Khyber Dreams Chapter 16: Next Stop, Lahore

From Multan we traveled to another city in the Punjab:  Lahore. This is the second-largest city in Pakistan, and perhaps the richest in heritage. It is home to the Badshahi Mosque and the Shalimar Gardens, among its treasures. Much of Pakistan's most impressive art and literature has come from within its borders.

At left, we explored the Shalimar Gardens in company with my sister- and brother-in-law Jamilah and Iqbal, and SiL and BiL Safia and Nayyir.

Bhai Iqbal was the first of Abid's family ever met, when he came to the United States for a visit. In fact, it could well be that Iqbal's visit propelled us into making the trip to Pakistan. Abid was decidedly ambivalent about returning to Pakistan, especially not knowing how he would be received with an American wife. After his brother-in-law assured us that we would be quite welcome, we went ahead with our plans.

Needless to say, Iqbal was right.

Abid's mother, sister Safia and husband Nayyir went with us to Lahore, and I'm sure his mom felt that she was returning to her roots. She had the opportunity to visit with Iqbal's mother (seated next to her in the bottom photo) and others of her generation that she didn't often get to see.

One of the most delightful memories I have of our Lahore visit was observing Iqbal's mother smoking the hookah, a common-enough practice in the "provinces," but I hadn't seen it in the city.

Photo at left:  me, Jamilah, her daughter Shahida, and Safia