In the Crevices of Memory

Chapter 1

"Skardu is just as beautiful as Dad had told me, even more than that," the thought came unbidden to Sara.

Riding in this cab, she drank the scenic beauty of this place, showing from this windowless side of the cab, it was like she was looking at the Instagram feed of a famous nature photographer. Those beautiful terrains of Karakoram highway, the crazy mountain tops, lush green fields, and that part of Indus River flowing just with her. She had forgotten its name. She couldn't get a flight directly here, so she had to hire a cabby.

The cab driver was an old talkative guy from a city called Lahore. He told her that he needed money and asked Allah (Muslims call their God) to get enough money to pay his rent. The landlord was nagging at him. It was hard to keep him off his door since he didn't want his neighbors to know about problems in his life. He thought God was helping him keep his secret.

Well, why wasn't He making this poor guy relieved from his the miseries of his life? She could only scoff inwardly at his prepositions. The things she had read about terrorism and it's constant association with Pakistan, she dared not to speak her thoughts aloud. Sara didn't have the habit of talking much with strangers anyway. The cabby clearly didn't share her philosophy, so he kept telling her about his life and Lahore in surprisingly immaculate English.

Though it was strange that she knew all about this small, mostly unpopular area of Pakistan; Skardu and had no inkling of what this Lahore was. That's how ancestry play.

The good news was that they were already at the end of their drive. Closing to Skardu, the capital of Baltistan. It was a long journey, they had been on the road since yesterday afternoon.

First the jet-lag then the road, she was tired to her bone and could not even guess how the driver was feeling by now. They only had stopped for refueling or grabbing something to eat. Otherwise, they were constantly traveling. She had dozed on and off the whole time, but the driver hadn't taken a single nap. She had suggested him to stop somewhere so he can rest, and he had laughed at the idea. Saying he had done worse, it was an easier journey for him. And he wanted to reach back his home soon.

Now that they had finally arrived, Sara was mesmerized by the place's beauty. It must be the heaven every religious person can't stop talking about. "Well, I sure have suffered enough, now is my heaven-ing time." She thought with a bitter smile.

"This place is beautiful, isn't it?" The cabby said.

"Yes, I am speechless," Sara said. Her voice was like in a hypnotism.

"Where do you want me to drop you, child?" He asked, smiling as a parent does when they see their child liking their new toy.

"Any of local hotels." She said, snapping her out of the reverie.

She hadn't thought about her accommodations while taking her sudden leave. Among all that she was going through, she had completely forgotten all the pre-planning or even contacting her Mom to tell her that she was leaving, maybe forever.

Guilt came to her unbidden. No matter what she was going through, this behavior was pure selfishness.

The cabby had noticed her expressions darkening and had stopped talking.

He dropped her in front of a hotel with an odd name. "Shangri-La resort", that name had more of a Chinese origin. This place was near China, but it was still Pakistan. Even the architecture was Chinese style.

Paying the driver, double his fare, she was about to turn when he stopped her.

"Son, you are paying more than the actual fare." Not taking the money from her hands.

"It's okay uncle (he had suggested her to call him that). I have done that intentionally." She said, pushing them forward.

"But why. I thought we had that decided the fare in Islamabad." Uncle mentioned the name of the capital.

"At that time, I had no idea that the journey was this long." She said, smiling.

"Son, if you do that. I will feel as you have taken pity on me. I will feel ashamed of myself for telling you my life's problem and disgrace myself. If you still feel I owe this money, then what can I say. Maybe I wasn't worth my self-respect after all." His voice was normal, too normal it spooked her. Silently, she took the extra amount back.

What sort of guy was he? Who wouldn't want a bit of rightfully earned extra money?

The cab left and she returned her attention to this epitome of architectural beauty. Even Dad hadn't told her about this aspect of Skardu. It was a resort. All she wanted was a place to sleep for some nights. Maybe even tomorrow, she will get her chance to leave with proper accommodations. Such a shame. The architecture alone required some days of proper study.

The red ceilings, with intricate patterns designed in the woodwork. The giant doors, the lake in the middle. The interesting outdoor designing.

Well, this place wasn't going anywhere, neither was she. She could come here and explore anytime she want. For now, she had to focus on tomorrow. And ready herself to face what was to come.