The place where we volunteered was a relief camp of Falaah-e-Insaaniyat Foundation (FIF) at Makli, near Thatta.
We assembled at midnight at the designated spot where the truck of good was to be loaded. When we arrived, we saw that there were a lot of people there helping with the loading. As we went to give out a helping hand, the supervisor told us that we were to conserve our energies and that our need would arise at the time of unloading. We didn't fully understood the meaning of his word until the time the truck was completely loaded. It turned out that only a handful of us were to travel to the camp as the space was limited because we were to travel at the front top of the truck.
Though we sat cramped there and the constant rocking of the truck made it impossible to sleep, but the journey at the top of the truck was an experience on it's own. It was like a front seat ticket to the scenic beauty that we were to witness later in the journey.
Anyways, we left from Karachi at around 2.30 am. At around 4 am, we stopped at a road side dhaaba for Sehri where another another FIF truck of goods and volunteers was waiting for us. We did Sehri together and then both the trucks went on to continue the journey together. We made a stop at a petrol pump in Gharro to pray Fajr.
Seeing the sun rise from the top of the truck was a remarkable experience. The light from the sun and the pleasant atmosphere of the early morning really emphasized all the scenic beauty along the way. We just stood there at the top of the truck captivated by the blissful beauty that surrounded us.
And it was during that came one of my favorite moment of the journey.
The road we were traveling on was a two lane road. There was a white Mehran full of young adults (perhaps university students) going towards Karachi which was the opposite direction to ours. On seeing us from far, they pulled over and started flashing their lights to get our attention.
And when we did looked at them, we found them all saluting at us. It was extremely touching - to be appreciated by total strangers.
I guess they were volunteers too who were returning after doing their bit. But it was the act of appreciation that struck me immensely.
A sense of unity overcame me at that time and I felt, for the first time, as to how we were all in this together. Although all of us are trying to help in our individual capacity, our purpose is the same. It is only by our collaborative effort that we can overcome this huge calamity.
Why should we be sitting and complaining that the effort of THOSE RESPONSIBLE is inadequate when we, the people, can work together and make a difference?
No comments:
Post a Comment