My classmates decided to have hiking trip. As usual, I was excited for the trip. I was holding utmost excitement in my heart. It was my first time to hike up on the hill.
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I slept late at night, that's why i got up late. I thought that trip bus would have gone. I felt sadness in my heart but then i received a call of my class fellow. He said; why you aren't coming, We are waiting for you....
Soon after his call, I got up, took bath and changed my dress.
My mates waited for me for thirty minutes. It means i am worthful for them.
The trail we selected for hiking was trail 5. It is also known as Jungle track. My eyes were sleepy. My sleep was demanding bed but i was not allowing my eyes to wink. I tried to be active as the bumpy road is about to start.
Before starting hike, We clicked some group photos to keep in the book of memories. My degree is ending and in these last semesters we are more into making memories and living moments together.
We started our journey towards the peak of hills. I was looking around at the wildeness. It was all green, free, fresh and new to me.
I was walking in groups but i am more into enjoying my trips solo. I want to experience moments in solitude. I walked out of my group and headed toward a gigantic tree. Beneath this gigantic tree, there was a graveyard. I looked at broken graves, broken bricks and falling leaves. These leaves were making noise beneath my shoes.
I stopped by forest nursery of Margalla National Park. My class mates walked with me. A gardener was watering the plants. These plants were baby plants and under observation of the forestory department.
I asked the name of plants. Gardener told us that these are plants of "Chinar" that are suitable for forest in Margalla hills.
Amidst conversation, sunlight, music and thoughts we were hiking for the destination. We were laughing over our mandane and sudden jokes.
Though, I was enjoying the fun company of my friends but i was observing and looking at everything that was around.
A well or may be small spring was there. We headed towards it and started discussing..... "What it would be?"
Jungle was quite, wild and making different noises at the same time. I listened to sound of leaves falling, leaves flapping each other and sparrows making---chu---chu.
My friends who were looking more like rockstars were asking me to take their pictures. I took some pictures of them. We were sitting for a while and then walking for another while.
Leaves were looking like a brown carpet on the land. This carpet is relaxing as you get to hear the crunchy screams of leaves.
Though, it was my first hiking experience but i was not tired after hiking in first half hour but my mates were tired in first few mintues.
Heavy, huge and big rocks were around us. I assumed that it used to be the way of water. Water used to flow from these ways but now water has mend its ways. Now, water is flowing in other suitable dimensions.
We just covered third part of our hiking when we found a beautiful natural pond of water.
We sat by the natural pond and listened to the mesmerizing sound made by water. Water was flowing and making ways through the small and big rocks. It's sound was soothing to ears. It was perfect.
Deep down in my heart, I was curious to see the main spot from where water was springing out.....
In curiosity, I crossed some rocks and walked over wet rocks but it was miracle to see water without monitoring any specific spot.
The small weeds coming out of the rocks was the ultimate treat to my eyes.
The small cute rocks beneath the water were colorful as they take bath all the time. The algae over them was making them look beautiful and colorful.
We never stopped until we catched a beautiful Rawal Dam view point. It's a point from where you can see orange, golden and reddish ball of sun over the mountains. These mountains are hugging each other with lush greenery.
At this particular moment, my body was demanding water. My lips were dried up and I was hopeful to see water anywhere nearby. This was my fault that i didn't bring my water bottle with me.
Cool air was striking my cheeks, nose and ears. My overall face was feeling the chill in the air. My breathe was normal and fresh as i was walking in a fresh environment surrounded by Margalla hills.
Thanks to Allah, We found a treasure of water. We stopped at water spring. Water was coming from somewhere above. I took a water bottle from my friend and filled it with water. My mates washed their hands and faces with it.
Mates took sigh of relief over the rocks of water spring. I also sat down there and took out cake from my friend's handbag. I went there without breakfast that's why i was starving. I ate cake without taking permission 😆.
Till water spring, We covered half of the journey. From water springs, two ways were leading. One hiking way was zig zag but easy. The other on was steep and difficult to hike.
My mates got divided into different groups. Some mates were hiking through the steepy path and some choose the easy but long one.
I lost my mates and get interacted with new mates. They were also from university but didn't ask for their university. I was listening to their voices. They were helping each other, giving hands to others and hiking up with fun.
After a lot of zig zag hike, though i slipped at many spots but reached the valley type/ground type area between the middle of hills.
Thankfully, I met my mates over the top of hills. I asked them about their hiking experience. Some of fellows were short of breathe. They were looking like they are dying. Some students were drenched in sweat.
Everyone started resting over here. Not even a single person from my class wanted to hike more.
But, I was enthusiastic to reach the height. Though i was fully tired and my energy was drained but still i didn't stop walking.
I hiked out of the capacity. Some people alert me not to hike up. They told me that there is a gigantic rock that is difficult to cross.
Once i reached to the gigantic rock, I didn’t crossed it as i was having fear of falling or slipping down. But, seeing the people, who were crossing it successfully, helped me to be more confident to cross it.
Courageously, I crossed the big rock and a beautiful and scenic view of hills was waiting for me. Cool breeze was kissing my cheeks and ears. I was feeling the air touching me.
As i was disconnected from my mates so there was no one to take any picture of me. A person was standing on a rock to whom i requested to take pictures of me. He took some strange pictures of me while my lips were fully dried up.
I was carrying an empty bottle but there was no water inside it. I was eating the chill wind and living the air. Overall, The hills were giving me motivation to live more without thinking of water.
People were busy in taking pictures of them. A group of students danced infront of me. I enjoyed their dance moves while i was busy in conversation with foreigners. I got to know that those foreigners became locals in Islamabad as they do work in American Embassy. They shared their experiences with me and i narrated some things from my life.
Though, my legs were cursing me of constant walking but curiosity inside me was not allowing me to stop. Foreigners were motivation for me as they were hiking without even complaining that they are tired. I hiked up more and more.
I tried some different and funny poses to take my pictures. A hiker was sitting on next rock and was drinking water. I thought of asking water from me but introvert person inside me restricted me.
I heard distant chattering of people. They were four people who were hiking down and going back.
I followed their pathway and reached to them. They were surprised to see me. They told me that they don't even know the way back. I was also blank about the way.
It was more like trackless path amidst the wilderness of the jungle. Chill of fear was running through my spine. All of us were cracking jokes over life, death and Leopards. Deep in my heart, I was fearful of encountering any animal inside this wilderness.
We saw a rock over which marks of leopard's feet were visible. It heightened the fear in our heart still we were laughing and enjoying our conversation.
Suddenly, two people appeared in front of us. They guided us the right way to hike down. They resumed confidence among us otherwise i was frightened of the way.
After a while, I even lost those unfamiliar faces who were walking with them. I left them behind and started hiking down fastly. Suddenly, something aroused afraid inside me. It was movement of fallen leaves. These leaves were rolling down and i was afraid that there is some leopard who is going to attack me. I suprresed my fear and suppressed my screams and shrieks.
Somehow with heavy struggle i saw a hope of light. I saw faces of my fellows. I was happy to see them. My mate was sitting on a high rock.
The funny thing is that i was encountered by a cow who was staring at me. I was even afraid of her that she might hit me with her horns and she was looking fierce to me. I was already afraid.
Due to cow, I choose steepy path to reach my mates who were sitting on high rock. I sat with them and discussed life and other things. We talked about student life, ending degree, trips, tours and making memories.
I was thirsty like thirsty crow and hungry like a cat searching for food from home to home and from place to place.
My mate, sitting besides me, offered her water bottle and snacks to me. I finished them in one gulp.
My friend went down and he took some good photos of me like i am walking out of the rock.
We were waiting for our other class fellows to come down but they took two complete hours to come down.
Three of us, decided to hike down as we wanted to finish this journey as early as we can.
Hamza was sitting on trunks of trees, hiking with a stick. I was hiking down and sometimes holding hand of my friend who was too tired to hike. She was crying but still hiking down.
We reached in the middle of our hiking journey. It was the spot of water spring from where we filled our warer bottle while we were hiking up. We sat there and enjoyed the sunlight that was crossing through the green leaves of the trees. I enjoyed the floating sound of water and a monkey who was jumping from one tree to another.
Hamza clinged on my back. Everyone was calling me to unload him from my back but i was carrying him until i was about to fall.
On our way back, we looked at the dried up rocks. Once water used to flow through these rocks.
We rested for a while in the sitting park of the management building. We all were tired and hiked enough.
I was hearing the mesmerizing song coming from distance. They were two performers and no one was noticing their effort but they were singing beautifully. It was beautiful time when i enjoyed sunset while listening to song.
Our bus was waiting for us. We all rushed to bus and headed to have our dinner after getting fully tired of hiking.
