I love our evening walks in our neighbourhood in Islamabad. Even though its the height of summer, we have adjusted to the heat.
That there are small parks and green belts, wide sidewalks, paths for walking within those green belts is what I really enjoy.
The greenery is lush.
Kavita picked up several pine cones and, a fallen branch for a walking stick.
I wonder which trees should be planted more to create more shade and reduce the heat.
The blue outline of the Margalla Hills too creates a beautiful effect.
I often wonder who lives in all these beautiful houses. Most of them have manicured and immaculate front gardens. Some of the gardens are full of overgrown weeds.
We see house servants walking dogs or sometimes the owners themselves.
In the park, one can see families spending the evening together, walking, minding their children on the swings, and chatting. One sees women together. Sometimes, one also sees young boys who clearly do not live in the kothis of the neighbourhood and, are playing in the swings and slides even though they are not of that age.
Parents and older kids though of the privileged classes are - seemingly - busy in overusing the park. I get astounded when parents themselves are climbing up the slides or, older gets don't seem to care if they would damage anything. The parks and paths are sometimes strewn with trash.
Kavita loves the chance to play in the swings or the monkey bars or the slides. She's sometimes a little scared but with some gentle and firm scolding, she gets encouraged to have fun.
I have told her to say Aasalamoalaikum to anyone she meets so she is often greetings security guards, the mochi close to our house and other kids.
On almost all my evening walks, now, I have seen Chinese families walking and enjoying the parks.
I even met the daughter of a Kenyan diplomat during one of my walks.
No comments:
Post a Comment