Hi, I’m Aftab Saqib

August 17, 2025

From Abdominal Pain to a Fight for Life: My Journey Through Necrotizing Pancreatitis and Recovery

A pain I couldn’t ignore:

It all started with what I thought was just abdominal pain. A little discomfort here and there—nothing serious, or so I believed. But life had other plans for me. Within hours, that pain turned into an emergency, a life-changing experience that tested every ounce of strength I had.I never imagined that a single night of pain would lead to months of struggle, countless procedures, and a battle where survival was not guaranteed. Today, I share my story—not just as a memory, but as a reminder of the fragile, precious nature of life and health.

Before: Life at 70 kg – Carefree and Unaware

Before pancreatitis hit me, I didn’t think much about health. Food was just food. I didn’t consider what I was putting into my body or the importance of a healthy digestive system. Why would I? Like most people, I believed health was something that just “worked” on its own.I was at a healthy 70kg, working, eating freely, living without restrictions. The word pancreatitis wasn’t even in my vocabulary. But on that night, when the pain struck like a thunderbolt, everything changed.

During: When Life Came to a Halt, at 42kg

That pain wasn’t ordinary—it was acute pancreatitis. What followed was a storm that lasted months.

Severe weight loss: From 70kg to as low as 42kg. I barely recognized myself in the mirror.

Multiple weeks in the hospital: No food, no water—only IV fluids. For weeks, I survived without eating a single grain of food.

Complications and surgeries: I had a laparoscopic surgery for gall bladder removal after 4 weeks of initial pancreatitis but my pancreas developed necrosis, leading to a next major surgery—pancreatic necrosectomy. Imagine parts of your body being removed because they’ve died inside you. That was my reality.

Drains, infections, and pain: Multiple drains were placed in my abdomen. For weeks, I had to go through drain washing sessions daily—first in the hospital, later at home.

Mental and physical collapse: There were weeks when I couldn’t stand for even a minute. I couldn’t sit without pain. I couldn’t even think about working or living normally. For almost four months, my diet was barely anything. Even when doctors cleared me to eat, my digestive system refused to cooperate. Every bite was a struggle. I had moments of doubt—would I ever recover? Would I ever eat normally again? Would I ever be able to walk without feeling like collapsing? Those were the questions I lived with every single day.

The Turning Point

Slowly, after the drains were removed—one after another—things began to change. When the last drain accidentally came out, I was terrified, but my surgeon reassured me: “This is okay. Maybe it’s time your body does the healing.”And it did. Slowly, I stood up without help. I walked for five minutes. I ate a small meal without pain. These little victories felt bigger than any achievement in my life. By June, I could finally eat a normal diet after four long months. By August, I returned to in-person work, something I couldn’t even dream of a few months earlier.

After: Life at 56kg – A New Beginning

Today, as I write this, I weigh around 56kg. My pancreas isn’t the same—it lost part of its exocrine function. I take oral enzymes to help me digest food, maybe for life. But compared to what I’ve been through, this is nothing. I look back at that fragile person in the hospital bed, barely able to speak, wondering if he’d survive—and I feel immense gratitude. I feel gratitude to Allah, to my family, to my doctors, and to the people who stood by me when I couldn’t stand for myself.

Lessons I Will Never Forget

This journey changed me. Completely. Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Health is everything: Before this, I took health for granted. I ate carelessly, lived carelessly. Now I know—the body you live in is your biggest responsibility. Food isn’t just taste—it’s fuel, it’s medicine, it’s life.
• Family is Your True Strength: My father, my cousin, my mamu, and especially my wife—who was by my side every single moment—gave me hope when I had none. She cared for my smallest needs, even when I couldn’t lift my own head. This kind of love is priceless.
• A Good Doctor is a Blessing: I was blessed with a phenomenal team: Dr. Kashif, who performed my necrosectomy and carried out the whole treatment protocol, Dr. Muneeb, Dr Aqsa and under the guidance of Dr. Faisal Murad, the head of surgery. They treated me not just as a patient, but as a human being in pain. They listened, they explained, they cared.
• A Supportive Workplace Matters: Not once did my organization pressure me about work. They only asked, “How are you? How can we help?” When I was ready, they let me work from home. That kind of compassion is rare—and unforgettable.

Closing Thoughts

If you’ve read this far, here’s what I want to leave you with: Never take your health for granted. Cherish your family. Appreciate people who care. And never lose hope—even in your darkest days, recovery is possible.Today, I smile not because life is perfect, but because I know how close I came to losing it. And that makes every ordinary day feel extraordinary.

May 19, 2024

Decoding Job Interview Questions: A Guide for Fresh Graduates

In job interviews, particularly for fresh graduates or those with limited work experience, interviewers typically ask a variety of question types to assess different competencies and suitability for the role. Here are the main types of interview questions and strategies for tackling each:

1. Behavioral Questions

Purpose: To gauge how you have handled situations in the past, which can be indicative of your future behavior and performance.

Common Questions:

• “Tell me about a time when you worked in a team.”
• “Describe a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem.”

How to Tackle: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.

• Situation: Describe the context within which you performed a task or faced a challenge.
• Task: Explain the actual task you had to complete, and your role in the situation.
• Action: Detail the specific actions you took to address the task.
• Result: Share the outcomes or results of your actions.

2. Situational or Hypothetical Questions

Purpose: To understand how you might approach and resolve potential scenarios you could face on the job.

Common Questions:

• “What would you do if you were faced with a tight deadline and multiple projects?”
• “How would you handle a conflict with a colleague?”

How to Tackle:

• Analyze the Situation: Break down the scenario given to you.
• Consider Possible Actions: Think about the steps you would take.
• Explain Your Reasoning: Detail why you would take those actions, showing your thought process and problem-solving skills.

3. Technical Questions

Purpose: To assess your knowledge and expertise in specific technical areas relevant to the job.

Common Questions:

• “Can you explain how this particular technology works?”
• “What coding languages are you proficient in?”

How to Tackle:

• Be Honest: If you don’t know the answer, it’s better to admit it than to try to bluff.
• Show Willingness to Learn: If you’re unfamiliar with something, express your enthusiasm to learn and how you’ve picked up similar skills in the past.
• Give Examples: Where possible, provide examples of projects or coursework where you’ve applied the technical skills.

4. Motivational Questions

Purpose: To understand your motivations, career goals, and alignment with the company’s values and culture.

Common Questions:

• “Why do you want to work here?”
• “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

How to Tackle:

• Research the Company: Know the company’s mission, values, and recent news.
• Align Your Goals: Explain how your career goals and values align with the company’s.
• Show Enthusiasm: Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role and the company.

5. Competency-Based Questions

Purpose: To evaluate specific competencies or skills that are essential for the role.

Common Questions:

• “How do you prioritize your tasks when working on multiple projects?”
• “Give an example of a time when you demonstrated leadership.”

How to Tackle:

• Provide Specific Examples: Use real-life examples from your internships, coursework, or extracurricular activities.
• Link to Competencies: Clearly link your examples to the specific competencies mentioned in the job description.

6. General or Ice-Breaker Questions

Purpose: To ease into the interview and get to know you better.

Common Questions:

• “Tell me about yourself.”
• “What are your hobbies and interests?”

How to Tackle:

• Be Concise and Relevant: Provide a brief summary of your background, focusing on aspects relevant to the job.
• Show Personality: Share your interests in a way that reflects positively on you and might align with the company culture.

7. Brainteaser or Problem-Solving Questions

Purpose: To assess your analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Common Questions:

• “How many windows are there in New York City?”
• “How would you weigh an elephant without a scale?”

How to Tackle:

• Think Aloud: Describe your thought process out loud, demonstrating your problem-solving approach.
• Stay Calm: These questions often have no single correct answer, so focus on showing how you think through problems.

8. Questions about Your Education

Purpose: To understand the relevance of your academic background to the job.

Common Questions:

• “Why did you choose your major?”
• “What was your favorite course and why?”

How to Tackle:

• Highlight Relevant Coursework: Emphasize courses and projects that relate to the job.
• Show Passion: Discuss why you chose your field of study and what excites you about it.

Strategies for Overall Success

• Prepare and Practice: Research common questions for your field and practice your responses.
• Be Honest and Authentic: Authenticity can set you apart and build rapport with the interviewer.
• Ask Questions: Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer, demonstrating your interest in the role and company.

By understanding these types of interview questions and how to approach them, fresh graduates can effectively demonstrate their potential and fit for the role, even with limited professional experience.