It was a nice evening when we
received a call from the coordinator as he had planned an excursion trip. We
gathered in the female staff room; all the teachers were sitting for a table
talk to discuss where to go and how to go. The legend teachers, Sir Arif, Sir
Ahmad Mehmood Sipra, Sir Hamid Naveed and Mam Amina gave their precious,
argumentative and eloquent ideas; in the beginning it was considered to visit
Khora in Chakwal but a teacher said; I have been there many times, then a
teacher said; what about Thandiyani? I said; I am afraid it may snow fall these
days and I really dislike cold weather I have to live more to teach the nation.
When it was the matter of the day for departure; it seemed very complicated as
all the teachers are going through hectic routine life. Three of the teachers
decided not to join the trip as they would not be able to manage time for their
professional, domestic and academic purposes. At last under the supervision of
Sir Aqleem and Mam Amina it was decided to visit Murree and the surroundings.
The meeting was ended with all responsibilities putting on the head of Sir Ahmad
Mehmood Sirpa to manage each and everything smoothly. In the end it was decided
to go on the coming weekend; the teachers including the above mentioned
personalities; Mam Rabia, Mam Kishwar, Mam Iqra, Mam Shumaila, Mam Sidra, Mam
Afsheen, Mam Ghazal, Mam Amina Sidique and Mam Saima nod expressing their
willingness to join the trip.
Last night Sir Ahmad ranged me informing about the schedule and asked me to get
up early and sharply come at university at exact 8am. I got finished proof
reading of four synopses that I am supervising and then went to bed around 12am
after setting the alarm.
I got up at 5am and offered my prayer and began to make the necessary
preparations. I pressed my clothes and packed a sweater and over coat in a small
hand bag. I was reading the online newspapers meanwhile I received a call from
Sir Ahmad; he said; sir it is raining cats and dog, what should we do now? I
said; don’t worry sir, it will stop after two hours. We will go on our trip; he
said; ok, I will contact other teachers as well.
I reached at university at exact 8am; my colleagues both male and female
teachers were waiting for me and two other teachers. All the teachers were
looking fresh and excited as it was our first ever faculty trip since we joined
NUML. When I got into the van; I found sir Aqleem with a register. He asked me;
Abdul Rehman, are you free in this period? I said; sir where are you? He said;
sorry I thought if we were at staff room. All the teachers laughed but sir
Aqleem said; I was just kidding. The van started moving towards high way, we
recited some verses and spelled upon the body to gain spiritual safety.
On the way we opened the widows and refreshed ourselves with the slightly
raining drops. The hills were wearing bleached clothes, the sun disappeared from
the scene. On the way, we listened to naats, qowali and songs. When we felt the
song collection was boring; we sang songs and enjoyed a lot. We dedicated songs
to all the teachers remaking the lines. Some of our teachers read their
self-made poetries in rhythmic voice. It was a fun even during traveling on the
steep roads towards the hilly lands. Sir Hamid and Sir Arif expressed their
thought provoking ideas about different things related to every sphere of life.
We reached at the bottom of Murree and decided to go for hiking; all the
teachers started walking towards the hilly hard and smooth paths. We reached at
Murree mall road and decided to have coffee with burgers at a restaurant. We
were waiting for coffee; suddenly Sir Aqleem spoke out Abdul Rehman! Where is
your glass? I said; my class? He said; no, I mean your glass if you want to
drink water, it is very pure and natural water. I said; sir it is not water, it
is 7up bottle in your hand.
After waiting for half an hour, our demand was served; we took coffee along with
burgers and enjoyed the light refreshment. We again got ready for our next walk
towards Kashmir view point. There were hundreds of tourists everywhere wandering
and storing the natural scenes in their smart phones. I asked Sir Ahmad to go
for horse riding. We hired two horses and went across the lush green hilly
pastures. When I got a kick on the horse’s belly, it quickly moved ahead and
began running so fast. After a few minutes, it went out of control and ran
faster among the trees towards a slope hilly route. I called for help but there
was nobody as Sir Ahmad was left behind. I was afraid as if the horse was a
kidnaper’s spy. At last I jumped off the horse; I got injured in my hands and
legs but I walked back to the spot from where I hired the horse. When the
teachers saw me in a very critical condition; they came closer to me and tied
bondage on my left hands as it was injured severely. They gathered at a green
place and sat in semi-circle position. All the teachers expressed their feelings
and excitement about the trip; they seemed great enthusiastic and passionate
inhaling the fresh air into their exhausted lungs. I also inhaled the puff of
fresh hilly air into my lungs and washed the contaminated air exhaling the way
out. I felt my head very light as there was no tension in the hilly areas.
Taking benefit from the serene and tranquil place we discussed syllabus and the
whole course. We shared our knowledge and ideas about effective teaching and
learning methodologies with each other as we believe share your knowledge it is
the way to get immortality.
The panoramic view where we were sitting was really like a paradise; there were
hundreds of pine trees and lush green hills and thundering sky above our head,
chirping birds in the trees, decorated horses waiting for the people, a man
playing a traditional music sitting with a lamb and a monkey on a rock, two dogs
running here and there without any purpose but were enjoying in such a natural
valley. The slum children providing required services to the tourists like
mending and polishing the shoes, driving cart for the old and special citizens,
couple of people sitting on the edges of the hill tops and discussing their
domestic chores, the sun in the sky constantly trying to come out of the trap of
clouds, the rain spraying upon the tourists as if it is welcoming the new
comers; all these natural views consume the soft hearts and attract the
tourists’ attention and insist them to dwell there forever. I was lost in the
natural views and was flying over the hills but fell off smoothly with the rain
drops. I again climbed on a cloudy chair and flew over the hills and observed
everything from the heavenly sights. I sat at the top of a pine tree and
listened to the chirping birds as they were excited seeing hundreds of human
beings who had brought spicy and fresh things to eat. They were looking on the
surface where the tourist were taking their lunch so that they could land
quickly to collect the remaining but alas! I did not have anything in my pocket
to entertain the hosts who were sitting in the trees singing melodious songs
just to entertain the guests.
After having lunch I asked Sir Mansoor to go for a walk together; he accompanied
me but on the way he received a call from his home and he informed his parents
that he is enjoying with good health. I noticed and felt that his parents are
much more careful about him as they rang him almost every two hour. We captured
the panoramic and charismatic views in our cell phones. It was 3pm, I was
feeling hungry so we all gathered at a spot and barbequed chicken and mutton.
Suddenly I heard a knock at the door; it was my cousin calling me for breakfast.
It was a dream as I fell asleep waiting for Sir Ahmad to ring me back but went
on a dreamy trip as if it was real. When I started taking my breakfast Sir Ahamd
rang me informing that the trip was postponed due to heavy rain.