zaighams are a Punjabi-speaking family from Lahore. "People who are ignorant and spread hatred choose war over love and peace," she said. "Love and humanity transcend boundaries and hatred." She went on to say: "It is my heartfelt wish to visit India once to meet my brother again. Inshallah we will come to India soon."