passing of a stranger

my first day at tbc i went to yousuf sahib khan goth an hour so out of karachi. we were on this road destroyed by wheel deep sewage, and then we turned off into the jharis. there was matti everywhere, all sand no buildings for as far as the eye could see. there was a building in the distance, and because there was no road to speak off, we were making our way through the bushes any way we could manage.

i got off once we reached the site, and a blast of desert air hit me. the sky was blue, it was very hot. and in front of me was this stunning breathtaking beautiful four story bright red building. rising out of the desert where there was nothing for miles.
next to it were some very small mud huts, and a few children in uniform were nearby.

i couldn't speak. to have this amazing piece of architecture here. it spoke of love. every wall, every curve of the staircase, every window, was designed with aspect of beauty but sustainability and functionality as well. The classrooms were full of light and air. Perfect.
I didn't know Arshad sb at all, I have probably met him two or three times in the time i have worked at tbc. however, i feel like i know him through his work, through the 500 school buildings he's designed as a labor of love across Pakistan. And I feel privileged to have come across them. You are all extremely lucky to have known and shared a life with him. He has left his legacy, and a great one at that. May God bless his soul. Ameen.