From Childhood to Now… This Garden Holds It All

I am sharing this picture of my maternal grandfather’s orchard. It is a very large garden, mainly filled with mango trees. The water you can see flowing in the picture comes from a small tube well that my grandfather had built to irrigate the land. This orchard is located right behind my grandparents’ house, and as one garden ends, another begins stretching into a series of mango orchards all around.
I wouldn’t call myself a huge mango lover, but I do enjoy them occasionally. The real reason for sharing this picture is not just the fruit, but the memories and emotions attached to this place. This orchard has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It is my grandfather’s ancestral garden, and he has cared for it since his childhood. In the same way, I have grown up watching it, observing its beauty, and building a deep connection with it.

We didn’t visit my grandparents’ house very often because my grandfather mostly stayed in Karachi. So whenever he came here, that was when we got the chance to visit. But every time we did, almost all our time was spent in this orchard. I still remember that when I was younger, the garden felt more alive there were more trees, more greenery, and a stronger sense of life. Now, it feels quieter, more empty, and a little deserted compared to how it used to be.

My siblings and I spent countless hours here, playing games, climbing trees, and creating our own little adventures. One of our favorite games was pretending we were lost in a jungle. We would pack our “survival” items, imagine ourselves stranded in the wilderness, and then try to find our way back home. It may sound simple, but for us, it was a world full of excitement and imagination and it remains one of my most cherished memories.
During the summer, the cool breeze in the orchard made it the perfect place to sit and relax. We would spend hours just sitting there, looking up at the trees and the open sky, feeling a sense of peace that is hard to describe. Even now, whenever I visit my grandmother’s house, I find myself drawn to this place, spending most of my time here.
Although the orchard is no longer the same as it once was, it still holds a special place in my heart. It carries countless memories beautiful, irreplaceable moments that I want to hold onto forever. This place may have changed over time, but the emotions and memories connected to it will always stay with me.💚