She opened her eyes to a dull dreary and fearfully wet morning. Rain was pounding on the pavement. Trees, leaves and plants all drooped by the heavy toll of the rain. Yet she got ready for the journey. Of course the journey couldn’t be avoided, nor could it be postponed. It was dangerous to do so, not that it wasn’t dangerous to travel in such conditions where all bodies of water were inundated...
Each and every single item had been packed in attaché cases and in bundles of cloth, along with food enough to last a week to her family, or the family that had been left. But what was food; a few lumps of cheese for each person, modest amounts of rotting fruit, and a few flasks full of murky water to drink. No amount of money, clothes, jewelry or anything for that matter could stop her from leaving her home as she was today. Tears of cold dread and misery inundated her own eyes as she moved on and urged others along with her. She just wished she had listened to her own brother when he had asked her to take the boat he had, if she didn’t want to buy it. He would have been alive and they wouldn’t have to face such miserable conditions either, half walking, half swimming in the ever-swelling body of water. It was dreadfully cold yet she didn’t have the time or the heart to think whether her little Sonia would catch pneumonia or not. She just kept on praying for a miracle to happen, for someone to come and save her and her little family. Tired as she was by carrying Sonia on her back, and the bundles of cloth in her arms, she kept on.
The whirring sound didn’t permeate through her senses, till Sonia herself started shrieking and pointing at the large helicopter overhead. So tired was she that nothing could move her senses except the small life form she had on her back. She looked directly above her and a rope ladder came down. Immediately, even before she had touched the ladder, a silent prayer ensued from her heart thanking Allah and His mercy. A peaceful smile spread slowly on her face and her numb mind began to relax. Last update : 23-09-2004 18:44
|
|
|
Users' Comments  |
|
Average user rating
(0 vote)
|
|
Add your comment
|