My Teenage Years in Lahore

Asim Yaar, you are young and full of energy and excitement, which is very refreshing to see. Don’t be calling your such recent past your golden years. Golden years come after retirement, which most of us Chowkies are about to experience (Neembu is inching towards hers slowly too). Your golden years are ages away, like about 3 decades.

Lahore rocks. Even though I was born in Multan, I consider Lahore to be my birthplace, because I attended college there, and it’s there where I lost my emotional virginity and gained my confidence. Lahore grows on you more once you leave it. I was in Lahore a few weeks ago, and I went to Shah Jamal on a Thursday evening to see Papu Sayeen perform, and honest to Allah, I will be willing to pay upwards of 1000 dollars to experience a night like that in New York City.

Neembu, it is about reminiscing the good old times, and nostalgia – read it as such.

Hey Asim,

Thanks for contributing this piece.

This descriptive piece is very sensory and this aspect is a good thing.

However, ultimately, the text amounts to not much more than the gilded surfaces rendered. What is the point of this piece?

If I were to guess as to the textual intention, it seems that the description reveals a paradisical childhood-beautiful house, parents, school, etc. On one hand, I appreciate this constant aesthetic affirmation, given that you are openly gay and have received a share of homophobic responses from various interactors who have bragged about their houses by the sea, their travels, etc. I understand what this description is supposed to signify.

For a first draft, it is competent. However, as a reader, I'm not taking away much after reading this than the nostalgia of privillege, a contemporary desi Brideshead Revisted advert.

Much revision is needed.

Regards,
-N