Majeed Maali
Majeeed is the Groundskeeper of the NJV High School, he has been there for the past three years. Over time he has built a deep emotional connection with the plants around campus, and the animals which live within them.
Majeed is no ordinary groundskeeper. Refusing the comfort of an office or the artificiality of a wood shed, he has made his space under a banyan tree. (The story of Buddha and the Bodhi tree comes to mind)
Majeed also cares for the fauna around campus. Last week Majeed found an injured Kite limping around parking lot. He explained that the kites often get injured by fast moving cars on the main road. The birds swoop down to catch their scurrying prey, and are caught off guard by the passing vehicles. Majeed nurses the birds back to health by providing food and shelter, until their wings are healed. Majeed jokes that when their wings heal the birds leave without even saying goodbye, “ta ta bhi nahein karte!”.
The other day I caught Majeed learning how to ride a Penny Board:
To the keen eye, Karachi is an intricate tapestry with a fractal beauty unfolding down each dimly lit alley, with rich narratives sown into every stitch.
