The Bhats, Their Bunny, and the Sweet Life They’ve Built
The Bhat family's story spans Kashmir, California, meaningful careers, and one tiny bunny who reminds them every day to cherish the little things.
On my graduation day, I was surrounded by my biggest cheerleaders, my husband and my daughter.
Originally from Kashmir, India, Saiqa moved to the United States in 2014 after marrying Sohail. Although Saiqa and Sohail both hail from the same hometown, they were introduced through a mutual friend. What began as a simple connection soon blossomed into a meaningful relationship, eventually leading to their marriage.
It was a season of enormous change all at once.
"It was a completely different life for me," Saiqa reflects. "Almost like a whirlwind."
She arrived in October, got married that same month, and soon discovered she was pregnant with Soha. Moving to a new country without any family nearby was an overwhelming experience.
"Everything felt unfamiliar – the culture, the language, the community, and the way of life." Saiqa still vividly remembers landing at the airport and driving home from LAX. "Throughout the journey, I struggled to hold back my tears,” she shares.
The transition came with significant culture shock. However, with time, things gradually began to fall into place. She adapted to her new environment, built a sense of belonging, and slowly found her footing.
After being a full-time mom for three years, Saiqa decided to return to work once Soha started preschool. She began volunteering and eventually found a job that fit her schedule. Alongside work, she planned to continue her education, aiming for a university degree.
Currently, Saiqa works as a behavior analyst with children on the autism spectrum. She finds her work deeply fulfilling. Witnessing even small daily improvements in the children's development brings her immense joy.
"There is nothing more rewarding than making a positive difference in their lives," she says.
Saiqa describes meeting Sohail through a mutual friend as a modern arranged introduction.
"I was told, 'I have a friend in the U.S. Can I give him your number?'" She agreed. One detail from their very first conversation still makes her smile years later. Sohail told his friend he would call Saiqa at six o'clock that evening.
"He called me exactly at six," she says. "Not one minute late. That really meant a lot to me." He was a man of his word.
"He had me at hello," she smiles.
Sohail has spent nearly 30 years working in robotics, prosthetics, and orthotics, helping people regain mobility and independence. You can hear the emotion in Saiqa's voice when she talks about the people he serves.
"It really warms my heart," she says. "From working with infants who need helmets to helping amputees walk and run again, his work changes lives every day. He truly enjoys helping people."
Saiqa says proudly, "He has a heart for helping others." Saiqa shares that same passion. She has worked in mental health-related fields for nearly 20 years. Together, Saiqa and Sohail share a commitment to giving back to their community, finding purpose in positively impacting the lives of those they touch.
Their daughter, Soha, is an incredibly loving, kindhearted, caring, and cheerful young girl with a wonderful sense of humor.
She enjoys a variety of activities, including tennis, swimming, and playing the piano. At home, Soha happily helps with little chores and loves spending time in the kitchen baking and cooking with her mom. She also enjoys playing badminton and football with her dad.
A few months ago, the family welcomed a baby bunny into their home, and much of their family fun now revolves around her.
Soha lovingly named her Snowy and adores spending time with her. She enjoys reading books beside Snowy, cuddling up for television time together, and showering her with affection.
Soha also loves picking out treats and cute outfits for Snowy and dressing her up, making their bond even more special.
Somewhere along the way, Saiqa even launched a home-based pickle business called Saiqa Koshur Aanchaar. Using recipes from Kashmir, the business became so popular that she shipped products to customers across nearly every state in the country. "The feedback was amazing," she says. "I'm hoping to start it again this fall."
The family moved to Bakersfield in 2018 before settling in Seven Oaks two years ago. Both Saiqa and Sohail fell in love with the neighborhood's strong sense of community.
These days, life revolves around family time. The Bhats love baking together, movie nights, cooking meals at home, visiting museums, café hopping, trying new foods and cuisines, walking through local parks, talking with family back home, taking beach trips, and traveling whenever possible.
Saiqa describes Soha as more like a friend and treasures the time they spend together. Honestly, “welcoming” feels like the perfect word for the Bhats themselves.
Whether they are helping patients walk again, supporting children with autism, baking together in the kitchen, or shopping for bunny treats, they have created a home filled with happiness.
What's on the horizon for this tight-knit family? Someday, Saiqa hopes to open a cozy bakery filled with flowers and a small reading nook tucked into the corner. It sounds exactly like something she would create. Knowing Saiqa, it would probably become the kind of place people visit for coffee and somehow stay for two hours.
Today, the Bhat family has created a rewarding life filled with busy careers, helping others, movie nights, and keeping Snowy happily stocked with strawberries and blueberries.
Through all of life's changes, they have stayed grounded in what matters most: family. And honestly, if Saiqa someday opens the cozy bakery and flower shop she dreams about, don't be surprised if Snowy ends up becoming the unofficial greeter at the front door.