“So you see ameto I wish I could accomplish what Raha Moharrak did I want to climb Everest,” I explained to my aunt (ameto safeya).
“oh Amal,cimbing a mountain ,ha, such nonsense you are eighteen you should be already thinking about getting married. Your destiny is to serve people only . Climbing? A monkey are you?” sniggered ameto safeya shooting daggers at baba who looked in utter shock, and disbelief. Disappointment sored my throat as I felt something cold stabbing my heart, a sword of sore speech. Although I looked miserable, deep inside me the fire that set ablaze in my heart continued to thrive and grow urging me to prove everyone wrong about Saudi Arabian women.
At midnight, the moon shone brightly in the haze of the pitch black sky like a magical witch’s orb levitating in midair. From the depth of my room, I heard the faint soft snoring of the members.
I’ve been planning for climbing mountain Everest for months now I need to go and do what I really want ,it is not legally forbidden , I thought to myself ,pursuing myself to pack my bag . Sneakily, I creak the door open and face baba directly, the house keys rattling in his hands. Hastily I whisper,
“Baba let me explain-“
“ shh!Amal I know how big of a deal this is for you ,so go show the world that you are a real passionate Saudi Arabian woman!” baba whispered back stroking my hijab smiling enthusiastically .
Swiftly, I bid baba Farwell and leap down the stairs to catch the bus to Nepal. A day later I arrived at my destination to change millions of people’s thoughts about Saudi Arabian women.
***
Cold sweat was trickling down my face as a scanned the frosty blizzard in action … I was all alone. The white cotton candy clouds whirled and swirled in the faint shell pink rays of the rising sun. The rocks ,covered with a thick blanket of snow, reflected the bright white light. After what felt like minutes, hours, days, I never seemed to arrive .Each time my slippery pole slipped, a sharp rock would slit my hand. To make matters even worse, my backpack was dragging me down .However, each step felt better than the one before.
Don’t look down don’t look down, kept reminding myself. All the way through, I merely lingered the thought about how much I could be like Raha Moharrak –my idol and role model – being the first and youngest Arab and Saudi Arabian woman to climb mountain Everest. Hearing any news about her and how invincible she is reignites my heart and inspires me to live ad thrive in such a stereotypical society .her adventurous moves rose awareness to a plethora of people about a Saudi Arabian woman’s powers .
After a couple of hours on non-stop stabbing rocks with my pole , I felt my lungs flatten and my chest compressing…it was time to take out the oxygen tank . Shivering like an autumn leaf (from the lack of oxygen in my body) I hastily put the tube in my mouth and take a deep breath. The colds bite getting stronger and stronger. All of a sudden, everything went dark , I felt my grip on the poles getting looser and looser until-the pole slipped out of my hand .I crumbled as I saw them sinking to the ground…
Shock.
Horror.
. Hopelessness.
No pole, no going up or down, I was trapped between the heavens and the earth.My blood ran cold as it drained gradually. Heat emitted from my cheeks as I saw a smoke of hot breath drifting from my mouth. I dropped on the icy sheet on the ground, as tears froze midway on my cheeks. Hours later, after the sun has completely set, the foggy sky howled in the darkness. The wind blew like rockets thrusting upwards, all I could vividly hear is the crackling of the wood in the fire I set earlier.
I shouldn’t have went my place is at home like ameto said.It was the first time I truly felt hopeless. I crouched under a rock to prevent most of the cold waves .My hijab warmed my ears yet the cold was agony ,it attacked me like fire .Burring my fingertips in my pockets seeking for warmth, I dozed off.
Next morning, I opened my eyes, with icicles frozen on my lashes, I jumped to my heels. Looking upwards, I notice streaks of the golden sun peeking through. I could only see the summit and some daggers if ice –THE SUMMIT!
I must have been so close .I shut my eyes and rimiest the main reason I am here to prove that Saudi Arabian women could do anything .Hesitantly, I clutch to a rock and drag myself upward …I was free climbing …
I kept putting one hand are the other, each bruise felt like an empowerment to keep going forward. Gradually, I began climbing quicker and quicker and-I reached the summit.
I felt something coursing through my veins like poison but sweeter, it was a strange feeling for me to accomplish what I really love a d thrive for .I can only imagine the shock on ameto face and baba’s pride and joy . I did it I accomplished my only hope in life. I reached the summit…
***
“Breaking news a young girl from Saudi Arabia reached mountain Everest’s summit, “stated the news reporter on TV with a drone picture of me on the summit.
“Amal darling off course I always believe in you, “ameto safeya chuckles giving me a rib breaking hug.
“Yeah off course…” I said in a muffled voice rolling my eyes upward in my insides.
Baba gave me a proud smile from a distance.
Now all of the world will know how powerful Saudi-Arabian women are and that they could stand at the top of the world.
