Somewhere in the first couple of chapters of her debut memoir, multi-talented digital creator/blogger Mahvish Ahmed writes,
“I didn’t ever want to go back to the person I was in Lahore, and I liked who I was slowly becoming in Karachi…in the crashing waves at French Beach, in the rush-hour traffic at Teen Talwar, and in the vibrancy of the melting pot that is Karachi. I found home. I found myself.”
By this point, sure she has found her confidence and realized her worth, as both a woman and an individual, but there are many more moments of self-discovery that shine through the following pages as Ahmed takes on multiple roles, navigates cultures and continents, and even stands in the face of death. Humans are, after all, complex beings and forever evolving. What is interesting though, is how she compels you to find yourself too, through her lived experiences
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“On My Way,” is a poignant and deeply reflective narrative of a young Pakistani woman’s journey through her 20s, and mostly 30s, as she unpacks the complexities of identity, culture, motherhood and belonging. The memoir is a heartfelt account of her experiences growing up in society that offered its women little room for personal growth, but finding her ground regardless.
We are in an era where bookshelves are brimming with personal accounts of women who’ve found meaning in the mundane or felt an inspiring awakening in their less than ordinary lives — how a particular incident was more or less a transformative pilgrimage. Very few though manage to develop a connection with their readers.
But with her honesty, wit and candid storytelling, Ahmed invites readers into the intimate details of her life, offering them the comfort and space to embark on a self-explorative journey while looking into the challenges and triumphs that shaped her into the woman she is today.
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“On My Way” begins with a peek into Ahmed’s early years in Pakistan, when a troubled relationship consumed every part of her existence, transitioning smoothly, and with a plethora of wise nuggets, to the end; her present — a life as a mother of two, in a new city, with newer challenges and a surprisingly welcoming mindset. From body shaming to stereotypical gender roles; from post-birth trauma to the struggles of being a lonely immigrant, there’s a story in there for everybody; and a lesson to hold onto. The repeated cultural comparisons and analysis are not mere exaggerations; if you’re a South Asian woman, you know they are valid. In sharing her efforts to break free from the web of cultural entrapments, she is only illuminating a path for the rest of us.
The most potent and gripping section of the memoir is her raw, unfiltered recollection of the events that lead to her unexpected hysterectomy. The restlessness and devastation as she grappled with her new reality, and the emotional and psychological toll it took on her, is piercingly disturbing but a refreshing sight in a community that is notorious for brushing trauma under the rug. Perhaps a deeper dive into her process and practice of healing combined with its nonlinear nature would have added to the overall impact and carried wider resonance.
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The strength of “On My Way” lies in Ahmed’s ability to weave together the personal and the universal. While the memoir is rooted in her specific experiences, the themes of identity, resilience, and self-discovery are universal. And Ahmed’s writing is both introspective and accessible, persuading and encouraging one to forge their own path to self-awareness. It’s easy to find familiarity in her fragility, personal empowerment in her grit and a win in her win.
“On My Way” is a powerful and evocative memoir; a tale of coming into your own that is both tough and tender much like life itself, a must-read for anyone seeking to be inspired by someone similar and approachable, someone offering the mirror to your own story.
