2014 September Floods

Water that took us away from #70 Hussain’s

Bilal Hussain

Unlike usual Sundays it was no more FUN day; it was day without SUN rather full of silly rains that turned FUN into frustration. Like other residents in my colony dirty water touched our gate at #70 Hussain’s and slowly crept in to make our path and then our car porch area filthy. I tried to put bags full of sand in front of our main door leading entrance to my home but pat came an advice ‘It is of no use,’ My dad suggested. Immediately, I left the bag and proposed to all at home: Let’s move out and lock the house, mom and my little sister nodded their heads in agreement with me. However, it was tough to convince dad as I too had no answer to his question: How safe will we be outside as most of our relative’s houses were either drowned or roads leading to them were encroached by Jhelum waters. I had no energy to enter into discussion with dad and couldn’t hold my nerves anymore, started car and took mom and little sister along to run away from the filthy waters. Though it was difficult but water level in our colony was rising slowly and we could manage to reach to the high way. On the way a dear friend, Adil, stopped us and insisted to accompany him to his house which was safe from the murky waters. Without thinking too much we straightway headed to his house and took shelter in his house. His family mad us comfortable and instantly served us with tea and snacks. As I took my first sip from the hot cup of tea, I looked at mom; she was physically with us but my friend and I could feel her soul was at #70 Hussain’s.

By now, it was 4:00 PM, I along with Adil decided to go back to #70 Hussain’s and take dad out from the waters. As we reached near our colony in HMT area, all we could see is the whole colony is turned into a tributary of Jhelum; gushing waters filling it and making compound walls to disappear. The whole scene was too scary to make anyone to stay but us. I am not a swimmer and never thought that I will have to go into this roaring water to takeout my dad to a safer place. Adoration overpowered the fearsome situation coupled with Adil’s boldness that infused vigor to my dead muscles to overpower tough times. Both of us slowly kept moving in the dirty waters, as we kept moving inside, we could see or hear none except roaring water. The water marked us below few inches to shoulders. As we reached near our nest, we saw dad on the roof top wavering his hands go away don’t come here but his words were falling deaf ears. We came inside our house: by now all the rooms were turned into mini swimming-pool. Dad came down to receive us and tried to show his boldness ‘why you came here? I am okay and doing well’; all we told him that mom is not doing well and is not okay without you. Without uttering a single word he readily accepted to move out of his home and leave everything behind including his all-time favorite car. Sluggishly but finally we reached to the highway and took dad to Adil’s place were mom was eagerly waiting for him. I could still recall the moment when I saw the sigh of relief on mom’s gloomy otherwise glowing and sparkling face. It was achievement that I never ever have felt as proud of as son.

As I am reliving the moment while penning down the darkest day in our lives, bone chilling shots are still visible out there. Anyways, it was not the end to our miseries, while we were comfortable at Adil’s place, before having dinner both of decided while ladies will takeout and serve dinner for all; let’s take stock of situation outside. We went hardly 50 meters away from his house as it was dark so we could see but could hear roaring water making way to their house. Immediately we took out mobile torches to see what is happening and to our surprise! Water was everywhere; all we could do is run to inform back home family however, water was running faster than us. As we reached ladies present in the house were ready with the dinner and as we entered they looked at us and asked: what happened to you? Is everything alright? We had no time to tell them what we saw and what is in store for all of us. Both of us mustered the courage to tell them that water can fill this house anytime. The panic grappled whole room and each one of us in the room took whatever we could in our hands and moved to the second story. Younger ones opined us to try venturing out from this filthy waters to some safer place however, least they knew that all roads leading to safer heavens are closed for us! My little sister uttered in low tone can’t we pay hefty amounts to anyone who could take us away from the waters. It was for the second time in my life that I have seen money rendered useless. It was no more money that could make you survive! Rest of weeks we spent there in that house and survived literally on water and some left out food available in the house.