I left Mansehra behind and continued driving with the intention to stop at a peaceful place for lunch and zohr prayer and ultimately stopped somewhere between Shinkiari and Battal. In 2012 there was little traffic after Mansehra in the morning and even during noon time. Last year, there was traffic jam in Shinkiari at 7 in the morning.....and when we were returning there was bumper to bumper traffic between Shinkiari and Manshra.
It was a truck type eating place...very usual along KKH. A room was dedicated for prayer. When I asked for the menu, answer was the same when you are on highways in Gilgit Baltistan "Wuda/mota gosht, chola, daal maash, subzi". Chicken is available rarely and if available, they will ask for 30 minutes time to be ready. This time I was informed that most of the chicken is supplied from Abbottabad and Mansehra and this I can attest by seeing a number of Hilux transporting chicken towards Gilgit.
Any how safest bet was daal mash for which I paid Rs. 150 for a miser serving. I am still confused if this is the standard rate or these truck hotels over charge tourists. I found this situation even in the south where a truck hotel charged about Rs. 500 for two plates of "murgh shorba with one boti :)". Truck drivers and cleaners can't afford 500 a meal.