She said, you’re Pakistani, aren’t you? I said, no. Of course not. She said, no, I know that you people are Pakistani. Even then, I knew that I was not Pakistani. I was such an overt patriot that I cringe to think of it now (had saare jahaan se achha by heart – the whole six verses). But in that instant, looking at her face, her smugness, the authority with which that child of eight (I think) spoke, I also knew that there was nothing I could say or do to win this particular argument. Almost two decades later, I cannot forget. She was a child and I have forgiven. But I have not forgotten.

From Annie Zaidi’s history.