Prosperity has closed the doors

Old grapes of memories are nice ingredient for making a wine which makes unconscious from the present and take us into the past. We often spend time with old memories. Sometimes they give pleasure and sometimes pain, nevertheless we think of them. I also do that like others. In spite of bitterness in wine, people enjoy the taste. There was a small Muhalla whose name was Muhalla Mulla Kamal. I remember nearly thirty families lived there. They had different ethnical and religious backgrounds but we had never tried to explore them. Everyone was like an open book for each other. Although these were different families, they lived like a single family.
They knew each others family affairs. When they saw somebody had a problem, they tried to resolve it instead of exploiting it. It is very common in middle class families that they live in sharing mode because it gives them strength. Poor people live in their circle and same is true for rich people but middle class families live in their circle and always try to uplift their life style. They live with "everything is fine" policy but all the time in struggling mode. They try to solve their problems but at the same time hide from others because they show others as a reasonable class of society that is why they are called in our culture "saffd posh".
Every year I used to spend my summer vacations with my grandparents. They were one of the dwellers of this muhalla. Every one was so caring that even today I fell its warmness. It was a small world where everything was in my access.
After taking breakfast I used to go in different houses to gather my friends and sometimes they came to my house. We played, roamed, and chatted with each other.
When I visited my friends' houses I observed many things: their furniture, their clothes, even their way of talking and eating habits. I felt their vibrations of satisfaction.
We children were allowed to have lunch at anybody's home. Every dweller used to keep his door open for everyone throughout the day.
Nobody put restrictions for anyone. It was common practice that women shared their crockery and other stuff. Even women knew that Sarah made a tasty pullao and Noor was expert in making Kebabs. So they exchanged their dishes.
They also helped each other financially. Those who were in comfortable zone, helped those who faced crisis. Nobody was self-centered. They lived in harmony.
They lived with their needs but not with their wants. They could afford luxury of simplicity.
In the evening they used to have their dinners on roofs where they enjoyed their feast. Old members of families used to listen to radio with such a high volume that everyone could listen. They had hukka with them which they smoked. They took puff and coughed badly but it was a sign of their presence.
Roofs of different houses were connected and walls were not very high so it was easy to move from one house to another. After taking dinner men got together and women did the same. Girls and boys sat separately.
Television was not very popular among them but when weather was fine everyone tried to set their antennas for watching Door Darshan otherwise they enjoyed each others company.
These things have become memories but every character and image of the muhalla is still in my mind. After my grandparents' death I never spent my summer vacations.
Now I have children. I wanted to show them my grandparents' house where I used to spend my vacations as a child. Many times I planned to visit with my family but I could not succeed. But recently I got a chance for a visit.
I thought I would meet my old friends and spend some time with them but when I reached there, it was a very different picture. The muhalla was giving a deserted look.
Houses were renovated. There was a time when they had ground floors and roofs where they gathered in the evenings, now they have constructed two to three floors. Now roofs were separated with high walls. These things showed that they progressed in their life.
I wanted to visit few houses, but was shocking to see that every door was closed. Many of my friends had gone abroad and their families live there but one thing is sure that they have achieved better life style. Prosperity entered into their houses and closed the doors because it wants security.