Puranay Ghar and the smell of rain

Unlike most brown families, I have a very small extended family circle. Most milestones/celebrations were spent visiting my mamu/nani’s home(s). Who moved house to house, around Rawalpindi’s old housing colonies, from one 1850s-1960s home to another. (Although the history of how a lot of these homes came into being is v questionable) These homes will always hold a special place in my heart as some of my fondest memories were made here. I see many people hate on these old structures now, which makes me sad, a little TLC and they’ll make the loveliest homes. The high ceilings, large windows, expansive balconies and verandas that circulate a cool breeze on the hottest of days. As well as my favourite part of these houses, the enormous lawns (always lined with old school steel/plastic chair sets) + courtyards filled with decades old trees that provide comforting shade, privacy and calming greenery. And when it rains … ah .. the smell of the first raindrop touching the dry earth, the sounds of birds and trees dancing, its beautiful and so serene for all your senses. This piece is for those old houses that hold so many memories for so many families.