Walking the streets of Afghanistan

 I got on the plane.

It was quite packed full of people. I didn't look around much as I was very tired and wanted to sleep. The plane was rather small but I had a window seat. Surprisingly it didn't take long for us to reach Afghanistan. I looked out of the window and saw that the plane was descending towards the airport. There were cars on the runway which had to stop for the plane to land. I found this rather odd and dangerous! Apparently there wasn't much law and order here.

The plane nearly hit a car! Alhamdulillah it didn't and I was fine. No one else seemed concerned.

I left the plane. There was no immigration check. No one checking passports. I felt my pocket and realised I forgot to get my own passport! I panicked but walked on. I got out of the airport and found myself in Herat. The roads were full of people. There were market stalls and people buying the various goods on sale. I saw stickers and signs of the old regime plastered on walls, now peeling off. 

I didn't know where I was going. There were buildings with bullet holes and shattered windows. Things were very bad during the war. There was a new regime now, perhaps things will get better, I thought.

It was night time. I could hear the Azan coming from a Masjid in the distance for Esha. I was wondering why I hadn't heard the Azan more often since it was a Muslim country.

The Masjid looked beautiful, illuminated by lights. The Imam was leading the Salah as I walked in, his recitation echoed around the Masjid. Other men were arriving too, no one was bothered by my presence. I rushed up the stairs to put my shoes on the shoe rack. As I did, I realised a man was charging money for each shoe that was being put on. I smiled and took my shoe back. Perhaps I'll put it in a carrier bag I thought. 

By now I got very scared. I've never been to another country on my own. I was afraid of bombings. Just this morning there was a bombing at a Masjid in Kabul. 

I really wanted my wife next to me. We often travel together and this was the first time she didn't want to come. My heart started beating fast. What do I do? I became breathless. I don't know anyone here. 

And then I woke up. It was just a dream!