We get to naran without the slightest flinch or groan from the bug...she made it through all the mud and the rocks...thru pure jeep country...she defied all odds and crossed the terrain every1 said was not her piece of cake...even the ones who supported the bug had the opinion that yes we respect her...but hoping she would cross babusar is just a tad optimistic...besides all odds however she made it...the images dont show the true condition as i keep saying...the reality was far worse there and now i really do think HOW did she make it? if told to do so again...i would not...it really does seem impossible...
so we get to naran...look for a hotel...go around the bazaar and just as we
reach the main bridge for the second time looking for food....disaster...
a suzuki carry zooms in beside us with its horn blaring...the passenger yells out.."aap ka oil leak ho raha hai!!"
the phrase was enough to get me running...i stumble out of the car and run to the back to see a long trail of oil as far as the eye could see...more oil still made its way through under the engine...i tell arslan to kill the engine and he does but the damage was done...some one says they saw a nut fall down at the start of the bazaar...a kilometre dwn i walk then...looking for the illusive bolt...not expecting to find one...but still...worth a shot...as expected...there was nothing...the bolt was nowhere to be found...interestingly still...the oil leak started at the flattest and smoothest patch of road possible...having failed, i half run, half walk all the way up...we got under and saw the size...a 19...apparently the jeep that is so common doesnt use even ONE bolt of size 19....17 being the largest they use...we were unable to find one at all...confused, we call khalid sahab for the rescue...his suggestion...try the wheel nut...fair enough..but that only fit in the older models when bugs ran the 5 lug wheels...not any more...his other suggestion...take the plate out...get the hole welded shut...after a good hour of arguing with locals that yes it would work and no it was OUR responsibility if the car blew up or something we found one man willing to do the job...to add more excitement...the police station that the bug was parked near to became the site for some protest...apparently a police man had been rude to a van driver or something...as the police station lost its windows, we feared for ours...hurrying and literally running up and down and up again in the bazaar we finally got it done...for a 100rs he put a metal piece over the hole and closed it nice and hard...we put the plate back in with the 8 small bolts on the side, pour in some oil and she is purring once again...interestingly however...as the bug started, the protest ended too...it seemed to be staged only to add excitement in our otherwise boring and usual trip...thankful however and tired...we got to the first cheap hotel we found...which was a tent...
and this was its bathroom...needless to say...despite a day of travelling...none of us felt the need to go:P
