Let me tell the whole story..my apology for long post though..
It was after dinner we decided to head to Boat Basin a popular food place at Clifton area in Karachi. While we were waiting in the car for ordering our food, suddenly a man with gun in his hand entered in the car. As force my friend who was at driver seat to move on.
I was sitting in front passenger’s seat, and the lone gunman was sitting on rear seat covering both of us. At first we thought it was normal carjacking and the guy would leave us after taking our cell phone, cash and car and offered him same. But after a while we realized that he has not intention to let us go that easily.
The gunman told us that he fleeing after committing a murder (we have no way to know if this is true), want us to drive him away from the area, while were moving he was trying to contact his peoples on his cell phone and his plan first to bring to his hideout and peoples and then move to Noori Abad a small industrial town outside Karachi.
While I thinking about our options as we have been driving at around Clifton and defense area, my actual plan was to create a commotion by ramming the car somewhere as soon as we see police presence.
But unfortunately my friends were on driving seat, and there is no way I could communicate with him, when gunman hold gun at our neck. At one point when we saw a police picket on opposite direction and I did singled him to do something but he could not understand.
Finally he ordered us to turn the car at the road going towards Korangi from defense area, and also tell his friends that is about to reach,** I was getting a bit desperate at his intention to bring us to their hideout, as it means certain death (there is no way they would let us come out alive to identify the place).**
I was thinking about the options we have, me sitting on passenger seat, but my friend is trapped on driving seat there is no way both of us could make any attempt of escape together, and leaving ones best friend for life is not an easy decision.
Finally I decided to take my chance, hoping a successful escape of either one could help other as well. As time ticking fast and the guy informed his people the he is about to reach the place. Allah made the thing happen in strange way, it is when I lost all hopes something happened.
It was late at night and the road was not so busy but suddenly we found ourselves in slow moving traffic due to an accident on same direction we were traveling, I saw a truck over turned on the side of the road and 2 policemen was standing nearby.
That is where I decided to take my last chance, while the car passing through the place of accident at slower speed, suddenly I opened the door and jumped out of moving car. It was a risky move as he could shoot me half way through, or another vehicle could overrun me. Thanks Allah nothing happened and once falling on the road and quickly rolled myself behind a stationary car on the side of the road, I started shouting for help.
My friend only realized what I was doing when my body was more then half way out of the car, instinctively he shouted my name but I was already out then., not knowing to me that my action unsettled to gunman and he decided to go after me, and forced my friend to stop the car and came after me (these criminals has stupid ego, I am sure he want revenge me for failing his operation), as soon as thing happened my friend also immediately speed away.
This is first time in this whole incident I was a bit lost sense of what happening around me, as did not noticed the stopping of care and the gunman’s coming after me. But on hearing my cried of help the policemen sprung into action and opened fire towards the guy, after a brief exchange of fire the gunman disappeared in the darkness. All I was doing standing on middle of the road when bullets were flying (so stupid of me for not for not taking cover). I am thankful to this brave policemen his action saved my life.
I was fine and well only suffer some bruises on knees and elbow. But extremely worried about my buddy till someone told me that he saw gunman disappearing in dark, thus my friend is safe.
I borrowed a cell phone from someone to inform my family, very soon my brothers arrived at scene and relieved to see me safe. Someone gave to a water bottle which I finished all.
Later my friend (he didn’t stop earlier because of fear of a backup party might be following) who went to relative house not far away, and took their car to returned to check about my situation and boy it was a great relief for both of us to see each other safe. On seeing me safe he openly cried.
Actually at first I was pleased and proud for my action, only worried if my friend would interpret it as abandonment or betrayal. I had a good night sleep but only next morning when I gone through everything in my mind, the feeling fear which did not experience the night before started making appearance on realizing so many holes in my action, r and how lucky I was for not being shot at:-
a. during process of jumping out of car or
b. if the policeman decided not to intervene or
c. not being seriously injured due to jumping out of moving car or
d. not being over run by any on coming vehicle.
Since both of us are safe, the feeling of fear did not last long, but due to some “friends” started making statement that I have abandoned my best friend in the gravest time. And if I am a true and honorable friend should stay with all the time what may come.
For me dying with him honorably is not bad thing then living life of a betrayer, I have been going through the events again and again but could not understand any selfishness in my actions.
By not taking any action, would give kidnapper at least one day, where they could shift us outside the city, disable the car’s satellite trackers thus making any rescue impossible, no matter how big was the risk early information is the only way to mount successful rescue. Since he was not in position to do anything, I have no choice but do something and now facing this **** on my face.
The fear of gun and bullets didn’t do anything to me, but now facing situation being called a betrayer of the best of the best friend (of 30 over years) is unsettling me. I rather die then behind hiding excuse of so called instinct of survival for abandoning my best buddy.
This is the reason, I am asking almost everyone known to me, if I was coward or selfish or betrayer. This stupid thing is getting too much for me now…