Lucky Friday

Fridays are always lucky, well that's what I had in my mind. After completing Hajj, we went in this to Masjid-e- Haram for Aitaqaf. This was our second day Masjid.After a full night of ibadat and chit chat, I went to sleep after offering my morning prayers.
I got up at 12:15 in the morning and That's when my misery began.

It all started between Friday khutba. I realized that I desperately needed to use the loo. I cursed my self for drinking too much water last night. After changing my position, 10 times in 5 seconds, I finally decided to leave the Masjid and go out side to use the bathroom. My friends had warned me about the crowd but me and my stupid wonder woman imagination, thought I would be able to cross 10 to 20 thousand namazi's within no time. I left the first I floor starting from Bab-e-Umrah. The rush was extreme as it was the first Friday after Hajj. I crossed the crowd by jumping on men, toppling over ladies and getting immense weird looks asking "Are You Nutts?". But what can a person do when nature calls??

It took me 10 minutes to cross one section of people but by that time I realized that the khutba was almost over and prayers were going to start. I still had to cross rows of people who were sitting and listening to the khutba. I decided to sit some where till the khutba ends. I found a corner where I could sit and wait for the people to stand up for prayers. I found a place on a woman's prayer mat and sat there and started listening to her nagging while my bladder was ready to explode. She thought that I was going to take her precious place of prayers which she was guarding since long.When the Azaan started, all the women pushed me out, considering me as a threat to their space. Obviously why would they tolerate a woman coming from no where to take over their prayer territory?? Luckily I got some space on the stairs. A poor Turkish woman made me share her prayer mat.

After the prayers finished and the namazi's started to leave, the Masjid started getting vacant and I was glad that finally my destination would now be reachable. Alas my hardship was coming to an end, till fate knocks on my door again, making me realize that I don’t have my shoes on. I had left them on the first floor. That was what I needed……sitting on a stair case, where my bladder was about to give up and I had no shoes on. Going up to get the shoes would take good 20 minutes. People were coming out as if escaping from the prison and people like giant Tarzan type Sudanese and Nigerians, one push from them and what else can I say..... I was already in a crucial situation. Finally I made up my mind that I would go to the bathroom without my shoes and in the end, I would wash my feet from the water bottle, which I had in my purse. I still couldnt believe that I didn't forget my purse, which wasn't of any use in the bathroom but I forgot my shoes.

Atlast, I finally got near the bathroom. It was still a good 5 minutes walk, but the thought of entering public toilet, bare feet, did give my screaming bladder some alibi to stop pouncing. The bathroom was opposite Bab-e-Quods. I took off my socks and entered the wet filthy bathroom, with mud prints all around. I was standing near a cubical already occupied and 2 more ladies were standing and waiting before me. Thank god they got over fast, but before the last lady came out, she coughed and took out green goo from her mouth and threw it there. At that moment, I was confused whether to laugh my head out or cry my self to death. I had to use the same cubical with bare feet and with green slimy stuff on the floor, but I had no other choice.

Peace atlast. I came out and went near the taps, where the ladies were doing wazoo and fighting for space like crazy jungle women. I stood there and waited for few mins and then decided to get my hands washed and wash my feet out side the bathroom from the water bottle. I stepped out with a brave heart and started looking in my purse for the water bottle and felt like drowning my self in the Indian commode because……. I think it is obvious by now to everyone that there was no water bottle. I had no guts to get inside the bathroom again. So I decided to request a lady with an empty water bottle, to bring some water for me when she comes out. I had to make a MISQEEEEN face, to make her accept. And finally I washed my feet with the water she brought.

At last I reached my destination i-e the first floor. I prayed first, then went to look at the Kaaba. It was soooo beautiful. I forgot everything. I prayed smilingly to god, to make me less clumsy and more organized.

Fridays are lucky, especially those fridays when you get to look at the Kaaba as much as u want.

It was a very interesting journey to the toilet and quite an interesting series of unfortunate events. But one look towards the house of God and all the unfortunate becomes fortunate.

And guess what……..

I feel like going to the loo again.