A half-empty bus, more number of escort vehicles and three passengers turned back to Pakistan from Wagah, Khaleeq-ur-Rehman’s return journey on the Sada-e-Sarhad was a sharp contrast to the festive mood which marked his trip on July 11 aboard the same bus.‘‘Something was amiss. And now I learn that there has been a fresh round of attack by militants in J-K. I really should have brought Nuzhat back with me.’’Rehman was compelled by his ailing father-in-law to leave his wife Nuzhat back in Karachi for two more weeks. ‘‘I didn’t know about the situation here. Otherwise, I would have reconsidered that decision,’’ he said lifting his six-year-old daughter Faria on to a cycle-rickshaw as we made our way back to his Hauz Kazi residence in the Walled City.Reports of five persons being killed in Katra yesterday and the two attacks today — one of which targeted top Army officials in Northern Command — on a military camp clearly rattled Rehman. ‘‘Aise to yeh bus kabhi bhi ruk sakti hai. Allah kare ke aisa na ho. Magar is sab se to darr lagta hai ki Parliament attack ke baad waale din laut aayenge (This way the bus service can come to a halt anytime. Hope Allah does not let this happen. But the way things are going, one fears that the days after the attack on Parliament will return).’’The repeated mention of these incidents by his relatives and friends who had come to receive him at the Dr Ambedkar Bus terminal here seemed to have lend some meaning to the unease Rehman had experienced throughout the journey today.‘‘They were so strict on the Indian side of Wagah. One Afghan holding an American passport, his Afghan wife and a Chinese had to return from the border because we don’t permit Chinese, Bangladeshi and Afghan nationals to enter by road. The one with the American passport was permitted to enter, but he obviously could not leave his wife behind, so he too went back.’’Abruptly, he turned his eyes to Faria who was couched comfortably in the rickshaw looking with familiarity at the bylanes of the Walled City, also her playground: ‘‘Kal se school jana hai (You have to go to school from tomorrow).’’Unimpressed by the suggestion, she ultimately found the answer to a question asked to her several times through the journey. ‘‘You know why Karachi is better than India? I don’t have school there.’’Homecoming for Faria meant a speedy reunion with her cousins whom she had left just over two months ago. Grandmother Sajida’s efforts to draw her attention failed until Rehman reminded her of the gifts Nuzhat had packed for the cousins.Faria shot back: ‘‘Papa, we are coming from Pakistan not Dubai that you have to announce the gifts in my bag.’’By then the cousins had gathered around her with much anticipation. The bag was finally opened. Out came the chocolates, little toys and some imitation jewellery. Rehman smiled at his daughter, turned back and said: ‘‘It is this emotion that all of us finally live for, isn’t it?’’
