Just the Right Balance

Humayra Rahman Mitul is in awe to find Zara Mahbub juggling work and family life like a pro   

Most of us have started preparing for Ramadan in full swing given that it’s already knocking on our doors.While household work increases tenfold, homemakers are running around frantically shopping while trying to maintain their Ramadan budget. But what happens to people who have to manage both household chores and office work? Zara Mahbub, the Head of Communications and Call Centre of Brac Bank, tells all.
A true workaholic, the mother of two and wife of the multi-talented comedian Naveed Mahbub, Zara has perfectly balanced her private and professional life. Starting in the garment industry, she has been working for nineteen years now. Being a dedicated mother, Zara starts a regular day by sending her eldest daughter off to school and completes her routine run from her house to the park at a remarkable five kilometres. Meanwhile, their domestic help gets her youngest ready for school. After dropping her daughter to school, Zara heads off to work. “I love my work! If you look around my office you will see that it is like my living room,” Zara reveals.
When she returns home in the evening, she puts away her laptop, and dedicates her entire time to her family. Working in the communication industry, Zara has to invest a lot of time at work and it has only been possible because of the support she receives from her family. In fact, the roles are reversed in her house; her husband cooks, Zara watches football and together they take care of the children. “My youngest one believes that she is a celebrity; she has to show us her rendition of Frozen’s ‘Let it go’ at least once a day,” Zara exclaims. After the children are off to bed, Zara ends the day by reading herself to sleep.
Zara gets into a shell during Ramadan; “This is one month when I take time out for myself.”
She starts the day with Sehri and after a short nap following Fajr prayer, Zara arrives at work by 9:30 and is done by 4. “While I am normally regular with my workout, I take a break from it during Ramadan.” Upon returning from work, she sits with all the Wazifahs and offers her Asr prayers and spends most of the time till Iftar reading duas. Zara completes her dinner right after Iftar and then gets prepared for Taraweeh.
Zara and her family celebrate Ramadan with the whole family by performing Taraweeh in congregation and to donating to the underprivileged. Since she gets off work early, Iftar with friends and eating out for Sehri and get-togethers is one way she indulges. What’s amazing is how Zara believes in cutting down extravagance during this month and exercise self-control. Eid shopping is kept at minimal as she believes in abstinence and the spirit of giving. “On the first day of Ramadan, my mother-in-law makes goodie bags for all the staff at her place, at my mother’s home and our home in the same way that Santa Claus keeps a present for everyone!”
Although maintaining a budget during Ramadan is crucial, it never puts a damper in Zara’s plans because she tries to follow her budget. It isn’t easy to balance such a demanding job and an entire household but Zara has been nailing it, “When you get married you don’t sign a kabin-nama, you sign an MOU. Basically you partner and you leverage your networks while you make friends with your in-laws in order to reach for the stars! During Ramadan, focus a little on the blessings and overlook every little thing which doesn’t go your way, remember it’s all God’s wish. I believe that if you want something in the month of Ramadan, it will fall into place if it’s good for you and if it’s not meant to be then it won’t happen.”