About Me — Abrar

I do not have a list of impressive titles or achievements to talk about, but what I do have is a story that has influenced me, shaped me and made me who I am today.

From a recent trek to Apline Lake in Kashmir

I have always been the quiet observer, a non-conformist who did not fit the mold. As a child, I was often described as shy, sensitive, and emotional. My family, though well-meaning, saw these traits as weaknesses. I lacked courage, charisma, and boldness needed to get ahead in life. That perception followed me through my formative years, growing a sense of insecurity in me and a feeling that I was always out of place.

Growing up in Kashmir added another layer to me. While my family was spared direct violence, I lived through the turmoil of a region constantly on edge. I saw the barbed wires, the demolished homes, the scars left by conflict. This was the backdrop to my childhood, a harsh reality that shaped how I saw the world. Yet, when all of this was happening around me, there was always the beauty of nature, the orchards, the streams, the mountains. Those moments of serenity were my refuge even in those darkest times, something worth holding on to.

I found myself pursuing paths that weren’t entirely my own. I was sent to Mumbai for high school, a city that couldn’t have been more different…