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We as humans always have opinions about things, places and even people. We tend to look at everything though a lens - a view we find most comforting. I have been guilty of the same. My story dates back to January of 2017: the year I made connections. I am a trainer and majority of my role includes training adults on life skills, and learning about life in return. I had to train a group of government school teachers in the province of 'Khyber Pakhtun Khawa' commonly known as KPK. If you're familiar with Pakistani demographic spread then the first thing that'll cross your mind would be the anxiety of training in KPK; the province of terrorists, the province that was taken by the extremists, the province that doesn't give women their rights, the province that could bash me on my appearance, and finally the province where I am not safe. With an anxious mind I had to agree (I had no other option!). My constant companion namely Travel was the only comfort I had. We set off early in the morning. The driver took on the smooth M4 motorway while I settled in the backseat. Having the space to myself I closed my eyes, put on light music and invited Travel to the region of my fantasies for a light conversation. "You don't seem at ease", she said. I was surprised at her remark. I had to retort, "How could you even say that? How can I be at ease? There's fear of the unknown as well as that of the known. You know what media says about KPK, right?". "So you're going to base your opinion on what people say?" she teased me. " Well at least I worry about it. When something goes wrong you go into deep sleep somewhere in my mind and I have to face everything alone", I glared at her and changed the soundtrack. I was searching for a ballad. I wanted to dance to my own music. "What if nothing goes wrong? What if we get to know about new things? The are Pakistanis too. We can find similarities. Now that would be exciting for sure!", and I could see Travel setting her rhythm to my music and dancing on her tip-toes. Travel's excitement couldn't remove my apprehensions and I thought of curtailing the talk. I focused on the vast plains which had rough muddy patches at places and lots of greens. This was the sign we were nearer to our destination. The moment we reached the hotel I set my 'chadar' ( a large clothe veil supposed to cover my body and head). I usually do not go for a veil but I knew things were different in KPK. The hotel however presented a different scenario. It seemed as if I were at just another place with people who were comfortable in their skin. I could see Travel grinning somewhere in my subconscious. "This is so because it is a hotel. They maintain international standard. Things would be different in field", I comforted myself. The next day I wrapped the 'chadar' around my shoulders and reached the venue. I could see women clad in 'burqa' (a garment for head to toe veil). I felt sorry for them. I waited in the resource room while they settled in the training room. I went to the training room at appointed time but I could not find burqa-clad women anywhere. I could see young girls and graceful women in their regional dresses (which were far more prettier than mine). That baffled look on my face had given me away. We sat in a circle so that we could get to know each other. I introduced my self and waited for them to respond. "I am Gulbano from Peshawar. I am a teacher by profession. I completed my Masters from University of Sussex, United Kingdom", the one siting right next to me spoke. We spoke the same language. That was the moment when I knew I had to apologize for being biased towards another part of me - my sister from another province. I had to apologize for my prejudice. "Travel had been right all along", I smiled to myself.