Novel: AN UNWANTED FLIGHT
A safe escape
‘These are mausoleums of 11th century remarkable Ghaznvaid rulers, one the most famous is Mahmud Ghaznavi,’ Houbara read a rusted sign board at side.
‘Ghazni, it had been a magnificent city of Afghanistan which was once a capital of powerful Ghouri and Ghanznvi dynasties of time.
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| mausoleum of Mahmud Ghaznavi at front Ghazni,Afghanistan |
I believe
this part wouldn’t look so desolate and deserted in those days. It was a hub
of literature, art and poetry like Iran. It had been a preferred and safest pathway
of traders and warriors from Russia, Turkey and China to conquer north for centuries. I just wonder how
civilizations continue to shift its centre of power with time.’
Crane was also mesmerized by gazing at those shrines. They had peaceful night at single dry Oak tree circled with bushes near an American army base. At early morning with a sound of Fajr azan call, they opened their eyes. Many cheerful pigeons, parrots and migratory Houbara bustard circled them as of uncovering fog.
They were resident of those feeble towers now.
Crane was also mesmerized by gazing at those shrines. They had peaceful night at single dry Oak tree circled with bushes near an American army base. At early morning with a sound of Fajr azan call, they opened their eyes. Many cheerful pigeons, parrots and migratory Houbara bustard circled them as of uncovering fog.
They were resident of those feeble towers now.
‘Who are you?’ a
beautiful crowned pigeon flew closer.
‘We’re migratory birds from Siberia to China but have
been driven towards here but soon we’ll leave this place,’ crane elucidated in
a single breath.
‘Why you want to leave? Afghanistan has wetlands, marshes and orchards to feed migratory birds. It’s calm to stay here. Every
year, Houbara and other migratory birds stay and breed at the bushes and
wetlands of Afghanistan. You both can stay here till spring somewhere at Kol e Hashmat Khan Marshes with
black-winged stilt, egrets and pelicans,’ one of Houbara left its eggs in nest
and flew down to tower.
‘But Afghanistan is at war. Is it safe for birds?’
‘Where the drone missiles prey the humans like falcons, people
get divided and killed at name of religion and revenge; there at least birds
are safe. Yes, sometimes we caught by cross fires but no one here consider us to kill to seek pleasurable life
from our meat like Arabs do. No one trap cranes to massacre or to decorate
their farms like Iranian. No visitors come to towns for birdwatching. Wetlands are still safe of industrial pollution.
Afghans are struggling and just thinking hard to rebuilt their country,’ that
Houbara peeped across American army base and tried to convince them to stay
over there.
‘Umm…maybe you’re right but…,’ Houbara stopped by feeling something sliding under his paws.
'An earthquake!' all birds flew high.
Dust storm was making its way under one of the rotten towers like someone was protesting for its disconcert.
'What is this? I believe this is not an earthquake. we birds can sense it well,' Crane looked at Houbara.
'I don't have an idea...look the one of Ghazni tower is collapsing...OMG...,' they flew more high to avoid the cloud of brown powder. Another giant monument surrendered against terror, poverty and helplessness like many of its counterparts and only left 10 crumbling out of 32.
'I'm gone..I've to go one day but save the future...save your kids...to build new towers...,' The collapsing Ghazni tower was yelling under roar of dust.
Everything got vanished behind smoke of dust but soon settled down to know that it was not it's time to get furious. Many local Afghani pedestrians at roadside view the destruction of their history amused as it was just the mud giant without having soul, desires, pains and feelings like them. They were shattering and collapsing every single day at attacks of drones and missiles but still stand again.
They seemed to taunt on the tower at hearts.
Crane and Houbara hardly looked at each other after while.
'An earthquake!' all birds flew high.
Dust storm was making its way under one of the rotten towers like someone was protesting for its disconcert.
'What is this? I believe this is not an earthquake. we birds can sense it well,' Crane looked at Houbara.
'I don't have an idea...look the one of Ghazni tower is collapsing...OMG...,' they flew more high to avoid the cloud of brown powder. Another giant monument surrendered against terror, poverty and helplessness like many of its counterparts and only left 10 crumbling out of 32.
'I'm gone..I've to go one day but save the future...save your kids...to build new towers...,' The collapsing Ghazni tower was yelling under roar of dust.
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| collapsing tower of Ghazi,Afghanistan |
Everything got vanished behind smoke of dust but soon settled down to know that it was not it's time to get furious. Many local Afghani pedestrians at roadside view the destruction of their history amused as it was just the mud giant without having soul, desires, pains and feelings like them. They were shattering and collapsing every single day at attacks of drones and missiles but still stand again.
They seemed to taunt on the tower at hearts.
Crane and Houbara hardly looked at each other after while.
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| A minar of Ghazni mausoleum |
May be he wanted to show solidarity, a salute or a gesture of sympathy to war affected land, war affected hostage government and to war affected youth.
Siberian crane sat behind one american army tank to save him from dry cold winds. Houbara was fluttering here and there restless too.
They continued to fly over gardens of Babur at Kabul till Shrine of Cloak in Kandahar for days. They tasted delicious Afghan nuts to famous Kandahar pomegranates. Sometimes border does matter for birds too. Thoughts, culture, approach, behavior… all change suddenly as you crossed the man made lines. The scars of long war were evident all around in Afghanistan; dusty dirt roads, foreign security check posts, roaming white soldiers, below poverty line residents, scattered markets and above them on decayed mountain caves but still they decided to pass their time over there. One day both foul friends were hanging out near Kandahar border when they saw a long line of pedestrians, trucks and vehicles moving both side of a road which was partitioned with a big gate across long, high and enlightened security wall.
‘Let’s see if we can find any food stuff from there,’
Siberian crane flew near to one truck which was full of sacks of potatoes and
few empty crates.
‘Let me check in this crate,’ Houbara sat at one when
suddenly truck moved its engine and Houbara fell into one of them and caught up
tight.
‘Help, let me out,’ he screamed when truck was at high
speed on road.
‘Wait, let me see…,’ crane gazed around. Crane also
crumbled up in one of the crates as it was almost impossible for him to fly
alone in blind foggy night. The dusk was veiled in dense fog but sharp searchlights and security men were rummage around at each vehicle at gate. The truck
stopped at one point when a security man threw its torch on them, taken aback
for while, smiled and passed the vehicle to move forward. Houbara still was
trying to come out of crate and succeeded to fall it ups and down with help of
crane when beautiful visuals of fireworks in sky at dark, cold and foggy night
grabbed their attention.
‘Wow…,’ Houbara was mesmerized. The truck was slow at
road and stopped by a roadside hotel in a market.
‘It’s new year, Yes, its New Year night my friend and
we’re at Pakistan. I think at North Waziristan. We’ve been here before, you
remember crane…,’ Houbara cried excitedly after looking at the big LED TV at
hotel which was showing New Year celebrations all over the country….
‘The world is definitely round on that time we came from
China side till Lake Haliji,’ crane also peeped keyed up from truck....
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED
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2. ACROSS NILE
3. FUTURE EYE