I had a strong desire to perform Umrah with my family members; and I always prayed for the fulfilment of this desire. Thanks Allah, this desire of mine was fulfilled during 1992 when I visited Saudi Arabia and performed Umrah with my wife, Farzana Ahmad Khan; son, Moeen Ahmad Khan; daughter,  Kiran Maqsood; son, Mohsin Ahmad Khan and son, Jehanzeb Ahmad Khan. I was in Sudan those days. All the members of the family were also with me at Atbara, Sudan. Thus we made a programme to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia. We got the visas and accordingly seats reserved.

    In those days there were heavy rains in the area and the travelling by Rail and Road was erratic. My road vehicle was already parked at a Railway Station ‘Trajma’ which I did so while coming from Khartoum to Atbara few days ago due to flash water, spread all around and no passage by road to Atbara. From

Trajma to Atbara we had completed our journey by rail which was still operative.

    Therefore when we were leaving for Saudia for Umrah we had to travel by a freight train to Trajma wherefrom we took our road vehicle and completed our journey to Khartoum by road. On our arrival at Khartoum, we came to know that our reserved tickets had been cancelled due to late reconfirmation. With all-out efforts, could not get reservation by any Airline because there was lot of rush of Sudanese for Saudi Arabia. We were stranded at Khartoum.

However we continued visiting the Airport almost for every flight every day.

    It was ‘the day’ when ME Flight was leaving for Jeddah. There was lot of rush at the airport for this flight or any other flight. I, with great difficulty waived my 6 tickets to the men on the ME Counter. In return they just waived to wait. The situation remained the same for quite a long time when a man from the counter shouted if anyone with ‘confirmed’ seat was

there; none responded. He declared the flight ‘closed’ and shouted towards us; where our luggage was - ‘Afash Van’. We pushed our luggage hurriedly and were handed over six ‘First Class’ Boarding Cards. I still could not solve the mystery. After sometime our family was occupying the whole of the First Class Cabin and were being served lavish food and drinks till we landed at Jeddah. Thanks Allah.

I was the happiest person to feel that I was going to perform Umrah with all the members of my family. 

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