Page 87 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 2 | December 2023 - January 2024

Having moved to Thailand a
year and a half ago, due to her
husband, Asad Alamgir, having
been posted here by his employer,
a multilateral bank, Bushra reveals
that they’d only been in this new
flat for around six months, a fact
which astonished me because of
how curated and complete it felt.
There’s a different look and feel for
each section, and yet the whole
is beautifully brought together by
a single thread: that of a journey
through all the places that have
made an impact on Bushra’s and
her family’s life. “Many of the
basic items you’ll see are from
Pakistan,” Bushra says, “but all
the individual items are from
different places, and tell a story of
my travels. For example, these are
from China of course,” she says as
she points out two Terracotta Army catches my eye, a fact that gives Bushra
warrior replicas in her foyer, “and this no end of amusement as it was shipped all
sculpture is from Italy,” – here my the way from the Philippines and is also a
eye is drawn to a woman composed particular favourite of her eldest son’s, Haad
of flowing lines, holding a bouquet. Asad, who is now in Singapore.
“He’s claimed it as his own!” she reveals with
As I take in all the items, carefully a laugh. “He used to sit here and work till
presented with love, I’m beginning the day he left the Philippines, so I told him
to get an idea of the kind of woman he can pick it up any time!”
who Bushra is – someone who lives
life to the fullest and embraces every The other living space has a much more
place and opportunity that comes her classic feel, and the influences from
way – and her style, which I would call Bushra’s Motherland of Pakistan are clear
classic with modern touches. She’s excited here. “It’s very ethnic, from the lamps, to
to tell me about the pieces that mean the the chairs, and the tables, and the way the
most to her: a table from Thailand made space is laid out,” she says. “We always
from a solid, uncarved root of a tree; an aim for welcoming in every aspect of our
intricate lamp from Bali in soothing pastel house, as that’s a big part of our South Asian
shades; a silver, brass, and mother-of-pearl culture.” And indeed, beyond the living
chess set from Turkey; and more, with room I catch sight of a beautiful spread in
anecdotes behind each that bring a smile – the dining room that she’s laid out for us,
and occasionally a laugh – to both our faces. a tantalising glimpse that is only beaten by
the mouthwatering aromas that have filtered
To the right of the foyer, the aforementioned- through the air.
patio greets me, verdant and sun-kissed; a On one side of the living room is a shelf of
place of solitude that I can easily see Bushra magnificent proportions holding precious
and her husband spending many an evening items from their travels, while facing it are
in together as they bask in the cultivated different works of art, two of which are
greenery around them. Beyond are two particularly striking. The first is a painting
sitting rooms, each with its own energy. from Vietnam, of a woman carrying a yoke
On one side, you’re beckoned into a chic with baskets of flowers on either side, facing
space done up in shades of calming blue a cracked and broken wall. It’s evocative
and dark brown wood, with burnished silver and painted with a remarkable amount of
accents on the pillows and furniture, and a skill. Beside it is a framed wooden door,
magnificent teal rug that I wanted to dig my which Bushra tells me is from Ohio, made
toes into. “This side represents modernism,” by a Bulgarian artist, and is a piece of art
Bushra says. “The colours are relaxing, and I dedicated to her younger son, Mohaid
picked them out for their cool and peaceful Asad, who helped her bring it from Ohio,
mood.” By the window is an eminently- to Ontario, then Toronto, and finally the
comfortable sunken rattan seat which Philippines.

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