A Cold Dark Night

by Zeeshan Shah (Pakistan)

I didn't expect to find Pakistan

I was traveling on a dark winter night , on my way to my old college in the hills. I was short on time as not only was a running late, the gates of the college closed earlier than usual, due to sever icy chunks of snow pilling up, in and across Murree Hills- The Hilly Town , 2 hours from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. It was a moment in Nostalgia. I was a former graduate from Lawrence College in 1991, invited this time by the honorable principal to come and attend the Independence Day celebrations that were being held this weekend. And my transportation was delayed. January can be a cruel month for the folks by the hills, with gates and markets closed by 6 pm . Timing is everything and my timing was off . Hills were as high as the trees surrounding them. With a dimly lit road crawling up like snake up the mountain, the car struggled to take the uplift turns after every minute, leaving us at a disadvantage. No shops were opened. It was a ghost town- an icy cold white ghost town. It was almost 11 at night as the vehicle struggled to gain foothold up hill on the long grinding road, narrowing down at times, with an occasional car whizzing by from the opposite end. Few miles ahead was a road sign pointing to Lawrence College- an arrow marked on the right. It was supposedly a shorter route, that directly went to the college, cutting down the journey by half an hour. But a road less taken. Used to be a small zoo nearby the college; i wondered. "Is it still there " ? The wind bit my ankles and feet as i stepped out of the car by a road-side diner to grab a warm cuppa coffee. It was freezing as i stood there. Close by folk were sitting by the fire. I joined in, while the driver checked the car for battery water. " Do not drive further tonight "- a voice echoed from the group. " Wild Animals roam the night "; said an old man. I realized they meant well. I had a deadline to meet, plus i had a car that would take me there eventually. Or so i thought anyway. Miles ahead was a huge road block. An avalanche ! Part of the steep mountain had broken loose with tons of ice-packed rocks on the road. Disaster. Frozen cold greeted us as we approached the bends, ending up at the partition block, cordoned off by yellow barrier marked in red; " DANGER"- it read. A man waiting by the curb approached us. " Go back " ! he said. i saw his badge as he came closer, holding a flashlight, as he pointed to his badge. " It is not safe here and some animals from the zoo have escaped". "Oh my GOD", I was shaken and shocked. The car engine suddenly stopped as the ignition went off. " This is not happening": i muttered. The trooper spoke on a wireless phone to his team , who were in the area close by. " A wolf has escaped from the zoo" , he replied. That one hit me like a bullet. " Leave now ", he said as he took out his shotgun from the holster. I looked at the driver . He had this sheepish look on his face. The battery was gone. My mind was racing. " Hey wait ! There is the old college church nearby. I know where it is. Its a path that leads to it from here. That is our chance. Lets go ! " . "How do you know ", the officer surprisingly asked. " I just know" , i said. " Yes, there is one church here" - he confirmed . " You must be from Lawrence College". I told him that i was a graduate on my way back there. " Good Luck and be careful " , he waved as we disappeared down the terrain searching for his team. We started walking fast , through 2 feet of snow hitting us. I saw the church lights at a distance. I prayed to God, as i didnt expect to find the church so soon. "God, please let us reach there soon " i prayed. The distant wolf howled in the night. God saved us that night.