Girl in Kalaam

It was a beautiful turn of events when I got the chance of touring Kalaam, the northern pride of Pakistan-Paradise on Earth. Our van got stuck in the traffic on the drive up the rocky mountain so we had to walk until the road was cleared. It was autumnly sunny. The gushing of the river on either sides had a sense of sweetness, a sign of welcoming guests. The city was surrounded by tall trees and cloud touching mountains.

I would often take my backpack and explore the alive giant mountains of Kalaam. There were apple trees and tomato fields. The drizzling music and the honey sweet smell would automatically drive my legs towards the tempting, unseen nature. Upon reaching my destination, I would see water tumbling down hillsides in a series of mini water falls. The water would tinkle in a laughing sort of way and I would imagine that this was the sort of place fairies might live in. The grey rocks would be slippery as I would cross the stream. I had to be careful not to fall and would cross the stream with bare feet. It was a waterfall of glacier melt water.I wish I had brought along Frankie(my dog) as well. It was simply a place for a good drink and a good wash.

The nights would be cold and  breezy. My bed would be in front of the curtainless, rectangular glassless window. I would cover myself with a blanket, staring at the dancing shadows and listening to the whispering melody of the swaying trees, reminding me of my secret cinema back in Cairo.

The wind blew, the petals flew, and what's clearer than a cloudless, star-filled, deep dark blue sky? That's the reality of being.