{"id":366,"date":"2026-03-18T04:38:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T04:38:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/?page_id=366"},"modified":"2026-03-18T04:38:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T04:38:47","slug":"chapter-22-move-with-caution","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/?page_id=366","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 22 : Move With Caution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cTalking about our loved ones keeps them alive.\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

             Rebecca turned the corner fast, much to the delight of family and friends who continued to stay close to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cHer recovery has been nothing short of miraculous,\u201d the doctors admitted. \u201cShe\u2019s young, strong, and fearless!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               At first, she sat up with help from the nurses. It was excruciating, but Rebecca realized she had to get back on her feet as soon as possible to find Ahmad. It proved a more laborious exercise than she imagined; the soles of her feet were raw, there was a dislocation of one leg at the hip, and the other had two fractures. Casts impeded her movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Surgery was required on one foot to reset the broken bones; if not done soon, Rebecca risked permanent damage. Her parents insisted this procedure take place in the States, but Rebecca stalled for time; she had to find Ahmad before she could think of herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               By the sixth day, Rebecca was able to hobble around on crutches and was fully aware of her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cI must get back to the border,\u201d she announced stubbornly, much to the horror of her parents and Phil, who knew once Rebecca made up her mind, nothing could change it.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Despite her parents\u2019 objections, Rebecca had made it very clear she was not going anywhere until she found Ahmad. She had nightmares, and she woke up screaming his name. The anxious couple finally relented and agreed to stay on for another 10 days, after which Rebecca had to go home to save her foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                She was not shying away from the case just because of an injury! Chief Naseer knew how close she was tied to the recovery of his son and respected her for her decision to remain in the area, even at the cost of her health. He made a point of continuously updating her on the status of the ongoing mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYou must come and stay with us,\u201d said Safia. \u201cWe\u2019ll like it and will take good care of you. You can follow the progress from there; we have minute-by-minute updates of the search for my son.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               The invitation was extended to Rebecca\u2019s parents and to all the  team members who worked on the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cWe\u2019ll stay at a hotel,\u201d Mr. Fainey insisted. \u201cYou\u2019re very kind, but we don\u2019t want to impose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cImpose?\u201d Husain Sahib looked surprised, and Phil laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cIt takes time to get used to it, but this is the hospitality of this place; isn\u2019t it Zeina?\u201d Phil looked at his colleague, remembering their arguments, which now seemed so juvenile. \u201cAnyway, there\u2019s no hotel in the village, so accept the offer graciously and let\u2019s go! Anyone who needs to leave the country can fly to Islamabad and onwards to the States, or Nancowry.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cThank you very much,\u201d Mr. Fainey accepted the invitation. No one declined the offer; the team was now locked in to continue the search. The chieftain, with family, drove back to prepare for their guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Two days later, after her discharge from the hospital, against doctors\u2019 orders, Rebecca was on her way to the chieftain\u2019s residence. Mr. Clooney arranged for the air-conditioned minibus, while the army took care of the jeeps and soldiers that escorted the guests. Rebecca lay on the back seat quite comfortably, attended by her nurse, Razia, who was employed to take care of her since Rebecca still needed medical attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Yousef traveled with them, while his vehicle with a driver and armed guards followed. Though he lived in the next village, he said he would monitor the case closely and remain in constant touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               They arrived at the chieftain\u2019s house, and the family warmly welcomed them. Surprisingly, there were no other house guests, and Husain Sahib explained. \u201cConsidering the sensitive nature of this visit, my home will be out of bounds to others. Your safety and the protection of any disclosed information within these walls is a top priority,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWhat about Wafa?\u201d Aisha asked worriedly. \u201cShe\u2019s my best friend! What about the students?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cThe school can continue in one room for three hours every morning, except for weekends,\u201d her father replied. \u201cUse the small side gate; no relatives of students will be allowed in. Friend or no friend; nothing of what takes place here goes out; do you understand, Aisha?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               The girl nodded, thinking how difficult it was going to be to hide things from Wafa. Her father noticed her dilemma and asked his wife to impress the gravity of their situation upon the girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Phil, Zeina, and Ismail appreciated all the special preparations for the visitors\u2019 accommodation. The bedroom assigned to the women guests got a fresh coat of white paint, and the window had brown blinds. Gone were the gaudy lime green walls and the flowery curtains. There were two real beds with attractive linens, while a hospital bed against a large window was equipped for Rebecca. There was even a generator for when there were power failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cMy daughters came to fix this up,\u201d said Safia shyly, as she showed the renovated home to the guests. \u201cThey\u2019re modern women; they know about such things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWell, thank them very much,\u201d Zeina replied. \u201cThey did a splendid job, though your home and your hospitality were perfect before and didn\u2019t need any changes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cRebecca and her parents; we want them to be comfortable,\u201d Safia smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cThis is heaven compared to where Rebecca has lived!\u201d Zeina laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cMy son\u2019s bride will be a modern girl,\u201d praised Safia. \u201cWe have to make changes to make her feel at home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cOh, so Shahzad is to be married?\u201d Zeina asked with a tinge of disappointment in her voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWell, yes; it\u2019s time,\u201d Safia declared happily. \u201cHe\u2019s getting lots of rishtas, or offers for marriage<\/em>; I must pick a suitable bride for him soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYou\u2019ll choose a wife for your son?\u201d Rebecca seemed surprised.  Getting settled in her bed, she could not help overhearing and commenting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cOf course! As a mother, it\u2019s my duty; I know best what suits my son,\u201d Safia replied, helping the nurse. \u201cThis is our way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWhat about love?\u201d Rebecca had to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cIt\u2019s easier to accept each other without being blinded by passion. Love grows,\u201d Safia exclaimed very confidently, which made Rebecca give it a serious thought. Interesting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The men\u2019s room went through renovations, too, and Ismail said he would be sorry not to sleep under the stars. However, they were all appreciative of a new add-on, a spacious tiled bathroom with a shower instead of the bucket and mug, and a Western-style toilet instead of the squat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cThis is lovely!\u201d Zeina exclaimed. \u201cDid your girls organize this too?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                 \u201cYes,\u201d admitted Aisha excitedly. \u201cAnd I helped them with the colors!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cWell, you have excellent taste,\u201d Zeina replied. \u201cThank you so much for your thoughtfulness!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                That evening, the team discussed Rebecca\u2019s case, and the events were reviewed minutely, from the time of the bombed convoy to her escape from the cave. There was no one else about; the servants and the nurse had been told not to disturb the group. Aisha and Adnan, both disgruntled over being left out, were asked to leave the adults alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWe must ensure total secrecy,\u201d the chieftain insisted. \u201cNo one outside this group must know of what we speak. Forgive me, but I mean absolutely no one! The spy is still at large, and any leaks will sabotage our efforts to find Ahmad and endanger his life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               It was hard for Rebecca to relive the loss of Ron and her colleagues and the details about her life in captivity, yet every time she repeated her story, more and more critical information surfaced, and more questions surfaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Mornings, she paced impatiently on crutches, up and down the marble courtyard, gathering her strength, while her parents basked in the sunshine on charpoys, which fascinated them. They were relaxed and happy for the first time since they came to Pakistan. Safia said they could take one or two charpoys back with them since these ornamental, hand-painted string beds were simple to dismantle into a small enough package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               There was much talk about the upcoming fair, and preparations were in full swing. Safia, Aisha, Zeina and five students immersed themselves in various tasks assigned to them. Rafiq Afridi volunteered to help with the tickets at the main gate, which would enable him to see everyone who entered. Phil, Ismail, and Roddy, who now dressed in the local attire, blended in well with the other men. Phil looked forward to the event, hoping to meet new people and get more insights into life here beyond the exploits of the terrorists. He was enjoying the simple life and already knew he would miss this when it was time to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                It appeared Safia ruled the roost while organizing the fair. She gave orders and assigned tasks, leaving no doubt about who was in charge. Chief Naseer understood that she was trying to fill her time so that there wasn\u2019t a moment left to think of her lost child. Rebecca found the couple\u2019s relationship very different from how Mullah Shaheen and the others at the camp looked upon their women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Naseer Husain respected Safia and never forgot to praise her while thanking God for giving him such a good wife. The love between them was apparent. They even shared a bedroom. Safia knew her place and did what was expected, exerting her will with such grace that her menfolk never felt pressured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Rebecca discussed this with Phil and told him about Safia saying love grows. He agreed with Safia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYes, hard to believe, right? In our world, we take  fewer chances. But over here, people are geared to adapt. And seeing things here, I can believe that love can grow with respect and time,\u201d he commented, thinking of the situation. \u201cAnd also, be assured, while considering a bride for her son, Safia will take into consideration lots of things that she knows Shahzad can adapt. It\u2019s like deciding our partners ourselves, except the experience of parents are more learned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSafia and Naseer Sahib belong to a civilized society with a tremendous sense of affection and empathy for others, whereas the insurgents are barbarians with forgotten value for human life; forget about feelings for their wives!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Rebecca gave quite a lot of thought to that. Passion, attraction, compatibility and other such things that she previously considered for a partner. Were they as significant? She could not find the right answer and quit after a lot of contemplation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                 They were doing everything that was needed but had not been able to make any progress in locating the terrorists. They also knew they had to be extra vigilant as they continued to get ready for the fair; such events were a magnet for these fanatics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                When they had time, the group all relaxed on charpoys under the stars and chatted and joked about ordinary things. The nights were now becoming chilly; Shahzad decided to start a fire one evening after dinner and went with Ismail to the storage shed for the iron fire pit and some logs. The group was mesmerized by the blazing fire and stared at the flames, each lost in their thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aisha moved next to her father and asked, “Baba<\/em>, are we going to find Ahmad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYes, we definitely will find him. We\u2019ve found Rebecca, and with Allah\u2019s help, we\u2019ll find Ahmad,\u201d said Naseer Husain, looking at his daughter lovingly as he pinched her cheek. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cAhmad loved stories,\u201d said Rebecca, and they all turned to her. \u201cHe loved the story of Jungle Book, especially the part when Sher Khan\u2019s tail was on fire.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cRebecca Baaji<\/em>, does he still have his dimples? On both cheeks?\u201d asked Aisha going next to Rebecca and holding her hand. Rebecca knew how much the girl was itching to talk about her brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYes, he does. They\u2019re deeper now than in his picture; he\u2019s tall, thin, and sweet, like his family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t talk about him like this,\u201d protested Mrs. Fainey. \u201cIt\u2019ll upset his parents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cNo, no! Talking about our loved ones keeps them alive,\u201d said Safia. \u201cIt\u2019s when we don\u2019t mention them that they\u2019re forgotten and cease to exist. I love to talk and hear about Ahmad; we have nothing but wonderful memories of him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cWe can\u2019t have the fair,\u201d Rebecca mentioned, sitting up. \u201cI just remembered; I heard them talking about the fair! I know that would be the ideal place for them to get rid of Ahmad.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cNaseer Sahib<\/em>, I agree; we have to cancel the fair,\u201d agreed Yousef. \u201cIt\u2019s an open invitation to them to create a problem. Rebecca says they talked about the fair; they could even use Ahmad as a suicide bomber.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Safia gasped as Rebecca quietly recalled, \u201cThey tried that once before, but Ahmad\u2019s vest didn\u2019t detonate, and he returned to the camp.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cYa Allah<\/em>, have mercy on us all!\u201d Safia burst into tears and clasped her chest; while a stunned Mrs. Fainey put her arm around her and said, \u201cNow, now, my dear; your son will be back with you soon; I feel it in my bones!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cAisha, your mother is tired; take her inside,\u201d Naseer Husain said calmly, \u201cYou too Adnan; it\u2019s late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cI think we should turn in too,\u201d agreed Mr. Fainey and the Fainey\u2019s followed the others inside, leaving the group alone to rehash the specifics of Rebecca\u2019s experiences with her captors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cYou never mentioned this before, Rebecca,\u201d Yousef remarked. \u201cThis is an important piece of info. What else have you failed to tell us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cCome on, Yousef; take it easy!\u201d Phil jumped to her defense. \u201cRebecca has been through hell; it\u2019s no wonder she hasn\u2019t recalled everything!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWell, then, let\u2019s go over the facts again; if you don\u2019t mind, Rebecca,\u201d suggested Yousef.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cIt\u2019s late,\u201d the older Chieftain said, realizing everyone was on edge. \u201cYou have an hour\u2019s drive back to your village, Yousef Bhai<\/em>. We should retire and resume this talk tomorrow after we have rested.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cIt\u2019s not late for me! And we don\u2019t want it to be too late for Ahmad!\u201d Rebecca pleaded. \u201cI think of him every waking moment! I dream of him in my sleep! Let\u2019s go over the wretched details again if it helps.\u201d    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cTalking about our loved ones keeps them alive.\u201d              Rebecca turned the corner fast, much to the delight of family and friends who continued to stay close to her.                \u201cHer recovery has been nothing short of miraculous,\u201d the doctors admitted. \u201cShe\u2019s young, strong, and fearless!\u201d                At first, she sat up with … Continue reading Chapter 22 : Move With Caution<\/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-366","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366","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=366"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":367,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366\/revisions\/367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}