{"id":363,"date":"2026-03-18T04:36:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T04:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/?page_id=363"},"modified":"2026-03-18T04:36:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T04:36:45","slug":"chapter-21-not-without-ahmad","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/?page_id=363","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 21 : Not Without Ahmad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cWhat did I do to make him so angry?\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

               At the Jinnah Hospital in Peshawar, a team of doctors fought to save Rebecca\u2019s life. It was touch and go for three whole days as Rebecca was in a coma when it seemed that even the best efforts of the medical specialist couldn\u2019t revive her. She looked so small and fragile, lying in the sterile ICU unit.  Hooked up to all types of monitors, while IVs infused her with lifesaving properties, she remained in another place;  Phil begged her to return to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Phil had informed the Faineys, who flew down immediately and never left their daughter\u2019s side, weeping and praying for her recovery as they tried to talk her back to consciousness. Phil was always with Rebecca, pleading, scolding, bribing, and loving her. He recalled the joys of their past and talked about their future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               His tears flowed shamelessly as the unrecognizable young woman kept her silent distance. Physically, the treatment of her wounds was satisfactory, and yet, the trauma she sustained was far more significant than the physical assault. Phil would chat with her, hoping some of his words would penetrate her twilight world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYou must visit me in Nancowry, Becks; you remember you said you would?\u201d he asked. \u201cIt\u2019s so beautiful and peaceful there; you\u2019ll love it! My friends, Ismail and Zeina, came to help me find you; they\u2019re still here, you must meet them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Well-wishers came by daily to ask about her, and peer at her through the glass viewing panel. Round-the-clock, she was guarded by security guards outside her room. Mr. Clooney came by with Husain Sahib<\/em>, Safia and Aisha. They all hoped she would heal and perhaps give them news of Ahmad. Zeina was a regular visitor, as were Shahzad and Ismail, who, with Roddy and Yousef, had returned from their mission in the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Roddy required surgery for the injury he sustained in the shootout in the ravine; the surgeon extracted  bullets from his body, and the stitches closed open wounds. A couple of day\u2019s stay at the hospital ensured a clean bill of health, and his new friend Yousef, who also required first aid, stayed with him in sympathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Rehashing the events, they could see why the rescue went wrong; there was too much information out there and not enough surveillance before the operation. The saving of Ahmad and the capture of the ring leaders had proved unsuccessful, though the recovery of Rebecca accomplished the Borders group mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               The soldiers did their best and combed the area for two days without results. The terrorists knew their terrain and had preplanned routes of escape; they were experts at getting away. Despite the massive push to recover the boy and bring the insurgents to justice, the group seemed to have vanished into thin air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The captured assailant named Salimuddin did not talk much when interrogated by the authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cIt all happened so fast,\u201d he claimed. \u201cWe just left in a hurry…I don\u2019t know where we were going; we just followed our group leaders!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cGroup leaders?\u201d the interrogator asked him, and he shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWhat group? What leaders?\u201d the man shouted, while a couple of soldiers worked the prisoner over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cI don\u2019t know!\u201d the man sniveled and cowered under threats of more productive applications to loosen his tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cWe were divided into small groups and sent off to stay with relatives in other villages, far removed from the current location,\u201d he confessed. \u201cWe had to separate and travel like a small family; those were our instructions. We were trying to stop the men who were following us; that\u2019s when you captured me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               He did not say anything about the whereabouts of the others. But under pressure, he was able to provide them with the names of the leaders and some others in the group, while explaining how their hierarchy worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Threats, intimidation, coercion, and even physical violence did not result in additional information or any change in his statements, and the officers figured he was telling the truth since he was a low-level operative and kept out of the loop as far as planning and information were concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Men such as  Salimuddin were merely fodder, sent to hold off the enemy, or plant bombs in densely populated areas. They believed that their final act of faith and loyalty was to go on a suicide mission. The prize for martyrdom for them, they were made to think, was a heavenly paradise filled with sensual delights, where they would receive 72 virgin maidens and 70 wives, plus everlasting happiness as a gift for their sacrifice. They looked forward to their divine reward as they detonated their jackets filled with explosives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Just when the patient\u2019s situation seemed hopeless, the doctors noticed a marked improvement in Rebecca\u2019s vital signs. They said this was a wait-and-see change; the young woman was not back to normal health yet. However, her parents and Phil were elated, and they continued to pull her back to them with their love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, three days after her escape, she moaned when she tried to move. For Phil, that was the loveliest sound she could have made. Through swollen, black, and blue eyes, half shut from her injuries, she looked around, obviously wondering where she was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cMom…Dad…\u201d she whimpered through bruised lips. She saw Phil and murmured, \u201cYou…came…for…me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cYes, darling! We\u2019re all here for you!\u201d Mrs. Fainey cried, with tears of relief running down her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cYou\u2019re safe now, Becky,\u201d Phil assured her. \u201cNo one can hurt you now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cJust get well, sweetheart,\u201d said her father. \u201cWe\u2019re going to take you home!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                It seemed too much for her, and she went back to sleep, leaving her loved ones ecstatic that she would live and was now on the mend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cTry not to tire her out,\u201d he doctors advised. \u201cEven the slightest exertion will exhaust her now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               When the others heard the good news, they were delighted and commented on her bravery and strength. With their mission accomplished, the three students from the Borders institute realized they would have to return soon. Phil was not leaving before Rebecca was safely back in the United States and took a month\u2019s leave, as did his colleagues. They all wanted to see this through the end, which meant getting Rebecca fit to fly. They all hoped for the recovery of Ahmad, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The next day, Rebecca was more alert when she awoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cAhmad! Ahmad!\u201d she cried out frantically as Phil rushed to her side, trying to calm her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Becks,\u201d he assured her while she looked around wildly, trying to get her bearings. \u201cEverything is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cPhil? It\u2019s you?\u201d she questioned, looking like a lost little girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYes, it\u2019s me,\u201d  Phil replied. \u201cYou gave us a scare, Becky! We thought we had lost you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cOoh…everything hurts! Ow! Ow!\u201d she managed a smile through her pain and felt a sense of joy she hadn\u2019t experienced in a long time. \u201cPhil, oh, Phil… it\u2019s so good to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               She held up her bandaged arm and touched Phil\u2019s face. She stretched further and hugged him. She did not want to let go and sobbed against his shoulder. Phil, who had never seen Rebecca cry like this, was overcome with sorrow for his friend and sobbed with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cIt\u2019s over, Rebecca. You\u2019re safe now,\u201d he held her gently and tried to soothe her. Not ready to let go, she clung to him and looked around her sterile surroundings, gathering she was in a hospital, but not in America. She tried to clear her mind by shaking her head, but that hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWhat had happened?\u201d she whispered. \u201cHow did I get here? Mom, Dad, Phil; how are you all here? Where am I? Ahmad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cThe doctors want you to remain calm, Rebecca!\u201d her father whispered. \u201cPlenty of time to answer your questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               She loosened her grip on Phil and looked up at him with eyes full of fear. \u201cPhil, is this the same hospital that Gulnoor goes to, where I saw the girl with the flyers? They\u2019ll come back for me if they know I\u2019m here! This time, they\u2019ll kill me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cCalm down, my love,\u201d her mother was beside her, stroking her brown hair. \u201cYou\u2019re safe now; no one\u2019s going to hurt you again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cOh, Phil, I have so much to tell you. They killed Ron! They tried to kill me! Now they\u2019re going to harm Ahmad,\u201d she couldn\u2019t stop the words as panic rose and bubbled up within her. She tried to move her feet to get up but realized they were heavy and hurt. Looking down, she saw both her bandaged legs and cried out, \u201cWhat have they done to me? Where am I?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYou\u2019re in a hospital in Peshawar,\u201d Phil told her. \u201cWe\u2019ll get you home as soon as the doctors give the okay to fly. Mr. Clooney has arranged for an air ambulance to take you back to the States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Bits and pieces of her memory came flooding back; Rebecca remembered Gulnoor\u2019s hospital visit and the two women who tried to rescue her and the fiasco that ensued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cThey dropped Gulnoor back at the apartment; she was crying and begging her husband not to hurt me,\u201d Rebecca rambled on, not making any sense to her listeners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               They had returned to the camp, driving at breakneck speed; Rebecca recalled thinking at the time that her end would come when the vehicle crashed, but that was not to be. Abdullah had dragged her to see Mullah Shaheen right away. Things had moved so fast; she did not precisely recollect what happened, but they had taken her to the men\u2019s cave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Initially, she thought they would finally get rid of her. They did not need her anymore, especially after the trouble she had caused. But something told her it was more than that. Had she seen Ahmad? Did he rush to her side to save her? She had flashes of incomplete memories that frustrated her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cWhat did you do?\u201d the man screamed so much closer to her face that she could smell the spices on his breath. Mullah Shaheen had never touched her before, but then she had never seen him this angry before either. Now he slapped her across her face, banging her head on the cave wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cWhat did I do to make him so angry?\u201d she wondered. It was a while before she remembered her note. Had it worked?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               She recalled Mullah Shaheen facing her menacingly, pointing his finger at her, almost poking her in the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cTake a message from me to the infidels,\u201d he roared. \u201cIf you survive, tell them to stop following us or else; the next casualty will be Ahmad!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Then two men held her while Shaheen hit the soles of her feet with the butt of his rifle. She had screamed from the pain and then she blacked out and didn\u2019t remember anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cI can\u2019t remember everything, Phil.\u201d Rebecca cried, exasperated by the blanks in her memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cYou\u2019ve had a dreadful shock, Becks; your mind and body have suffered a terrible trauma,\u201d Phil reminded. \u201cBlocking out the horror is your mind\u2019s way of protecting you; be patient; it\u2019ll all come back to you soon enough.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Rebecca kept seeing Ahmad\u2019s face in her mind; she couldn\u2019t shake the image that haunted her. Looking around her present surroundings to clear her head, she realized there was another person in the room, an aristocratic-looking local man who had an ugly scar on his cheek. There was a tall, gracious woman beside him. The minute she saw the woman\u2019s eyes, she knew who she was. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cAre you Ahmad\u2019s mother?\u201d It was more of a statement than a question. She frowned; Ahmad\u2019s parents were supposed to be dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYes, Ahmad is my son,\u201d the woman replied. \u201cHe was taken from us five years ago, and we\u2019ve been searching for him ever since, hoping he\u2019s alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Phil explained who the couple was and how much the chieftain was responsible for her recovery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cMy son, you have seen him? You have spoken to him?\u201d the man asked anxiously. \u201cPlease tell me, Miss; is he okay?\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cI hope so…I do hope so!  He\u2019s the sweetest boy. We must find him!\u201d Rebecca promised as  Phil sought to calm her when the doctor came in, smiling firmly but shaking his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cIt\u2019s best to let her sleep,\u201d the doctor advised and asked the visitors to leave as he injected a sedative into her IV bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cRest now, and everything will be all right. We\u2019re doing everything to find Ahmad,\u201d Phil said, and Rebecca pulled at his shirt with her bandaged hand, not wanting him to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Becca. I\u2019m going to stay right here. I have no intention of leaving you now that I\u2019ve finally found you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cAhmad…Ahmad…\u201d she slurred her words as the medication began to kick in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cRest, Becks; plenty of time to talk later,\u201d Phil advised as he gently stroked Rebecca\u2019s hair and kissed her forehead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cThey\u2019ll harm him…too little time…must find Ahmad…\u201d she murmured, even as her eyes began to close, and she drifted off into a deep sleep.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhat did I do to make him so angry?\u201d                At the Jinnah Hospital in Peshawar, a team of doctors fought to save Rebecca\u2019s life. It was touch and go for three whole days as Rebecca was in a coma when it seemed that even the best efforts of the medical specialist couldn\u2019t revive … Continue reading Chapter 21 : Not Without Ahmad<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-363","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=363"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":364,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/363\/revisions\/364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}