The last time Yusuf was in Pakistan was five years ago, in 2017, when he was about to leave everything he ever knew and move to start a new life in the U.S. Leaving his country also meant making sacrifices, like saying goodbye to his close friends, his hometown and, especially, his loving grandmother — the person he loves the most in the world. He hasn’t been back ever since, and the only way he keeps in touch with his grandmother and close friends is through video calls whenever he can squeeze some free time between breaks.
The wait to return home, however, is almost over. In less than a month, Yusuf will head back to Pakistan for what could be the most special trip of his life — which is all a surprise. Nobody, not even his grandmother, knows that he’s coming. The only people he told were the two friends who are going to pick him up at the airport. He’s planning to arrive on May 15, which intentionally falls on the same day as his 26th birthday. Once he lands and gets on the car with his friends, they will head to his grandmother’s house, where she will be celebrating his birthday with cake and the people closest to him. Little do they know, however, that this year, the cake cutting will be done face-to-face rather than through a cell phone’s screen.
Yusuf will spend two weeks in Pakistan. When he returns, he won’t be by himself. It will also be his grandmother’s first time flying on an airplane and crossing the world to visit the U.S. He said she’s scared of traveling, so he’s going to make sure he’s by her side throughout the whole trip. His grandma is healthy and with a good spirit. With the biggest heart and the most giving soul, Yusuf said there’s no one that can match her heart. On many different occasions when having dinner at her house, Brain recalled hearing knocks on the door. Neighbors would often come to her house and get enough food to feed their stomachs. When he would ask his grandma whether there would be food left for them, she would ensure him that she would make more so everyone would be satisfied.
Every month, Yusuf's family sends money to his grandmother. They send enough so she could live a comfortable life. The money, however, doesn’t last long in the bank account. A few days after the deposits are made, most of the money had already been distributed among family members, neighbors and friends who are in need. By doing that, he said, his grandmother feels happy and fulfilled, so they don’t even dare to interfere with her joy.
Yusuf works for Uber full-time. In a few months, however, he will reduce his hours behind the wheel and head to the restaurant business. The restaurant is set to bring all what makes the Pakistani and Indian cuisine one of a kind — with all of its masalas, spices and colors no other type of cuisine can ever match. His partner is from Gujarat, India, and they both plan to open the restaurant in the heart of Bayonne, New Jersey.
No matter where you are, Yusuf said there’s no place like home. While he sees himself staying in the U.S. long-term, there’s not a single day that passes where he doesn’t miss his culture and his home country. The people, food, customs, culture and values he grew up around have all played a role in the person Yusuf has become — and will remain wherever life takes him.
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