Assalam-o-Alaikum!

Peshawar. 2007, October 8th around ten in morning earth shook under my feet with rage, I felt it was the end, I was going to die, I feared I won't be able to make out from my lecture hall to the ground of my college; students were screaming in panic. It was recorded as 8.1 over the rector scale.

Trust me I never felt that kind of fear ever before or after in my life, 200 after shocks were felt, many hundred buildings were completely turned into dust, thousands of people died and another thousand were left homeless.

Earthquakes are scary. Believe me it leaves you with nothing but a trembling heart and a perched tongue reciting only one name ; Allah hu Akbar!

P.S. the pathan within me just jumped out while I was writing this one, I haven't given the translations. Try to come up with that urself ;) you know, contextual meaning lolxxx!!!

AVOID MISTAKES!!!! THE CHAPTER HAS BEEN EDITED ROUGHLY AT THE AIRPORT WITH NO CONCENTRATION  AT ALL :( 

5 | The Camp And The Meeting

Shehry | Peshawar, Relief camp

Day One

We had arrived an hour back to Peshawar and reached just to the campsite; Me, Sophia, Atif, Daniyal and a few more from my NGO but unfortunately the trucks we were bringing along were stuck in the way due to bad weather.

After keeping our stuff in the tents my team mates went with the organizers and I decided to look around a little.

Women clad in blue shuttlecocks and men in kameez shalwar, it had rained the whole night making the situation worst but still a few kids were seen holding paper boats running them into the puddles formed here and there after the heavy rain.

What is it feel like losing your home, your shelter and your loved ones, somehow I could feel the pain of every victim there in those tents, but still their suffering was far worse than mine.

Even in Lahore the earthquake felt like a big jolt in the earth under our feet but as the origin was closer to Peshawar it shook the place badly, leaving almost the whole of the city in ruins specially the rural area where I was standing at the moment.

About twenty mud white tents of different sizes stood there providing shelter to those homeless abandoned people who were happy one moment oblivious to the fact that the next moment was going to snatch every joy from their lives, suck every smile from their faces.

And Hussain was right; the number of crimes had increased after the tremor, robberies and rapes and the most tragic was kids' disappearing; people had started taking advantage of the situation and kidnapped abandoned kids for God knows what horrible purposes; selling them or their organs... my soul shuddered at the mare thought.

This is the reason these earthquakes come; we deserve nothing good.

I heaved up a sigh, a puff of steam came out out of my mouth and I rubbed my hands together trying to warm them up.

Thannnddd!!!! My jaws literally clattered together and right then I saw a tall broad man clad in light brown shalwar kameez and a darker tone waist coat, holding a woolen shawl walked towards me.

"Mausam der yakha o, baraan um o sho kho yakhani ziyad shavi dey" he was saying something while he handed me the shawl. I wanted to softly refuse but, 1) he seemed insistent and polite 2) it was damn cold, refusing for the shawl means turning into a kulfi 3) I didn't know the P of pushto. So with a smile I took the shawl.

"Za dera dera manana yam, che ta akhpal team sara moongda para dalta raghaley o! da moongda para dera ghata khabara de" the grateful smile at his face was the only reason I shook away the thought that he wasn't giving me galiyan in his local language.

I swear I felt so ignorant at the moment; one language is never enough Shehry! the man smiled, as he rested his hand over my shoulder and I smiled back.

"ji!" I tried to come up with the most of the pushto language I had ever heard through random sources. "uh- de-dera merbani" I kept my hand over my chest as I said and his smiled broadened, which meant I didn't blunder with his language.

"Merbani kho sta dey, za shukerguzar yum. Bakhtiyar Ahmad!" he replied, introducing himself and we shook hands. "Shehryar Asif" I replied and together we entered in the tent.

"Two trucks will arrive tomorrow morning Inn Shaa Allah, I have just confirmed from head office" I heard Daniyal talking to the UNICEF member.

"So all together how many people are in these tents?" Atif asked the man with UNICEF ID hanging around his neck, his name was Craig Adams.

"We have exactly 460 people here, including children" Craig informed. "there is another camp point arranged as well you people might be visiting that place tomorrow or day after" he added.

"Well, that's a really great job you people are doing" Atif said and he smiled.

"and the best part is that not a single part of the country is left, we have volunteers from the whole of Pakistan" he told us proudly, as we walked out of the tent.

"Not just Pakistan we have a team of doctors coming from Srinagar as well" Sophia added. "Indian doctors, in fact their arrival was due in the morning and it's almost noon" she ended the statement to herself, looking down at her wrist watch and a disapproving sarcastic chuckle was heard at my back. I turned finding a man probably same as of my age.

"They won't come madam! These Indians they only know how to stab us in our back, don't wait for them" he sounded so sure. "hamarey doctor marr nai gaye k ub humein in hindu'on ki zaroorat pare gi" he jerked his head with extreme distaste.

"Zamaan! Her yo kas ghalat na o, da dactaraan moong da para raghaley o, zo kho izzat kom" Bakhtiyar remarked, hushing Zaman up but he jerked his head, he let a puff of smoke swoosh out of his nostrils as he sucked on to his cigarette and looked at his companion sitting to his right, also holding a cigarette a thicker one.

Looking at the cigarette I felt an instant urge of having one in this terribly cold weather but then Maha's promise to quit it.... Uurggh! Well, am not a chain smoker or something but kabhi kabhi to chalta hea yar, mein konsa suttey-baaz hoon!

"tol darogh waii, ma ta pata de da her yo kas RAW wala agent o. dushman dey dushman!" he spoke in his language, his tone rough. We stood there feeling ignorant once again. A person should know the language of the place where he stands. We just understood RAW agent.

Maybe he was calling the Indian doctors RAW agents. Crap! They weren't even Indians, they were coming from Kashmir.

Maya

"We are glad that you people came" the gora flashed a smile as he one by one shook hands with us.

"Being a doctor and being a human it was our duty Mr Kent" Ranjheet smiled back, got his name probably from the ID hanging around his neck.

"This way please!" Kent showed us the way, Dr. Ashok and Ranjheet walked ahead holding their bags while I stood there looking around, taking a view of that vast spread area having camps of different sizes, a few people were seen outside because of the harsh weather, thankfully I decided to wear my leather jacket over the sweater I was wearing. Cold air seemed like tearing into my jeans and I shuddered.

I looked down to my feet around my sneakers I could see those thin cracks like lightning and till my gaze could go they were spread the whole way on the ground; almost a hundred after shocks! Not even the earth could bare the harshness and brutality of nature. I shuddered, this time with fear.

Roaming around my gaze went to the just parked jeep at our back, followed by a brand new car that felt so out of place; a BMW in between ruins! 

Distaste spread across my tongue as I caught sight of my fiancé who stepped out of his car and along with Khushal he walked toward me with his signature smile cum smirk. Removing shades from his eyes he tucked them in the pocket of his coat, his hair gelled perfectly leftwards and his shave as new as if he just stepped out of a saloon.

God! when will this man stop to boast off and for once behave like an ordinary human...

He came and stopped right in front of me. "Salute to your bravery Dr. Maya Avinash! You never cease to amaze me you know" I crossed my arms at my front as he smirked at me "I mean coming all the way to this tribal deserted place of Pakistan which is famous for the terrorists it breeds, your confidence is worth a salute" every word laced with sarcasm. I looked above his shoulder and Khushal shrugged making a helpless face.

"I didn't know UNICEF has started calling business tycoons to relief camps"

"Q? why can't a business man come to a relief camp? After all we are equally humans" Raj countered sounding offended sab bolbachan he wasn't offended at all, dheet chamrri I smiled, keeping the sarcasm to myself.

"Yeah that's why you humans are sitting idle in your own country enjoying the bloodshed. Mighty humans you know!" I exclaimed in mock praise and getting the taunt Raj scratched his brow.

"Well aa he gaye ho to I can talk to the team for letting you stay here but think twice about this Armani dress of yours and these designer shoes, they might get muddy" I looked at his crisp suiting and he chuckled, shaking his head as if I was insane then pointed at the truck near the jeep, a huge one with the impression of his initials and I mentally chuckled; again show off!

"Brought a few things for the people here, thought they might need stuff"

"You can talk to the management. John Kent is in the charge. That way!" I pressed a smile and pointed towards the mud white camp with the stamp of UNICEF at the entrance.

A little distaste arose in his eyes and he covered them up with the shades. "Khushal can do that" and shoved his hand in his coat's pocket took out a sleek rectangular paper a cheque and moved it to his back towards Khushal. "give this as well" there was a godly pride in his tone.

Then he addressed me. "I wanted you to be there when I leave Maya" I couldn't find his tone mean his words. "per tumhen to yahan aana tha" he passed a disgusting look at the surrounding.

"It's about priorities Raj! Same as your London trip is important, this disgusting place means a lot to me as well" my tone was firm and flat and he made a face.

"I am having a deal with one of the construction kings of India Maya!" he reminded me as if in front of his appointments mine was garbage. I wish I cold punch him square in the face.

"And I am having a deal with these people, here in these camps fighting for survival Raj" I kept my voice low but firm.

"have a safe journey" I added wanting him to just get lost, he sighed deep and with that without a good bye or a take care or see you soon Rajveer turned and walked towards his car.

"Why the hell you brought him here" once he left I almost barked at Khushal who made a face himself.

"Didi Shiva bhaiya ka hokum tha, Raj bhaiya wanted to meet you before leaving for UK or phir ye sab samaan bhi to lana tha na" he pointed at the truck.

"Is show off ki zaroorat nai thi samjhey! Coming in a BMW with a personalized truck full of second hand, fake sympathies" I spat with blood boiling in my veins. Turning around I took my bag out from the open truck and started to walk toward the camp when I felt that idiot followed me.

"Maya didi!"

"Maya Didi! I dug out all the information about this place; the hospital though partially destroyed by the earthquake still caters patients, the market area has been ruined totally but they have built a temporary convenient shop nearby so if you want to have anything just give me in written and there is a decent hotel as well in about 5 Km of your camp" Khushal took a small pause after a long breathless rant which sounded completely useless and of no point to me. "I have booked a room there for you" he added and my head shifted to my right with a jerk as I looked at him.

"Booked a room? For me?" I confirmed once again I might have heard him wrong but he nodded his head, I looked above his shoulder finding Rajveer gone, but in the jeep I could see Pali and Dada's personal guard. Annoyance turned into anger.

"I am staying here in the camp" I cleared in a flat tone with a straight face and Khushal frowned and then smiled as if I had cracked a joke.

"Here?" he looked around in disbelief. "Didi mazak mat karo yahan kesey reh sakti ho ap? Bhaiya has sent us here to stay with you like shadow"

"Mein yahan picnic mananey nai aai hoon Khushal! I have got work to do, tu sambhal apne us body guard ko or bhag ja yahan se" he tried to object when I raised my palm up. "I do not need you here, am not in the middle of some terrorists or goons Khushal! Am fine. Bhagwan k liye jao ub!"

"But Shiva bhaiya strictly instructed me to stay with you. Didi! I can't leave you here"

"Don't worry she will be safe and sound here, with us" I wanted to slap him hard for his blind obedience for dada when at my back somebody spoke, Khushal looked above my shoulder and I turned, finding a girl standing there flashing a wide grin at me.

She was a little too tall for a normal girl, her hair tied in a side braid and she was wearing a long white kurta with a techno colored muffler around her neck. I instantly cursed myself for coming in jeans to such a place, I mean tribal rural people do not approve to such dressing right?

"Dr. Maya Avinash form St. Joseph hospital Kashmir. Right?" she pointed her index at me with a inquisitive frown, the smile was still there. Her accent was a little strange as she spoke. 

"yeah! That's me, and you.....

"I am Sophia from Lahore, I work for a private NGO affiliated with UNICEF. You know UNICEF? The one which has arranged this....

She trailed off as I nodded with a smile and extended my hand towards her. lerki hea ya Rajdhani Express!! Rukti he nai.

"I do know. And it's really great meeting you Sophia" we shook hands. "Well, how did you get to recognize me?" I asked and her smile broadened as she pointed towards my head.

"This little thing in the middle of your forehead" she was talking about my bindi, I smiled in response as my fingers unintentionally touched the spot "and in the list we have only one such bindi-wali-bandi" she added making me chuckle at her accent.

"Didi to phir hum...

I heard Khushal at my back which swiped the smile off my face. I turned and glared at him hard hoping he would understand. "Khushal! If I will need you I will inform you, get the contact number and please leave me alone here" I gritted my teeth, he still seemed reluctant.

"Plus they won't allow bodyguards here" Sophia spoke at my back.

"You heard her? now, please go and stay in that room you have booked for me, take this pretty guard with you too" I pointed at the macho at his back, standing like a robot and Khushal visibly heaved up a sigh.

"Thank you" I smiled at him before turning back towards the tall girl with strange accent and together we walked towards the tent.

....

First day was hectic; taking instructions, getting medicines and trying to learn a little of their local language. Thankfully people did understand Urdu which was somehow like Hindi that made it easier for me to communicate with them. 

I did my house job in Delhi and then worked a year and half in Calcutta but I swear I had never seen such wounds, never experienced such pain which I witnessed there. Physical pain is one thing those poor innocent people were going through much more; loss of loved ones, loss of shelter and above all the fear, fear of getting smashed under the roofs of their own homes.

So many people. So many wounds.

There were people belonging to almost every field, every profession trying their best to help the victims of earthquake. It felt great to be a part of such a work; selfless and humane.

There were different camps for different purposes; like there was a camp where a few gorey along with local teachers provided fun education for the kids just to divert their attention from the miseries by fruitful activities and there was a medical camp as well where I met different other doctors, specialists and I knew along with helping the sick here, I was going to learn a lot as well.

Day Two

"Allah hu Akbar! Allah hu Akbar!!!"

I heard people taking their God's name as another after shock shook them, it was dark and almost everyone was asleep in the camps, apparently when the earthquake came. jahan maut ka itna khauf ho wahan koi kesey sakoon se so sakta hea?!  

I was standing out of my tent, aimlessly looking around at the surrounding when I heard hurried footsteps; a man walked from the back of my tent and headed to the one far in my row. 

"Shehry!" was about to turn and step inside when my feet halted. 

"Sophia where is Shehry?" I heard the same voice, I dunno it was stupid but my heart was racing inside all of a sudden, at the mare mentioning of the name, there could be a million people having the same name. I slowly turned and looked into the direction where a man was talking to Sophia.

"Us k ghar se call aa rai hea yar, he isn't picking up" the man was saying but my eyes were searching for somebody else.

What if he is the same Shehryar? 

Come on Maya! don't talk stupid. Jerking the thoughts off my head I walked towards the tents, walking always made me feel better. I could walk for hours just to myself, thinking about a million things.

Suddenly a thud was heard to my left followed by a loud cry of a child, I looked into the direction and headed to the tent. A child just got fallen down and I guess his forehead was hurt the way he was holding it.

"Okay okay calm down Umer!" the poor mother held him in her arms and tried to rub the hurt spot but the kid cried even harder. "Its going to be okay, see! See this...

She tried to divert his attention towards the bangles in her wrists which she was jiggling but to no avail, his cries went louder and face soaking in tears.

"hey hey who is crying?" somebody spoke at my back and I turned, finding a man jogging inside the tent. He was wearing a white sweatshirt, an ID was hanging around his neck "Excuse me please!" he looked at me for a split of a second as I stood in his way, I got a side and he ran towards the baby. In bold letters Smile was imprinted at the back of his shirt which unknowingly made my lips curved into one.

"Umer beta! theek ho jaye ga" a woman near him tried to calm him down.

"Aww! Umer is crying?" he asked reaching near him as if he couldn't believe his eyes. "But I thought he is brave and never cries" he added in the same tone. Umer was still in hiccups, his forehead a little swollen, a small bump was made right in the middle.

"Acha tell me kahan chot lagi Umer ko?" he asked, bending down. Umer was holding his forehead and refused to look at him.

"you know what! I have magic hands" the man showed the kid his hands moving his fingers like a magician in front of his face. For a moment there was a pause in the crying and Umer peeked from under the hand over his eyes. Then slowly the hand moved down and he stared at the magic fingers as if he wanted a pigeon to sprout out.

"Abhi dekhna ap sab, kesey Umer ka dard merey hathon mein aa jaye ga" he looked at everyone and claimed, I stood there watching the show.

"Achaw? Bhai wah! Kamal ho tum to beta" an elderly man took part in the act, Umer's cries were less now as he gawked at the magician in front of him.

"Or nai to kia Uncle! Look han!" the man said and then very cautiously touched Umer's forehead with one hand and rested the other at the back of his head, Umer hiccuped loud enough and his body shivered visibly.

"Come on pain! YOU SON OF DONKEY! COME OUT OF UMER'S HEAD. STOP MESSING WITH HIM OKAY! OR ELSE UMER WILL CHOP YOU IN PIECES AND SMACK YOUR BUM AND SMASH YOU INTO A COCKROACH JUICE!!!" His eyes popping out as he kept on blabbering loud like some avada kedavra, in a strange old man's voice, still holding Umer's forehead.

Umer gawked at him with his eyes wide open and his cheeks still moist but no crying anymore, not a single sound. "hey! It's coming out. Slowly. Slowly. Slowly....." and he slowly detached his hands from his head and then quickly fisted them up as if he was actually holding the pain.

"Ha ha ha! Here it goes, the Donkey in my fists" he laughed like a crazy person, and then looked down at the stunned standing Umer, blinking his eyes at him. "Come on Umer lets go out and throw this pain away, yeah?" and Umer nodded innocently.

The people in the tent were actually looking at them two keenly as if the man was really a magician and took the pain out of his forehead.

"That's like a brave champ!" together they walked towards the exit and the magician dusted off his hands in the air pretending as if he was throwing Umer's pain away. He then bent down near the kid and brought his fist up to his face.

"What is inside now Umer?" he asked; wonder oozing out from his tone.

"Pain?" Umer innocently asked and he smiled shaking his head and then opened the fist, there came a chocolate and Umer finally smiled, though sheepishly.

I couldn't help but smile at them two, and realized, giving cure was important but something which was even vital was spreading smiles.

I kept looking at the magician who was now giving a high five to the happy kid and then demanded a kiss as he pointed his index over his cheek keeping it towards Umer, but he refused and ran towards his mother, making the magician smile and for a moment I felt I got lost in that moment; joy and happiness as if nothing terrible had ever happened with Umer and many other kids like him.

"just tie a cloth around his forehead, keep it warm" he instructed the mother who gratefully smiled.

But my stupor broke as harsh voices came from out of the tent, I turned and stepped out finding Dr Ashok standing there with a few boys and they were having a not to friendly conversation.

Shehry

Zaman was a local, running his own dispensary in Peshawar which was destroyed in the earthquake and he was having a constant constipation about having some hindu doctors around.

I don't understand when we all were gathered here for a noble cause then whats was the point of criticizing each other or refreshing the bogus old enmity?!

"I am not answerable to you that who I am and what I do, I came from kashmir and was requested to come here with my team. Who the hell are you to question my capabilities?!" Dr Ashok fired up, Zamaan must have humiliated him again. This is what he had been doing on purpose.

"Nobody invited you here. We or they, nobody needs your help" he was Zaman's friend shouted out loud at the Indian doctor who stood near the tent, Almost everyone was asleep at the moment. 

Another doctor from his team tried to calm down the situation. "He is Dr Ashok and the younger one is Ranjheet the assistant doctor" Sophia informed me in almost a whisper as we both reached there I looked at her face. "I know Sophia who they are but anyways, thanks for the information" duh!

"We are here to help your people; we mean no harm Mr....

"Ha! Help!" That Pakistani lad cut him in the middle, and laughed sarcastically. "If you want to help why don't you help those innocent Muslims who are being brutally murdered in their own country by you extremists?!" he barked, the doctors remained quiet.

"Sab k sab RAW k agent ho or batein kerty ho madad ki?" Zaman spat.

"Don't talk about help because you don not mean it, who knows you have brought poison along with yourself and....

"Why don't you keep your mouth shut and mind with your business? Or else I swear I will put all of that poison in your mouth only" A girl walked out from my left and headed towards the infuriated Zaman. I felt I saw her in Umer's tent and in the main camp as well when I was talking to Craig. 

"Oho! Wah bhai" Zaman took a step toward the girl who stood tall and firm in front of him and laughed like making fun of her. "RAW has started hiring such beauties!" and then clapped his hands, I tried to move ahead in order to stop all that but Sophia grabbed my wrist stopping me. "Stop Shehry! don't put yourself into it"

"Jin Indian heroines ki movies dekhte ho wo to tumhen RAW ki agents nahee lagteen. Unhen to aankhen or moo dono phaarr ker dekh rae hotey ho, or wo kia tapakta hea???? han! Raaal!" her tone was calm yet insulting and Zamaan visibly clenched his jaws.

"I wish I was a brain expert at least I could have tried to wipe off this garbage from your head" The girl added.

"Can I have your license muhterma? Dekhen to k waqai doctor hen ya kisi ko bhi bhej diya hea masoomo ka dil behlaane"

Kia bakwaas ker rah ea yar. Pulling my wrist off her grip I walked ahead. "Zaman stop it!"

But the girl ignored my presence. "You know what, I would love to show you all my degrees and license but the thing is that, I can't even stand the sight of such a creepy crawling worm like you which has come straight out of gutter to...

"Aye you!...

"Zaman! Nai" he was about to lunge on to her when I grabbed his arm. "Lerki hea wo" I glared at him and the next moment I felt somebody grabbed my arm. I looked down and then up at the girl.

"What do you mean by lerki hea?" I frowned in confusion, I wanted to look close at her to assure I was right about guessing her gender but even without that she looked a she. I mean kia ghalat kaha mein ne?

"Do not stop this cheap third class man because I am a girl, ask him to shut up because he is wrong" her eyes throwing flames at me and I still stood there doubting about the mental health of the girl with long loose curls and a little green dot in the middle of her forehead.

"yeah! I mean the same" I shrugged, tried to make myself clear but she didn't take that.

"No you don't Mr. Magician!" she cut me though and I raised my brow at her this time I was sure she was mental. "and just because am a girl do not think that am weak and I want somebody like you to step into my matters for sorting them out with your magic hands, I don't need it" she snapped, the two Indian doctors coming for my rescue tried to calm her down but she jerked them off angrily and then looked at Zaman standing next to me.

"People like you are the reason why even after decades of independence we are still shackled, not in our feet but in our minds. Your petty insolent thinking will never let you people rise, trust me you will live another century in the same gutter of your thoughts" she snapped at his face and then looked at me as well. what did I do?

"hey look! I was trying to stop this idiotic everyday fight okay. Baki you are strong or weak, mental or crack I don't care" I snapped back keeping my voice low.

"No you DO care because you are MAN just like him" she mocked comparing me with Zamaa and my brows furrowed at her nonsense. "and just because you have the special respected organ...." Her gaze roamed down from my face to... what?! She is definitely mental. "That's why you have got the permission by God to jump into every matter and help every poor, fragile, helpless woman of society" she kept on blabbering.

"Aadhon ko bhagwaan ne bigaarne k liye banaya hea or baki aadhon ko ko bigrii sawarnety k liye" She kept on insulting men. 

"Maya come on stop it now" Ranjheet, the younger doctor tried to hush her up.

"I think not just the patients sometimes even the doctors need to consult specialists, please take her to some good mental doctor" I looked at the doctor who made a face as if he was embarrassed.

"I don't need any consultation. You men need it to wipe off the shit of your brains......"

Not taking it anymore I raised my palm up to her face and hushed her up. "Oh Shut up! please" and marched out of the insane place. 

....

What a meeting!!! :-p

Who liked Rajveer? ;)

And any Pushtoons here who got the meaning..... anyone? No one? okay :/ 

Next will be quick inn Shaa Allah! with another meeting ;)

Till then Smile :)