Jalebi

The entire Gujranwala in Pakistan is famous for his delicious foods. People love eating and they invite others for eating too. I lived few years of my childhood in Old City, which is the Hub of food till present day. There is a long list of sweets like,Berfi, Gulab Jamin, Rusgula,Qulfi,Pateesa, shaker Pary and last but not least my favorite Jalebi. Jalebi reminds me of Cha-Cha (uncle) “Aloo” a fat man of middle age with a broad smile. I had a habit of buying jalebi from Chacha Aloo’s Shop in Mohallah Guru Nanuk Pura. He used to open his shop from 5pm-12am in summers and 4pm to 10pm in winters. After learning Quran Sharif from Qari Sahib in Masjid we had a joint gathering at his shop every evening. He was always ready to serve fresh cooked Jalebis to all my friends and cousins. There is another famous spot for Jalebis made of Desi gee in Mohallah Tutian Wala near Daray wali Masjid.

We were regular customer of Chacha Aloo’s Shop because of its proximity to our street. Things started changing suddenly, and we moved from old city to Peoples Colony and then to Islamabad. My visits to Chacha’s shop became rare. Last year, when I visited the Old city of Gujranwala, I went to see the Jalebi shop first. There was no sign of jalebi shop, old shop was being demolished and a new grocery shop was waiting for us. The few old shop keepers of my childhood told me that Cha-Cha “Aloo” is no more. He died few years back. I even never dare to ask his real name. He was just a sweet Chacha of all my age fellows. His sweet Jalebis will always remind me of my childhood.

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