I remember the day when hunger games begin at afternoon in the town. Sitting in the car, eating burger and fries and gratifying the stream of music, who knows the scenario is going to shambles the very next moment. But what’s that? I wonder when I give ear to the chords outside the car. What’s happening? Are these crackers? I meditate on. I turn around the back and hey what I am seeing is I never experienced before. Some people appear from various corners with nonstop firing. Oh wow! The fire. So far I am excited about the moment, murmuring to watch the whole arena. It’s a terrorist attack on DPO office in Dera Ismail Khan adjacent to Public School. The School! Hundreds of children and teachers are on life risk? Just imagine. What’s forward? Both the groups are in police uniform. What’s up? Why they are fighting against themselves? A policeman standing just two steps from me, shouted, ‘Taliban Taliban’. The opposite group is the terrorists. Critical moment, my driver shouts to sit back and let’s run away. No! The first thought I am having is my brothers and sisters inside the school. Hundreds of children and teachers are likely to face the horrible scenario. You know, it’s my former school. Hey I can’t leave. Keeping my morale high, I am standing in the roar of bullets. But the other moment, what my eyes are watching is the orange reddish skyline, you know what? It blasted. Oh my God, the man is flying in the air and he’ll never come back. The life is over in just a second. 

It’s around 1:30pm and the classes are going to be over. The parents are waiting outside the gate for their children but what I am seeing is that everyone runs away. The guard on the other side called ‘Sojhla go inside, fast, go inside’. He pushed me inside the gate. I can stand here but the nature wants something else. Running towards the class, looking for my cousin sister. Oh God, she is there. She runs and hugs me. Oh you are here I feel secure now, she giggled. Those feelings, I can’t put them in words. Her friends gather around me, crying that Sojhla is here. I shouted, I am here for you! They smiled with tears. The evil monsters are making the children cry as if we are grounded? The fear all around! What I hear next is the second blast which shakes the ground. Gosh! Dad, I need you here. And just that moment, the bell rings, oh it’s my dad calling. Shojh? Yes Baba! And the third blast. Here I lose my morale. ‘Baba do u hear that’? ‘Relax my daughter, all in control. We are here. Just be there with the other people’. No more setbacks, I am alive. We are the defenders. And again I gained my morale. The tears in the eyes of those who teach us to stay brave, makes my heart down. Hey ma’am, what’s wrong? ‘I don’t know what is going to happen next. I need to see my family’. Holding her hands, ma’am, we all are together. You see? One thing I know, terrorists can’t undo us. You just wait. 

I really don’t know the developing situation but I am motivating and I am not nervous. Can you believe it? Because I can totally see myself leading a track in Wimberley. Driving one of those Hummers, who know I might have to wrestle the lion or do something even more dangerous. Just wait, they will write a book about me. These are thoughts one can imagine in the situation I am facing. Isn’t it funny? But true, trust me. Coming to the next part, you know the heart is the most sensitive part of human, the children are in shocks, I put my hands on their shoulders, relax girls! What do you think, how you can deliver, she cried. My father is on life risk, he is outside there to ensure our safety, someone to save him. This is drowning! It’s hard taking care of all my brothers and sisters. It is dramatic, scaring, but somehow exciting.

Forget it, the reality is that we are detained for now. But my hopes get higher and higher. You know why? Because they are here. Who? The Pakistan Army, the forces, who are fighting for our freedom. I am relaxed. We are now moving towards the quarters of the school guard. Huh, this is congested. But the children are getting better, talking to each other, some laughing upon the situation, as if its funny? Maybe.

I want to mention that all the time my brothers in the other campus are in my mind. Thinking all the way in the thunder of bullets and blasts, you find? I badly need to see them. Oh God, keep them save. My mother is waiting for us to return and have some lunch. I think my voice is going way. But then you know what I find, a young handsome boy smiling and saying to her teacher, I am fine! Tell my mom not to worry about, I am a brave boy. We can handle this. Yes! We can. After the exchange of bullets of almost two hours, I can feel peace in the air. What I am hearing? We are safe now because Pakistan Army won the game for us. I am sure you know of whom I am talking about. One and only, the Defenders of the Nation ‘The Pakistan Army’. And what I said before that we can’t be grounded. Now I can move out of the so called cage, do you know I can fly? No really, I can. Alright I am excited. I just can’t wait to see my brothers there safe and sound and I will, oh! I just can’t wait. Going in the queue and being covered by the soldiers is a huge swag. Have you ever heard anything cooler than that? Lol. Hey, my brothers are safe there. I just can’t control my feelings. This is driving me just crazy. We all are together now, talking, laughing and celebrating the win. But look what I see there, the Mom and Dad are standing there extending their arms and hugging their children. Can you just feel such emotions? It’s love. It’s different. Trust me. I can feel that. After some moments, we move towards our homes and the air is cooler than ever. Wow, I am alive and I really can lead the track now. We can never be defeated. I love Pakistan Army and feel proud of them. I Army!