We are the Aliens of the family.

Many Pakistanis dream of settling abroad, believing it offers better opportunities and a higher quality of life. However, this decision to leave one's homeland is often bittersweet. 

When a young Pakistani crosses that metaphorical gate to pursue their fortunes overseas, the place they once called home no longer feels like their true home. There is a sense of finality to this decision - no longer can they simply return as they once did. Their room, their family home, becomes a place preserved more in memory than in daily life.

As they board the plane and watch Pakistan fade into the distance, a profound realization sets in. The life they once knew has been left behind, and they must now start afresh in a foreign land. They are no longer just a common person, but an expatriate navigating the challenges of adapting to a new culture and environment.

The distance from family and friends becomes a constant source of pain and guilt. The family back home may initially mourn the absence of their loved one, caring for their room and belongings, longing for their favorite dishes. But over time, the regular remittances and gifts from abroad can assuage these feelings of loss. The expatriate becomes a "golden egg" - a source of financial support and validation for the family.

Driven by this sense of responsibility, the expatriate may go to great lengths to provide for their family, enduring hardships and struggles that their loved ones in Pakistan may never fully understand. Each call home is tinged with a mix of homesickness and the pressure to do more, as the family's wishes and stories of hardship weigh heavily on the expatriate's conscience.

This delicate balance - between the promise of a better life abroad and the guilt of abandoning one's roots - is a common experience for many Pakistanis who venture overseas in search of new horizons.