It was Ali’s last day in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He had just returned from Makkah after performing his second Umrah. It was early morning, and the sun was already high in the sky.

The room was quiet, its silence broken only by the chirping of birds. Fallen leaves made the street look beautiful and peaceful. It felt as though time was flying by. Ali was excited, as he had a flight to Dubai in a few hours.

As time passed, he reached the airport, excitedly running here and there. Since it was morning, he and his family had breakfast in the lounge while waiting for check-in to open. He enjoyed his breakfast until the counter opened. They were the first to reach it. When they presented their Pakistani passports, the officer’s expression changed. He instructed them to have their suitcases checked. Their luggage was searched, leaving a mess on the counter. The process took half an hour and the officer finally let them go once he was fully satisfied.

Taking a deep breath, Ali moved to the immigration counter. The bright airport lights felt harsh as the officer picked up his passport and examined it in silence. The silence stretched on, making Ali’s heart pound.

The officer’s eyes shifted from the photograph on the passport to Ali’s face, then back again. Ali knew his appearance had changed after performing Umrah. His head was shaved and he had tanned a bit too.

The officer’s expression hardened, giving nothing away. Seconds turned into long, unbearable moments. The line behind Ali grew restless, while the guards exchanged words. Ali swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the counter. Just then, his nerves could take no more. The officer looked up sharply, and Ali froze, holding his breath.

“You will have to stay here. Your face doesn’t match the picture in your passport,” the officer said.

Ali’s heart sank, and panic began to rise. People in the line behind him began to murmur, but he stood there, unsure of what to do next.

The officer examined the documents carefully before picking up the passport again. Ali’s family pleaded with him, showing old photographs and documents to prove Ali’s identity. The officers studied them closely, flipping through the pages and comparing the faces. An hour passed, each minute seeming to stretch endlessly as Ali’s heart pounded.

Then, the flight announcement echoed through the hall, making the tension almost unbearable. Finally, the officer’s expression softened, and a hint of recognition appeared on his face. With a decisive motion, he stamped the passport and handed it back.

Relieved and exhausted, Ali clutched it tightly and ran towards the gate just as boarding began.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 31st, 2026