Three Weeks in Pakistan (Chapter 2)

If you read the last chapter, you will realize that my first few days of being in Pakistan were definitely challenging. It took me some time to adjust to the place and the weather; also, the jet lag did not help. 

On the first day, the main goal was to find something for me to wear to a wedding in Faisalabad. I had absolutely zero knowledge of where to get the best variety for semi-formal Pakistani clothes. I wish that I had done some research prior to leaving, but I had virtually no time. 

By the end of the first day, we made it to Emporium Mall which seemed like the most promising location for shopping, but I was so tired! We went to a couple stores, ate at the Nando’s and called it a night! Failing to purchase anything, I borrowed one of my cousin’s outfits for the wedding.

Family

In Faisalabad we stayed at my aunt’s (dad’s sister) house. Everyone was so happy to have us there. My cousin’s daughter Anfaa was the cutest company I had in Faisalabad! She was so hyper and excited to meet me. She wasn’t shy and loved taking pictures with me! I think the best part about this trip was definitely meeting all my family members. Some I hadn’t seen in years and others I was meeting for the first time.

I was overwhelmed with all their love and hospitality. I experienced first hand what it’s like to have people top-up your plate because you didn’t take enough food. Surprise! You gotta finish it all! 

Wedding

I was also overwhelmed at the first day of the wedding. It was interesting because I was being introduced to all these people that I had never known before. Some of them knew me from when I was younger, but I had no recollection. By the end of the night, I had no energy from just talking and being introduced to an overwhelming amount of people. The food at the wedding was really good, even though I avoided a lot of it, in paranoia of getting sick. 

On the second day of the wedding, after the reception ceremony, we drove to our gaon (village). This is where my grandfather has his land which my uncle still looks after. As well, my aunt’s family all still live here. It was the only time I had to hang out with my cousins with whom I grew up. We made the most of the time but it was truly not enough. I wish I had more time to spend with them. 

The Gaon (Village)

The way to the village was under construction and the sad part is that our family told us the government started the work on the roads and pulled out, leaving everything torn and even less developed than it was before. From their understanding, it is a result of corruption in the municipal government. I hope this changes before my next visit and the routes are fully complete. But there is no telling when that will be!

Driving to our fields and stepping out of the car to take it all in, I felt complete bliss. The air was fresher than any other place and the sun felt nice too. We stayed in the shade, however, as I took a few pictures. 

We visited my grandpa’s old home where my dad grew up. No one lives there now. My uncle goes there every now and then when he’s taking care of the fields, but the house itself is empty. It made me really miss my grandparents who are no longer in this world. I regret not wanting to visit earlier when they were still around. Alas! Such is life.

My uncle shared some brief stories about the gaon. He told us that there was a water pump which my late grandpa had installed, so that the people in the area could have access to clean water. He said it was the only pump in that area and people still come to it everyday to fill up and take home. Many passersby stop to cool down in the blazing summer heat. I was reluctant but my uncle insisted I drink from the pump. I didn’t know how to do it, so he showed me and I got a pretty good laugh out of it. I attempted to drink from it but barely took a sip. 

Next Up

After the two days in Faisalabad, we left for our trip to Naran-Kaghan and Saiful-Muluk – such a breathtaking scenic area! More on that in the next chapter! Thanks for reading! Stay tuned!