When I used to live in Abbotabad it still didn& #39;t have any major fast food joint, nor was it overly populated by tourists. The only fancy mall was a Chen One + Bareeze joint & a Deema& #39;s grocery store. Jadoon Plaza was under construction when I left.

This one restaurant, called Red Onion was nearest to my school. It was also where I& #39;d go to multiple schoolfellow& #39;s birthdays. What really fascinated the Lahori me was how almost everyone knew everyone.

That didn& #39;t really exist in Lahore - unless ofc you went to LGS & other schools of similar level. In hindsight, I think this is what I used to miss the most about Abbotabad in the initial days of leaving, this vague sense of community that is characteristic of small towns.

It& #39;s also something I wish Pakistani storytellers explored more; the psyche of a small town.

I genuinely don& #39;t know where I& #39;m going with this thread, but I saw an old friend friend& #39;s post at a fancy coffee shop & it made me realise how far the city& #39;s come.