When I used to live in Abbotabad it still didn'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'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'd go to multiple schoolfellow's birthdays. What really fascinated the Lahori me was how almost everyone knew everyone.

That didn'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's also something I wish Pakistani storytellers explored more; the psyche of a small town.

I genuinely don't know where I'm going with this thread, but I saw an old friend friend's post at a fancy coffee shop & it made me realise how far the city's come.