Thrusday, January 19, 2012
Suddenly I heard Azaan in the air and hurriedly got up and
what came into my mind was that I have missed the flght. It was one hour to go
and I in all haste I gathered my belongings laptops etc and just ran crazily
towards the road and to my bafflement there was no taxi on the road. I dragged
my bag and almost ran towards saddar. I got my first taxi who complained that
today was the first day of weekly gas loadshedding and how he has been able to
get last gas filled after waiting for hours. However he agreed and took me to
airport quickly. I checked in and srated to wait in the watign room. Suddenly
my started to pinch and to my further bemusment I saw I was wearing Siraj Shoes
in the haste. Those were too tight and pinching my foots. The flight was going
to happen and we were asked to board the plane. I happily went and suddenly we
were in the air. I was rejoiced and was thinking that how quickly I will be in
gilgit and that I will do some preparation before training starts. I was also
enjoying the ride and that the kind Alfaf Sir had priviledged me by booking an
economy Plus seat for me which is the same as the rest but just to give an
impression of highness those are placed at the front. There was another AKRSP
man accompanying me who was internal auditor at core office. The sort of cold
drink was served to us which was somewhat different from Chitral pershpas us
being the special ones of the Economy Plus class. The travel here was in the
karakoram ranges and these were more indimidating than the hindukush ones which
are in the way from Chitral. I was enjoying the scenes and taking photos and
while we just were done with the refreshement when the captain announcement
fell like a bombshell on me. He was saying” Dear passengers we are going back
to Islamabad becuae of bad weather” I thought of crying and jumping out of the
plane. I was boiling from inside and was hardly able to keep my emotions hidden
from the gentlemen with me who are perhaps used to it and did’t show any such
reaction as if it was usuall to them. I kept on my photo taking and was
thinking that what I will do now. The thought of the training starting tomorrow
was just sinking me down. With all the worries and deliberation I proudly came
out at the arrival section for the 3rd time in 3 days and met Younis
who was there to attend to attend the 2nd flight. His was ofcourse
not going to happen as ours. SO quickly he and I got a taxi and left for
Pirwadhai thorugh the street of Rawalpindi. Once there we booked our seats in
the NATCO and had time with us to roam around because it was 2 hours for it to
go. We wandered in the big area of Pir Wadhai and ate some street food and came
to the bus which was going to depart.
Here starts the most ardous and difficult journey of my
life. The big bus with half filled and was quite bumpy at the start even the GT
road is quite good. It passed through taxila, wah cantt, Hassanabdal , Haripur
and then reached abbotabad. Thereafter came Mansehra etc and some small town
before it was dusk. In the night following I had the most difficult one. The
road started to become smaller at it was just as the width of the bus we were
travelling in. The night was longest given that it is now the winter and we in
the dark was being shaken by the uneven road beneath. I cant express this
journey on the much publicized KKH and once it stopped at a place called Bisham
where a liitle boy was earning a Rs 20 profit on a chips pack. I commended him
for his business acumen by purchasing and getting to the otherwise nauseating
BUS. It again started its ride and believe me it was worst than even riding a
mule or a horse was far better than it. I went to sleep for sometimes and once it
made a stop at Kohistan I went out. It was very cold and then I again slept and
it had its frequent stops before at 7 o clock we reached a place where all
those coming from downcoutry were being parked.
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