Because we are leaving Abdullah behind in Pakistan, I was so upset since 4:00 am while praying Tahajjud. Abdullah was awake when we left so they diverted his attention from watching us leave. As we left I was still upset about leaving Abdullah. I silently cried until we reached the airport in Lahore. Ami and Abdur Rahman (my husband's older brother) rode with us to the airport. The driver was a friend of my husband's younger brother. We all rode together in a small white four door sedan.
We reached the airport around 6:30 am. They weren't checking passengers in yet so we all went to eat some breakfast in the restaurant just outside the airport. We ate fried eggs drenched in oil with slices of bread also fried in oil, Masha-Allah. This trip to Pakistan seems as though the Pakistani's are using much more oil than I have ever noticed before, Masha-Allah.
When we returned to the airport, they STILL weren't checking passengers in yet, despite the fact that the announcement board said "Jeddah 10:00 am checking in". After my husband checked again and again with the officers at the gate, he finally found out that our flight to Jeddah was CANCELLED!!! The next flight to Jeddah leaves on Wednesday the 28th. Today is Monday the 26th. Saudi Airlines simply decided not to fly from Lahore to Jeddah today, Subhana-Allah!
My husband spend a whole lot of time in the head office at the airport debating about the problem. He got a special guarantee from a Saudi Airline officer that we could get on the next flight on Wednesday, Insha-Allah. He gave my husband his business card and the name of who to contact at the main Saudi Airline office in Lahore.
We all got back in the car and had the driver take us to the main Saudi Airline office in Lahore. My husband and I went into the building alone. Hafsah was asleep so we left her in the car with Ami and everyone else. We had to wait for the person (a woman) in charge to come on duty. The wait wasn't too long about 15 minutes or so.
First we talked to a Pakistani brother behind the counter. He then took our problem to the woman in charge. She took the business card and told us that all flights are booked, but that they would do their best to try and get us a seat, Insha-Allah. They promised to continue working on our behalf to get us seats on the next flight to Jeddah on Wednesday, Insha-Allah. Wednesday is the last flight to Jeddah and Thursday the 29th is the last day anyone can fly from any part of the world into Jeddah to perform Hajj (Saudi deadline).
I am back at the home in Gujranwala now. Upon our arrival, Abdullah was fine, Alhamdulillah. I was so relieved to see that he was okay. He should be fine because there are atleast 20 other children who live in the home, Masha-Allah. He was having a ball playing with the children and being spoiled by all of his popo (aunties). My husband is driving back to Lahore on the motorcycle to see if they have our new booked tickets for the Wednesday departure, Insha-Allah.
As I am sitting upstairs, the children just brought up these two live baby chicks. One chick is hot pink in color and the other one is bright green, Masha-Allah! They are so cute, Masha-Allah. The children played with them and nearly through them around to death, Masha-Allah.
Abdullah, Hafsah and I fell asleep just before Maghrib. My husband returned from Lahore shortly after the Isha athan had be called. No confirmation yet. I have been making so much du'a that Allah (SWT) will grant us the privilege to perform Hajj this year. The 29th is the last day we can enter Jeddah. Wednesday is our last chance for Hajj. It's completely in the Hands of Allah (SWT) whether we will be granted the great honor of attempting to perform Hajj this year. It's always been solely in His Hands because He is the Provider and the Sustainer of all that exists in this world and the next. Allahu Akbar!
We slept from shortly before Maghrib until Fajr. Of course we got up for Maghrib and Isha, but then we slept again.