Ahmad loved birds, especially parrots. His mother says he ordered a cage for his parrots days before the attack. It cost Rs1,500, which he paid in advance from his pocket money.

He liked to play cricket and usually played with his friends. He also loved burgers, and pizza and saved money to have food delivered to the house every other day.

He was a position holder in class and was famous in school for his impeccable handwriting. He wanted to be a surgeon; his father says he used to study till late in the night despite his father’s requests to go to bed early.

His mother says he was a religious boy and offered his prayers five times a day in a congregation. He would try to reach the mosque earlier than the prayer time so he could say the Azan. Ahmad was a fan of scholar Tariq Jameel, and downloaded his speeches regularly on his mobile phone.

Each night, he would crawl into his mother’s bed and ask if he hurt her by anything he said or did during the day. “If I did, I apologise for it,” he would tell her.

His parents say they will never forget this habit and will always be proud of him.