NEVER A STRANGER

NEVER A STRANGER

1

Did I even dream that my life would change within these past ten days? Life became too monotonous living here at Sri Lanka. Me being Sarah probably a teacher, got a month holiday. I wanted to use this holiday to have a break. Have a break from this monotonous routine. Yes, I wanted a change, a change to be free, to find myself, rebuild myself and free my heavy burdened heart. Yes, my heart was broken. Two unstable love chapters ruined my peaceful life. Not real heroes but cowards and I did not want to end up with them. They were nothing but just some nightmares. I wanted to get rid of all these troubles in my mind. This month as a holiday, I wanted to seek my individuality through my friends. Got a seminar to be attended at North Indian University of Amritsar. Uh, it would be wonderful because I am to be going with my close related friends who were also teachers of the same school. Yes, this would be better and indeed I took this as an opportunity to be happy. But did I know then or did you know that this is going to be the most devasted trip I am gonna try. Dear reader, I will take you back to my days at Chandigarh and narrate you those days of my life.
It was time to get prepared for a so said journey amidst the restrictions came from mom. She wasn't at all satisfied with my jovial ideas, may be because I was a little more amicable than anyone was. Indeed she was afraid of my security and it took some time to reassure her about my safety. We were altogether seven. Seven lovable friends to travel with the coordinator annd two other supporters from the team. All ten were about to travel on Monday 22nd of April. We had two days time to pack up our things and we did it very enthusiastically. It was sad leaving Sri Lanka but I always wanted to visit India and may be are why I couldn't bid a better farewell to my family. I can still remember my mom's  face looking at me as if I am never going to return.
Finally, Amritsar. Located in the North Indian provice, it was such an enormous beauty. I loved the view at once. We had a month to rest here and spread happiness. I loved the idea and thought that this was what I yearned for. My friends and me, we hired two rooms in the hostel itself. First day was a repose to everyboday as indeed we were dog tired. Second day dawned fresh and we were asked to join our classes at 8 a.m. Life turned out to be relatively normal once again. Two days classes, one day free, this is not what I expected or why I came here. I wanted something new. After having some discussions with our coordinator we used our third day to explore the beautiful city. We had a very nice time eating, roaming , singing and many more. While returning, Zahra saw a lake a little bit closer to our hostel. She bursts her plan of having some nice time at the lake.
We should not have undertaken this idea. But we did. Gathering up the clothes we tip toed to the lake becuase we were not allowed to go alone. Bathing in the lake was too wonderful. This kind of lake was a better place for hiding, covered with greenery everywhere and not a sound to be heard except the sound of water splashing through the rocks. We changed into our bathing skirts and started dancing about. I say you, this was horrible but pleasant at the same time. You should see how Hiflaa started wading into the water and one by one followed her. It was beginning to get dark. Not that it was getting evening but because of the dark clouds. So it was better we moved on now.
While about to move, something strange happened. Suddenly some men began to sprang at us. For a second I did not know what was going on. It happened suddenly like a thunderbolt. I was struck and didn't know what to do. Probably there would have been around four to five men. They were all covered with black shawls around their faces. We couldn't recognise a single person. All we could do was shout and shout we did. This panic situation urged us to run away. But who knew that fortune was so bad with me even at this time, why did I have to slip and cut my ankle? I started bleeding and shouted in pain. My friends came back to rescue me. Shereen tried her best to pull me. But one strong hand rescued me. Did he rescue me? No not at all. He grabbed me. A strong arm around me, the pain of my ankle, I did my best to free myself and found out that I wasn't that strong as I imagined myself to be. All my friends returned back and pleaded them to leave me. But they did not. This is all I could remember for I think I might have fainted for the loss of blood or for the way he hold me. I really did not know.