The village was dry, humble, and stubborn. Much like the people it raised. Narrow dusty paths ran between crumbling mud walls and straw-covered roofs. The air held the scent of firewood, wool, and morning bread. At the heart of it all stood the mosque, a small structure of stone and silence.

Gandhara, in modern Pakhtunkhaw was a cultural crossroads where music likely mixed Greek, Persian, and Indian styles. Art from the 1st to 5th century CE, like reliefs at Taxila and Swat, shows musicians playing lutes, flutes, and percussion, suggesting music was key in Buddhist ceremonies and courtly life.