Adventures left behind long
lasting #Memories..!!!
(Alas we could sketch a picture !)
Yesterday, I met two low porters of Baltistan. They used to earn as a low porter
in Baltoro during 1970s. They said
"We were 8 in the group for an American Expedition at K-2. While coming back
from base camp to Concordia, we suffered a lot with the weather, snowing,
curves, fogs and shortage of food. These weren’t matter for us to reach
Concordia from Basecamp of K2 but the health of our companions was the harshest
time for us. Ali got ill (stomach problem) one hour before to Concordia. The
snow almost covered all the paths and we couldn’t recognize the way. Ali was
very strong and active but his disease can’t allow him to walk even a step more.
We decided to live with him till the weather gets better. One hour later he
argued to us “please save your lives, I will be a dead man soon. If it is
possible for you all then please take care of my children and give respect to my
family.”
We surmised the death in next moment but our loyalty didn’t allow us to left him
there and we assured to be with him. He added, “if you don’t go, there is no
relationship between us and even don’t look at me.” He got angry and implored us
to run away to save lives.
We finally assumed that he will be no more. We kept him beside a big stone by
putting his luggage as pillow and every one said “ALLAH HAFIZ FONO ALI” (Allah
hafiz Ali brother).
We arrived in the town (Machulo) after 7 days. We went to their home and
formally declared or confirmed his death near Concordia while coming back from
K-2 due to harsh weather. The formal and traditional customs has been offered in
his death memory in Machulo.
We all were busy in harvesting and instantly heard women crying. We surprised
and wondered about it. We rush towards the noise. That was Ali’s home, and the
women were from his family. They all were happy and the tears were in-happiness.
We couldn’t know why they are weeping happily and celebrating, giving
“Mubarakbaad” (congratulation), thanking to Allah and there was one person who
was sitting between them.
The most interesting moment came into this incident when we saw that Ali is
still ALIVE.
We didn’t believe at first instant but that was true, he was Ali, smiling with
tears and hugging us. We become ashamed ourselves as first we left him when he
needed and secondly declared his death to his family. But after a Month, that
was Ali, whom words for thanking to Allah and for us was not stopping. He
thanked to us from core of his heart for kept his luggage with him to get warm
and food left for him.
He told us that that was your food and warm cloths which makes me alive and
surely I felt your loves and sincere concerns which allowed me to walk towards
you. Love you guys."
A dead man Alive…!!! (Ali’s Survival)
Continue….!!!
I was not feeling bore while listening the story. They told further about the
incident that how Ali gets back to Machulo(Ali’s home town) from Baltoro.
They quoted, “we frequently asked him about his survival from Baltoro. Few days,
he lived confused that he is really alive and equally reaction from his family
was abnormal. He gradually becomes normal and he shared the incident to us. He
said,
“You people placed me beside the stone and that I found the surroundings covered
with snow. I wept for a long time after your departure. I felt the worst pain in
stomach but the harsh weather was more than this pain. My eye screen was
flashing at home with my children that how they will survive and till when or
they can? I was wondering your journey to home that did you all get back to home
or lost your way between Goro ii and Hrdukas, (mostly danger to find way in
daylight to cross the glacier). In the next moment my feelings were like a storm
that lots of things have to think but don’t have time for these all and every
memories are just need to do in flashing. I fought these all harsh memories but
after a long time I decided to leave and let’s think how will my death happen. I
versed Kalima e Tayiba for three times and beg to Allah for forgiveness. I
prayed just two things, Ya Allah keep my family prosper & respective! Ya Allah
improve our life and let not next Ali victim here like today!
(His tear was tipping and sighing seems to Thanking Allah) he continued!
I felt hungry but I didn’t remember to search food from the luggage. There were
lots of pains equally treating me. Once my memory took me to my adult life where
once I defeat such sort of weather far away from home, with continuous three
days raining and I felt lots of difficulties but resolved better. I imagined
that I can return back to my family!
After a long time I gain my feelings back and my heart beats more highly
at-once. I was thinking that now I have to travel towards eternity. But that
heart beats slightly increased and I was able to open my eyes after very long
time, but I don’t know how long my eye was closed. I opened my eyes slowly but
it was very difficult to visualize things and frequently closed and re-opened.
My face gets sun rays and slightly it feels me little bit warm. I can guess the
time approximately (three miles walking distance may cover if someone traveled)
and keep gaining the beaming light of sun and slightly getting warmer. I don’t
know how long or later I was able to see the surroundings but Alhamdulilah I was
able to see and stand. At first instant I searched the luggage for food. I found
floor and dried Apricot, nothing else. The floor was uncooked and not eatable as
I already feeling stomach problem and the dried apricot was very cold, even
frozen. I stood up and brought up two stones to grill the dry apricot to chew
easily. I put some quantity of floor while grilling the dried apricot. I eat
little bit as I have to keep for next days until home. Finally, I started the
journey towards Concordia by guessing the direction. The two hours distance
covered in almost entire day. I fell down several times in the snow; I laughed
some times, oh Allah! At least finish now the grief, I beg you. Some time, I
forward the responsibility of my survival to You
(ALLAH) so, whatever You do, I will face it as now I realized that I have to
survive until I meet my children. The sun disappeared and I have to stop, so
have to find another stone where I could live the night. There I couldn’t found
such a stone which I was assuming but I dig up snow like a cave and I slept in.
In short, I can’t sleep during the night. I started my journey before the sun
rise. The “Break Fast”, lunch or dinner was only the mixed floor with grilled
dried apricot. I arrived to Goroi and was trying to cross the glacier towards
Hrdukas, I lost the way several times and wounded the left foot tow. The mixed
floor and dried apricot was my medicine as well, put it on the wounded part and
was helpful to stop bleeding. I did not believe that I reached at Hrdukas. My
spiritual energy of getting closer to home was increasing but the reality was
total different for me as I knew that lots of time I have to walk down. I was
lucky that I easily found the “favorite stone” to sleep the night. I got bit
more relaxed compare to day first of this rebirth incident. This moment was only
fuel of motivation for me to get energy to travel down more. Anyhow, my sighs
was frequently thanking to Allah for this life.
(There were lots of people gathered to listen him while we were few in the
starting of his story telling time)
He continued…!
“In short, I walked in daylight and rest at night. The eyes witnessed few human
being foot prints over the snow which was very new, after Paju camping area. I
got lots of energy to walk faster and finally reached Julla camping area. One
side the excitement was on peak to see my family soon but on the ground, grief
was not leaving me. The “delicious” food finished and feet were wounded harshly,
especially between the foot fingers. (There were no socks, no shoes cover, no
sun glasses, no stick and no gloves). But, I met the people at julla camping
area; they were from Shigar and were going back after hunting of ibex. I entered
their gathering (camp) were under a Tarpaal and Said… A.o.Aju!!! They were
frightened to see me in the night, stood up and one of them asked “Are you a
human being? Anyhow, they welcomed me and very surprised on my survival. I eat
very good food after a long time. The taste was totally different and thanked
them and Allah. They assured, now you don’t have problem to get back to home.
Don’t worry dear. We reached to Asqole and I was not able to walk more as my
feet were wounded from many parts. I rested 13 days with them. Their hospitality
was ever best and remarkable. I said good bye to them and recovered my energy
and start to travel towards Skardu. In the way, I was very exciting about my
return back and flashing back the Concordia and its surrounding weather, grief,
ways and more… through this, I was almost running towards skardu. It took me two
and half days to arrive skardu and three more days have to travel to home town
Machulo (Khaplu). I clearly remembered that at that time only a jeep road was
between skardu and Khaplu where only Army was traveling. Though I met few people
in the way from Skardu to Khaplu but I didn’t share my story with them and
excitements were on peak to see the home town and family.
I reached, Alhamdullilah! ShukarYa Allah and did SAJDA E SHUKR to ALLAH while
stepping in the home town.
I realized after meet with my colleagues that, these all took approximately one
month to get back to home”.
{No Doubt, ALLAH is the Greatest}