#KashmirFloods Part 3)

Suddenly, some more panicked voices of elderly men, women and children disrupted my sleep. I searched my phone ( so called smartphone which remains dudphone if you don't charge its battery in every 24 hours) as there was no light in my room. It was 4:36 AM in my phone. I opened my room's door without making a noise and went outside till stairs. I saw my neighbours collecting and taking their goods to the 2nd floor of our building. Soon a young girl(Simran Kaur, I came to know about her name on that day only) appeared and caught my arm, took me to that place from where flood water was entering. Earlier she could never had gathered courage to utter a single word to me (it doesn't mean that I look so fearsome or ferocious). But that day she was unstoppable it seemed. She continued to speak in Hindi "Aap abhi uthe hain, wo dekho paani pehli paudi ke uper chadh aaya hai,  jao jao fir jaakar so jao," and turned towards her mum and again said, "Mummy yeh dekho Ravinder Sir ab uthe hain ". I didn't answer instead smiled and came back to my room. Outside my room I felt that people were crying like anything. Everywhere it was so hue and cry I felt. Till this time I was cool and calm. But I thought that let's check again where that water level has risen up in the stairs. I went outside immediately and checked again, I was stunned to find that the water level was on the fourth step. Now, I was sweating profusely Hindi mein bole toh "apni toh sitti pitti gum ho gyi ". And the biggest reasons of this nervousness were my Civil Services Exam notes and my wardrobe with clothes which were unmanageable to take to the 2nd floor in such a short span of time. But somehow I collected myself and took out all my books and notes in some carry bags, bedsheets and chaddars. Some people who had finished to take their goods upto 2nd floor were really co-operative. They came to my room and extended helping hand. Otherwise it would have been impossible to get my all books and notes to the 2nd floor. I shall always be thankful to those fellows. As and when I will get a chance I will reciprocate. Meanwhile the water level was upto the topmost step of stairs and it was about to enter in my room. Some more people entered into my room. This time Kamal Raina Sir came there who is an entrepreneur cum a government servant. He said hurry up and took all my clothes and my suits from my wardrobe in a single shot. I am really thankful to him for this great help otherwise all my clothes would have been in flood water for atleast 15 days. And these must have lost their shine I swear. Now, Simran Kaur's papa took my gas cylinder and Rice bag and Wheat flour bags. Till this time water entered into my room....that muddy, foul smelled water entered into my room. Oh my God.. For the first time I was hating something in my life. Kamal Raina Sir was calling me up "Aa jao yaar aa jao.. Ab chhodo jo reh gya usse rehne do paani bahut tezi se uper aa rha hai " I was so impressed by his balanced personality and calmness in his voice that I left all of my goods (including my wallet and documents) and came to the 2nd floor. Now, some more introductions were still left. I found one decent person speaking Haryanavi on the 2nd floor (it may appear awkward but it was indeed). I asked him where do you belong to.... For my surprise he was from my district and his wife was from my neighbouring district Bhiwani. The couple appeared very amicable to me and it was a pleasant surprise for them that a person who never appeared to be Haryanavi is actually Haryanavi by birth. However I believe in universal brotherhood and my behaviour doesn't change with somebody's region,religion, caste, creed, nationality or ethnicity. I remain the same person with all. Now it was time to ask him about his job. He told me that he is a CRPF Jawan Amit . I replied that's great , and also told him that I've left my Assistant Commandant job in BSF for the sake of preparation of CSE. He was stunned to know this. I asked him that Amit Ji I have forgotten my wallet and documents inside so I am going inside my room so will talk to you later. Amit was so co-operative that he went inside the room with me in the 4 feet cold flood water in my room. I accept the fact that without Amit it would have been very tough for me to bring my wallet, my documents and the other books and notes which were placed at height in my almirah. He suggested me to take out almost everything in front of him and proved to be good "goods gatherer" in my room. I am so thankful to you Amit Ji. Now we entered into Simran Kaur's apartment as auntie was insisting to check again there. But we came back as didn't find anything collectable there. After reaching at 2nd floor we found that 1st floor was almost drowned. At this time I was anxious about Ahamed Lone sahb as he was living next to the River Jhelum. I made many calls at his no. but he didn't pick up the phone. It made me again worried. Simultaneously, I got a call from Physics Sir. On the other side he was speaking panickly. He said that he is coming from Batwara and this side was completely drowned in flood water. He was waiting on the Badami Bagh Cantt gate and was asking for a boat from me, who had always been boatless throughout his life ( it was like someone is asking for a pair of jeans from Hanuman Ji, a Hindu god) . I was in a dilemma that how can I be a help when I myself have been trapped in the 2nd floor.. He was giving me an emergency no. for help but the phonecall disconnected.