After depositing baggage we went to immigration counter, there immigration officials checked our passports and they also worked with swift pace and in just few minutes we were cleared to go to departure lounge. In the departure lounge we found a huge duty free shop with uncountable items available for purchase but prices were quite high. Since every member of my family was feeling hungry so I went to a snack bar and purchased eight donuts and seven glasses of Pepsifor them. A single donut was charged at a price of six rayals and a glass of Pepsi was sold at seven rayals a glass. By eating donuts and drinking Pepsi we quenched our thirst and hunger.We kept sitting in the lounge till fifteen minutes past midnight and then were told to proceed to the aircraft.
Before boarding the aircraft our passports were rechecked by the Saudi officials, and were then allowed to board the aircraft. Aircraft took off from Jeddah at 1 AM Saudi Arabian time (3 AM Pakistan Standard Time). Flight to Islamabad was again of 5 hours and was very tiring; thanks to All Mighty Allah our son remained well during the flight and kept sleeping till aircraft landed at Islamabad airport at 8 AM Pakistan standard time. Flight was comfortable but courtesy of cabin crew needed a lot of improvement as I found most of the male members of cabin crew shouting at people, another amazing thing was the we were served with the dinner at 2 AM in the night. I wish that airline should look into the matter and instead of providing a very late dinner; it should provide an early breakfast to the passengers.
Here in Pakistan we were again made to suffer in long queues infront of immigration desks. Here Pakistani officials were working at a very slow pace and they were clearing simultaneously two flights. One flight was ours and other was a PIA's flight that had arrived from London at the same time. Ultimately after three hours my complete family passed through immigration counters and then we collected our baggage from the baggage collection lounge. Pakistani Customs Officials were quite nice and supporting and with out causing any unnecessary delay we were cleared to go out. Finally at around 12 PM we all family members were out of terminal. Here our drivers who had brought the cars from my home were waiting for us. My in-laws at that point departed from us, as they had to leave for Karachi by another flight at 3 PM same day.
After bidding farewell to them, we all went to our home and thus our fifteen days journey was over. This visit to Saudi Arabia was very hectic and tiring but I after undertaking it can proudly say that it is worth every thing. If one has time and resources, then one must visit the house of All Mighty Allah and the city of his most loved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). I still cherish the memories I have brought from there and pray that All Mighty Allah may grant permission to me and my family to be there once again and I am very much hopeful that my prayers would be heard and accepted by All Mighty Allah very soon.
