Maarkhoor
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Chillam Village
Near Chillam Village
In the extreme cold weather and a tiring day, we crossed Deosai and reached Chillam Check Post. Registered myself at the check post there and hit the road to Astore. A little girl was going to her home with her two sheep. Upon hearing the sound of the jeep, the sheep went off the road. The little girl turned back and smiled at me; the day’s tiredness just vanished away.
The sun was setting behind the mountains as we went from Chillam to Astore. I saw an old man sitting beside a grave. He had just wiped his tears while the Pakistani flag was hoisted at the grave.
I moved forward to greet him and he asked: “Neeche se aaey ho?” (Have you come from below?). That is how the mountain dwellers call the tourists. I responded positively. After a random exchange of words, I asked him about the grave.
He said: “This is my son’s grave. I am a retired soldier, and now labor to keep the life going. I put him in a college in Rawalpindi with my pension, savings, and labor. He was my only child. While coming to Astore from Pindi, he was off-loaded from the bus, identified, and killed for his religious views.”
I was left without words. A deafening silence had enveloped the valley.
After a brief pause, he continued: “his grave lies in the way to work, so I stop by for a few moments to pray here everyday.”
I didn’t know what to say. While leaving, I once again looked at the Pakistani flag, but this time, it felt as if the crescent and the star had turned blood red.
Jeep road near Deosai
Sunset at Chillam
Nangaparbat view from Sheosar Lake
The northern areas of Pakistan are beautiful, they please our soul. But at the same time, we should be conscious of the miseries of the local people. All of the ecstasy of the journey had collapsed on hearing the tragic story from the old man. I couldn’t help but weep inside.
When the jeep started moving, the driver turned on the tape-recorder. A ghazal broke the eerie silence inside the jeep. Though it was freezing cold outside, here I felt a fire within me.
Sheosar Lake
Travelling towards Chillam village
Self portrait of the author near Sheosar Lake
We people including me have wish to visit Switzerland and Europe but sheer lack knowledge about our own homeland how beautiful Pakistan. Feeling shame not know much about my own land..Thanks @WAJsal for sharing this make my day.@unleashed @Shamain ,@Akheilos ....
Deosai-the land of giants.
Skardu
Kharpocho Fort, Skardu. Living above the clouds ,@levina .....
Ah! awesome!Kharpocho Fort, Skardu. Living above the clouds ,@levina .....
No.
Puk lag gi hai
after posting that stuff i feel it too lunch mien nihari aor buttrnaan kha liye ab hazam nahien hota hajmola hey..Puk lag gi hai
Bil cul, baraia swadali oni hai