Lal Chowk, Barfi, and the City of Memory

A stroll through Srinagar's busy streets can carry you far beyond errands. Between shops, spices, and sweets, I found the city of my childhood and the joy my father gave me.

- Mushtaq Hurra

I recently stepped into Lal Chowk, Srinagar, with a simple errand, to buy household items, but the streets swallowed me in their energy.

Cars honked, scooters darted past, and people flowed through the narrow lanes like a restless river.

I moved from one shop to another, small stalls and grand stores alike, bargaining, scanning, hunting for the right thing.

Hours passed, but the heritage city's hum kept me moving, alive in its chaos and charm.

By the time I finished, I was tired, hungry, and still half-drained from the cold and lack of rest.

I had skipped lunch, and my stomach reminded me forcefully. I needed a snack, and I needed it quickly.

As I walked, the glitter of shop windows caught my eye. Clothes for children hung neatly on mannequins, soft blankets were rolled against shelves, and expensive outfits shimmered under the light.

I could almost forget my hunger looking at them, and I felt a tug of nostalgia.

Beyond a bustling bazar, Lal Chowk was always a canvas of memory and desire for me, alive with sounds, smells, and motion.

Then I saw Shakti Sweets.