*I survived in Peshawar attack* I had a test today and I had prepared well for it. Upon reaching the school a little earlier, I met a friend of mine at the gate and we exchanged Salam. He told me that he had brought something good for me for lunch I’d only get to know of the surprise meal at lunch time. We went on for classes just following the routine. Just as the second period started, exam sheets were distributed and I tried to remember whatever I had prepared the night before. I looked around to check on my other friends but immediately got warned and scolded by the teacher as she thought I was cheating; I stayed quite as it was my fault. Just when all the students were completely focused towards attempting their tests, I heard a very loud explosion and it left everyone wondering as to what may have caused the explosion. The teacher went outside to check on the situation and we all started cheating and exchanging answers but I was surprised when our teacher didn’t return even after 10 minutes. I walked towards the door to look out for her where I saw an uncle with a long beard coming towards our classroom. Although he was wearing traditional Shalwar Kameez, the gun in his hands scared me. My father is in army and he once told me that he uses guns to kill enemies. I don’t know how but suddenly my sixth sense acted and I immediately hid myself behind the door. He entered the room, pointed the gun at a friend of mine and told everyone to recite Kalmah; I was however out of his sight. I was wondering my home tutor Qari sahib never taught me kalmah with a gun pointing at my head. The bearded man shouted again, to which everybody got scared and started muttering the La’ilah illaaa. I got very much scared but didn’t speak anything as I was still hiding there, breathing ever so slowly. A voice from inside was telling me that this man is not like my Qari sahib; he was Devil in a human veil. Soon after that, another man appeared who was very much like that first man looked. He shouted at the first guy in some language unknown to me but his gestures were dangerous. In no time, I realized that he was asking him to kill each and everyone in the room. The firing started as if it was never going to stop and that friend of mine got a bullet in his chest. Those men were in a hurry and disappeared after firing the whole round making sure everyone was dead – I didn’t come out for, at least, 10 minutes. When I saw my friend muttering out the words, ‘Ammi jee, Ammi jee’ I rushed towards him and saw that his mouth full of blood. I didnt try to touch his wound as I thought it would increase his pain. I saw his green sweater turning red infront of my eyes, he was screaming and I was helpless. He was shouting so that someone could come and help him. He told me that he is in pain and asked me to bring water. I rushed outside to bring water for him but I couldnt make it because those men were firing again in another classroom. I came back and told my friend that some people are coming to help and they have water. I clearly lied. He was screaming so hard now and I couldnt do anything – such a feeling of helplessness. My friends were wounded and nobody came to help us. I went outside once again to check if there was any help. Nobody was there and I could still hear the gunshots; the corridor was full of fired shells. I wondered where the guards and everyone has gone. I badly wanted someone to call my baba. He is a brave man serving in Pakistan Army and protecting this country. He fights against the enemies and he has a gun too – He can save us. When I came back thinking about all of this, I couldnt hear my friend screaming anymore. I approached him to check, but his eyes were now closed. I saw a bottle of water in his hands and near his shoes, was the lunchbox that he talked about in the morning. I could see two sandwiches in there, may be one for him and one for me. “Akram… Akram”, I called him several times but he didn’t respond. He was not listening and it suddenly dawned at me that he was no more. I called Hassan, Sohaib and Ali… They also didn’t respond to my call – may be because they didn’t want to talk to me anymore. My mother once told me that those who pass away, they don’t come back and the only thing left to us is their corpse. I looked around in hope of finding someone alive whom I can talk to but I soon realized that I was the only survivor in that room. The last thing I remember was that I started screaming uncontrollably. When I woke up, I was in a nearby hospital and standing nearby, were my parents – I started crying. I felt broken, scared, and I can’t even name whatever it was that I felt that day. Later in the hospital, I heard doctors and everyone else talking about this incident. Yes, I am one of the survivors of the Peshawar attack. You think I am going to forget this? How will I tell my children that I survived at the cost of not being able to help my friend? I lied to him and I couldn’t bring him water; I failed. Won’t I be remembering it before going to sleep, every night? I witnessed that bloodshed, those classmates of mine screaming for help. Will I ever be able to sit in that classroom again? I am scared to go to school again as I can’t face those walls; they have the blood of my beloved friends and teachers. I saw all of them fighting against that barbaric act … they fought death till the very last breath. The classroom where we once chuckled while cracking jokes and sharing lunches is now a nightmare for me. Yes I survived! But I will suffer more than the ones who passed away that day and I am never going to forget this. I just wish… that I could bring him some water, that I could die there before he did and that there was no door to hide me. I wish Written by- laraibmehtab1.wordpress
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 07:18:26 +0000
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