"The Taliban Attack" - A Narrative by Shazia Salama, BSC, BTCFS, II Year
Picture Credit: Special Arrangement
THE TALIBAN ATTACK
It was the examination period!
The students were giving their exams, with an air of fear - on how to write essays on the topics assigned to them. This city in Saudi Arabia was haunted by the imminent fear of being attacked by the Taliban.
The exams were finally being conducted, as any further delay would ruin the academic year of students. The school management allotted only a specific number of their teaching and non-teaching staff to monitor the exams, as it was the corona virus pandemic.
The students are seated in the hall, within a spacious physical ambience, but are mentally crowded with anxiety and performance pressure.
The Taliban had warned the government that the examination centers would be attacked if the public chose to vote for a new government. The government authorities had assured safety to the educational institutions by providing them with an emergency helpline number, to call up for assistance in evacuating the students and staff, in case of any violent attack.
The clock struck 12 in the noon.
The Battle of the Quarter - Hour had begun!
The teacher says, “Your time starts now!”
Interrupting the teacher, two armed men wearing bandanas, barge in.
One among the terrorists says, “Everybody! Put your hands behind your head, don’t try to act smart or I'll blow your face off!!”
The teacher is restrained physically while trying to call up the helpline number. “One more step and one child will be dead”, he says. The teacher gulps, being scared to death; every child - hiding beneath the benches.
Two more men enter the hall and say, “Every member of the staff has been detained and no phone calls are allowed.”
The man in the room says, “Good job! Keep an eye on the students, not one should escape! Let their parents know that we will kill their children if they don't follow our orders”; he smirked.
Rohit and Priya - two fellow students, were sweating profusely. Not because they were trapped, but because they were trying to do something that could save their school.
Rohit was carrying a feature-phone, which he brought with a forethought of emergency - to call up the authorities. Priya was equally courageous and supportive towards Rohit.
Initially, he is startled and scared. He was under the bench with Priya, neither could they see those men nor they - Priya and Rohit. He gathers himself, getting back to his senses and picks up the phone to dial the helpline number.
He hears the sound of footsteps, but they’re indistinct. As the sound of the footsteps fade, Rohit dials the number and the call is answered.
“Hello! What's your emergency?”, says the man on line. Before Rohit speaks, the phone is snatched by one of the terrorists. Rohit is left aghast!!
The only attempt to save himself and his school was wasted. The man hangs up the call and points his gun at Rohit’s forehead; in a threatening tone, “You were warned not to call up anyone, now you pay the price!” he says.
The room echoes with the sound of gunshots.
“Bravo! Marvelous! What a shot! What an act filled with natural skills. Let’s call it a day. Crew! Pack up!”, said the director.
He then exclaimed “This story will be a blockbuster, mark my words! The last dialogue of the terrorist will grip the audience with fear, wondering if he’s actually one.”
The terrorist says “Maybe you’re right! Let me try it on you boss?”
The room was filled with the screams of the crew. The acting of the Talibans continued and the story proceeded.
The exams were finally being conducted, as any further delay would ruin the academic year of students. The school management allotted only a specific number of their teaching and non-teaching staff to monitor the exams, as it was the corona virus pandemic.
The students are seated in the hall, within a spacious physical ambience, but are mentally crowded with anxiety and performance pressure.
The Taliban had warned the government that the examination centers would be attacked if the public chose to vote for a new government. The government authorities had assured safety to the educational institutions by providing them with an emergency helpline number, to call up for assistance in evacuating the students and staff, in case of any violent attack.
The clock struck 12 in the noon.
The Battle of the Quarter - Hour had begun!
The teacher says, “Your time starts now!”
Interrupting the teacher, two armed men wearing bandanas, barge in.
One among the terrorists says, “Everybody! Put your hands behind your head, don’t try to act smart or I'll blow your face off!!”
The teacher is restrained physically while trying to call up the helpline number. “One more step and one child will be dead”, he says. The teacher gulps, being scared to death; every child - hiding beneath the benches.
Two more men enter the hall and say, “Every member of the staff has been detained and no phone calls are allowed.”
The man in the room says, “Good job! Keep an eye on the students, not one should escape! Let their parents know that we will kill their children if they don't follow our orders”; he smirked.
Rohit and Priya - two fellow students, were sweating profusely. Not because they were trapped, but because they were trying to do something that could save their school.
Rohit was carrying a feature-phone, which he brought with a forethought of emergency - to call up the authorities. Priya was equally courageous and supportive towards Rohit.
Initially, he is startled and scared. He was under the bench with Priya, neither could they see those men nor they - Priya and Rohit. He gathers himself, getting back to his senses and picks up the phone to dial the helpline number.
He hears the sound of footsteps, but they’re indistinct. As the sound of the footsteps fade, Rohit dials the number and the call is answered.
“Hello! What's your emergency?”, says the man on line. Before Rohit speaks, the phone is snatched by one of the terrorists. Rohit is left aghast!!
The only attempt to save himself and his school was wasted. The man hangs up the call and points his gun at Rohit’s forehead; in a threatening tone, “You were warned not to call up anyone, now you pay the price!” he says.
The room echoes with the sound of gunshots.
“Bravo! Marvelous! What a shot! What an act filled with natural skills. Let’s call it a day. Crew! Pack up!”, said the director.
He then exclaimed “This story will be a blockbuster, mark my words! The last dialogue of the terrorist will grip the audience with fear, wondering if he’s actually one.”
The terrorist says “Maybe you’re right! Let me try it on you boss?”
The room was filled with the screams of the crew. The acting of the Talibans continued and the story proceeded.
~Shazia Salama(BSC, BTCFS)
