Today was quite a day. I spent a lot of time going through numerous posts. While I enjoy reading others' work, my own writing has taken a back seat for a couple of reasons. We're back from our trip, but still not home; we're on leave, and the kids are on summer break, so we're staying in our parents' town - both mine and my husband's. Currently, I'm at my in-laws'. After a busy day, which included some responsibilities related to work and shopping for shoes (a task I dread), I was just replying to @kinzaghauri's introduction post and couldn't resist telling her about my chaotic day. She's made a comeback, kindly check out her posts. Anyhow I shared with her how challenging it is to shop for teenagers and preteen girls, especially for shoes. My son is much easier to deal with in this regard; he only took five minutes to decide (or rather, agree to my choice), and then we got the size checked and packed.

So, in a nutshell, I'm writing on impulse right now because I badly missed it amidst reading.

If you're not too distracted by my off-the-track babble, I just mentioned that I'm at my husband's parents' place. Don't be alarmed; it's quite common for Pakistanis to live for extended periods with our parents. While it's a universal truth that differences between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law are and will remain eternal, I appreciate my mother-in-law for a couple of reasons. One of them is her habit of taking care of everything—whether it's old books, items of nostalgic importance, or the way she keeps everything arranged and in order.

There are many mini libraries in the house—racks where she keeps her books. I'm too lazy to go upstairs and show you a similar shelf of English books. She keeps all her books covered, dusts them every single day, and keeps them clean. Take a look at this book from 1986:

_{Title: *Laajwanti لاجونتی , Price: 15 Rs (0.18 USD)}

_{The contents on this page translate into:}

_{All rights reserved
Second edition 1986 AD
Publisher: Mushtaq Ahmad Chaudhry
Published by: Suvera Art Press, 15, Circular Road, Lahore}

It's a book by Krishna Chandra ( کر شن چندر). She has recommended me to read this. I may borrow it from her if I'm unable to read it during the vacations. The author is a pre-partition (Pakistan and India) writer who has written books in Urdu. I am sure it's a good read.

I may or may not give you a review of this book later. What I wanted to share today is the fact that the pages of an old book like this one evoke a sense of history and literary tradition. It is made of high-quality paper that has aged gracefully, giving it a distinct texture that is both crisp and smooth to the touch.

_{This book has aged gracefully. Such a beautiful discoloration as if painted meticulously by a skilled artist.}

My camera isn't capturing every detail, but I can tell you that the pages of this book bear the marks of time, such as yellowing and foxing, adding to its charm and character. The typography and printing on these pages are typically elegant and meticulously crafted, reflecting the care and attention to detail that went into producing these works of literature. As you turn each page, you may catch a faint whiff of the book's unique scent—a blend of paper, ink, and the passage of years—transporting you back to a bygone era of storytelling and creativity!

_{Can you appreciate the foxing on this page?}

When I asked my mother-in-law why she still keeps these old books when she has given away many new ones, she replied, "Sentimental reasons mostly," and "they're like part of the furniture. The bookcase wouldn't look right without old books in it. Would it??!" She has a point, though. It was a moment of realization for me that I don't have any old books with me. But if I were ever to keep them, I would for their beauty, their value, and mostly for their wonderful smell.

That's all for today, folks. See you later, but don't forget to share a thought or two on this subject, or any subject related to the things mentioned in this post. I always wait for you in the comments... You do know that, don't you?

Take care,
Yours truly
Maan
@soulfuldreamer