In the first half of the 20th century, all the family members of the Shahdad Family lived in the heart of the city in a neighborhood called Bul Bul Lanker. There were two majestic houses on the banks of river Jehlum that belonged to the family. The picture above shows these two beautiful houses as seen from the Aali Kadal Bridge.

The house facing river Jehlum used to serve as the house for women and the house facing the inner neighborhood used to serve as the house for men. The house for men had a big hall called the "Deva Khane" where the elders of the family would conduct their daily business and see visitors. Many in the family who lived in this house still recall how there would be a constant flow of people coming in and out of the "Deva Khane". The elders of the family had specific areas where they sat in the "Deva Khane".

Some of the interesting scenes that have been described about the life in these old houses are fascinating. At lunch time, there would be a lot of servants who would take "Tramis" of food up to the "Deva Khane". It would feel as if there is a big gathering of a wedding almost every day. The elders had a habit of calling the family waza often and having a number of guests over for lunch.

While men would be busy in their daily business life in the inner house, women and children would be busy in the outer house. During summers they would enjoy the beautiful scenic views of the river Jehlum from the verandas of the house facing the river. Men would generally never venture in this house during daytime.