“[I am happiest] at protest marches"

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Where you can live without having to depend on anyone.

What is your greatest fear?

God’s wrath.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Impatience.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Hypocrisy.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Massages.

What is your current state of mind?

Irritated.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Piety.

On what occasion do you lie?

Mostly to make things sound interesting.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

My hair.

Which living person do you most despise?

I wish I could think of only one.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Humour.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Courage.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“Accha”

When and where were you happiest?

At protest marches.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Singing.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Many things…

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Bringing up three independent-minded children.

Where would you most like to live?

Lahore, of course.

If you could come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

A lady of leisure.

What is your most treasured possession?

I am not telling.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Hunger and humiliation.

If you didn’t do your current job, what would you choose to do?

Stand-up comedian.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Hand gestures.

Who is your hero of fiction?

Sherlock Holmes.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Aung San Suu Kyi.

What is your greatest regret?

Not to have taken on certain people when I should have.

What’s your favourite quote?

“The greatest fear is fear itself.”

How many hours of load shedding did you experience yesterday?

Half an hour, as fortunately I have a generator in my office.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2010.