My Travel Writing Scholarship 2011 entry - My Big Adventure
WORLDWIDE | Monday, 28 March 2011 | Views [218] | Scholarship Entry
I was walking on my left foot,since last four hours. I was unable to put my right foot on the ground. The pain was getting increasing with every step of mine.My ankle was bruised and getting swollen continuously. I don’t remember the moment when my right ankle got sprained,because physical pain got suppressed by the worries to find mother.we were separated on the way from 'Mina' to 'Makkah'.There were almost 14 million pilgrims who were heading towards the same destination.
The road to makkah was full of huge buses and high speed cars,moreover there were pilgrims everywhere in the sight,on buses and on foot,but no one was afraid of heavy traffic as according Saudi Arabian laws drivers have to pay 150 lac SR to the martyered as a compensation,so the drivers were well experienced and had full control on brakes.
I was continuously searching mother while was keeping my way as we already had decided to meet in harram incase of separation.Sun was shining very bright and it was too hot and perispiring.
When I was almost 100 meters away from 'alharram mosque',I observed change in the sky. Very quickly the eastern sky turned black. The speed at which the black clouds appeared, astonished me. In a few minutes, I could feel cool wind blowing from the blackened sky. In another few minutes, the whole sky was engulfed by black twiddling clouds. The wind was increasing in intensity. I could see the trees bent precariously to one side as though they were going to fall over or get blown away like feathers.
All pilgrims were rushing towards the mosque,when I reached the mosque it was time for assar prayer,I joined the people to offer prayer.
Suddenly I heard a very loud bawl above the rumbling of thunder and the howling of wind. The roar became louder and louder. It sounded like a gigantic train approaching though it certainly was not one. The sound was quite enervating. I looked in the direction of the roar and saw a white curtain of approaching rain.I ran under the shelter with thousands of other pilgrims. The storm was in full swing.
Flashes of lightning lit up the darkened sky followed by cracks of thunder as though in reply. Some Flashes of lightning came dangerously close to us all. The following cracks of thunder were immediate and earsplitting. All people were uttering silent prayer.some kids had their palms against their ears and the mothers enclosed their children in their arms and laps.
The fury of the storm was too incredible to cut visibility to even few feet. All we could do was to stay there and to wait for the storm to blow over. We also hoped that lightning would not strike us. The storm raged for about an hour while we waited. Then as suddenly as it came, the storm rained itself out. The rain got less and stopped. The wind stopped blowing.
When wind stopped blowing,I hurried towards mother the place she told me on cell phone,and we both were too wet and were trembling with cold,so we went outside to call for taxi and to reach our hotel.but unfortunately after this stormy rain taxi drivers demanded almost 7times more than the actual fare,and I had to pay 150 SR for only 3km distance,while in common days they demand 20 SR.
I thanked my LORD after reaching hotel that we were safe.
Tags: #2011Writing, Travel Writing Scholarship 2011
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