Benjamin van der Spek Photography
The Black Knight
No. 17 The Black Knight
After hearing the news that our cousin lost her exhausting fight against cancer, we decided to change our tickets, leave Pakistan and fly back to Europe as soon as we could. We could only hope to be with our family during the funeral.
A few phone calls and emails later we were confirmed on a KLM flight departing Karachi on Wednesday. All we needed to do was to get on a flight out of Quetta and get our boarding passes at Karachi airport. We let our family know, we would be there soon.
We said our goodbyes to my brother’s housekeeper Nazar and his family and got to Karachi airport without difficulties. That’s where the first challenge was upon us.
An armed guard blocked our access to the international departure hall. “Boarding pass, please”. I showed him my boarding pass and tried to explain to him that we were booked on an earlier flight and had to change our passes at the KLM desk. “This boarding pass is for next week. You can’t enter today.” “If we can’t enter, how will we get to the desk?”
The guard briskly pointed towards an office building closeby. “Ask there.”
Not impressed by the guard’s lack of friendliness, we entered the office building. It was rather dark and void for one very bored security guard, slumped in a run down seat. With a low voice he explained we should try our luck on the second floor. It was surreal. There was not a living soul to be found on the second floor. Maybe it was lunch time or something.
We returned to the departure hall empty handed and tried the grumpy guard again. “No boarding pass, no entrance!” “But there is no one in the office you just sent us.” “No boarding pass, no entrance!” He reminded me of the infamous Black Knight…”None shall pass!”
So, for the second time we entered the mostly empty office, not quite sure what to do now. Then my eye fell on the bored guard, still slummed in his old chair. I noticed some stripes on his shoulders. Maybe he could help. “Excuse me sir, you look powerful and high ranking. Would you be in power to help us?” My words seemed to have their effect as the guard seemed to grow and glow. His eyes widened as he rose from his seat. “Of course, sir! How can I help you?”
The Black Knight
No. 17 The Black Knight
After hearing the news that our cousin lost her exhausting fight against cancer, we decided to change our tickets, leave Pakistan and fly back to Europe as soon as we could. We could only hope to be with our family during the funeral.
A few phone calls and emails later we were confirmed on a KLM flight departing Karachi on Wednesday. All we needed to do was to get on a flight out of Quetta and get our boarding passes at Karachi airport. We let our family know, we would be there soon.
We said our goodbyes to my brother’s housekeeper Nazar and his family and got to Karachi airport without difficulties. That’s where the first challenge was upon us.
An armed guard blocked our access to the international departure hall. “Boarding pass, please”. I showed him my boarding pass and tried to explain to him that we were booked on an earlier flight and had to change our passes at the KLM desk. “This boarding pass is for next week. You can’t enter today.” “If we can’t enter, how will we get to the desk?”
The guard briskly pointed towards an office building closeby. “Ask there.”
Not impressed by the guard’s lack of friendliness, we entered the office building. It was rather dark and void for one very bored security guard, slumped in a run down seat. With a low voice he explained we should try our luck on the second floor. It was surreal. There was not a living soul to be found on the second floor. Maybe it was lunch time or something.
We returned to the departure hall empty handed and tried the grumpy guard again. “No boarding pass, no entrance!” “But there is no one in the office you just sent us.” “No boarding pass, no entrance!” He reminded me of the infamous Black Knight…”None shall pass!”
So, for the second time we entered the mostly empty office, not quite sure what to do now. Then my eye fell on the bored guard, still slummed in his old chair. I noticed some stripes on his shoulders. Maybe he could help. “Excuse me sir, you look powerful and high ranking. Would you be in power to help us?” My words seemed to have their effect as the guard seemed to grow and glow. His eyes widened as he rose from his seat. “Of course, sir! How can I help you?”