As soon as I left the coaster at Mansehra, I came on the road to catch any van or taxi till Abbottabad Daewoo station. I know about shuttle service of Daewoo from Mansehra to Abbottabad but I was in no mood to take hassle of this. After few seconds of standing on road, a Suzuki Bolan dabba came and shouted.. Abbottabad complex complex.. I didn't understood what he is referring to.. so asked him.. Daewoo adday jaye gi.. he said, han jaye gi na.. betho.. and I sat in that dabba..
Soon a few more passengers sat and the dabba was full. I asked one of the passenger, ye daewoo tak jaye ga.. and the passenger said, ye to complex ki awaz laga raha tha bus waheen tak jaye ga.. Now I understood that he was using the word complex for Ayub Medical Complex. Daewoo station is a little ahead. I also realised that it was not a passenger dabba.. but a personal one, they were going to Hospital so thought to make some bucks by taking passengers..
Near Qalandarabad, I asked driver... yaar aap ne to kaha tha ke daewoo tak jaye ga.. abhi ye log keh rahay hain complex tak jaye ga.. He said, "daewoo thora sa agay hai aap suzuki mai beth jana"... I said, "yaar mai ne bethnay se pehlay aap se isi lye poocha tha ke daewoo jaye ga ya nahi.. us waqt aap ne paiso ke lye foran bitha lia, ab mujhay to nahi pta na ke konsi jaga pehle aati hai, main to idhar ka nahi hoon" (I was a bit harsh).. and then he said.. acha kartay hain kuch ..
Soon we reached Ayub Medical Complex where all passengers left, while driver said.. bhai aap betho mai aapko Daewoo tak chor deta hoon.. Soon Daewoo station came and I got off the dabba.. I asked him, "how much?". He said, "Kuch nahi do yaar, ap mehman ho, naraz nahi hona". I then apologized for being rude and forcefully gave him money.. thanked him and left.
Inside Daewoo, I got my ticket confirmed by making the payment. Now I have two hours to spare because I reached here at 9 and the bus was on 11.. I ate a Super crisp Nimco, first meal after light breakfast. Many people were inside the station (not travellers) and were watching the match between SL and Pak. But Pak lost the match and everyone left with disappointment. Now the station was almost empty except for few passengers. I chit chat with a Lahore guy about politics and travel until boarded the Daewoo..
The bus left at sharp 11. There was WiFi in bus. It was connecting but not working.. Soon I remember reading a thread on Pakwheels by @lse1 (Thread URL) where it was mentioned that Punjab EVO doesn't work in KPK. I thought this might be the case and was waiting for Hassan Abdal to come to verify this.
Daewoo service was the same.. first headphones, then glass, then water, then cold drink and then snack box. However, the hostess was finding it hard due to frequent brakes. She spilled water on 2 passengers. Soon Havelian and then Haripur passed and then Hassan Abdal came.. and that was the time I started to get numerous pending whatsapp messages of Karachi Travellers Group and then I verified that the thread I read on PW about EVO frequency was correct.
As the clock struck 12, I started to receive SMS and calls.. because... it was my birthday 
After receiving many sms and calls, I went to sleep.. I remained in sleep most of the journey and woke up at Bhera stop and then near Kot Abdul Malik interchange. I got a phone call from my Uncle that he had reached Daewoo station to pick me (I told him in night to be there at 6 AM). Daewoo was 15 mins late and reached Kalma chowk at 6:15 AM. Soon got my luggage and then headed home..
So this is how the trip concludes. Thanks to all my friends who met me and I will never forget your hospitality. This trip is entirely dedicated to my friends in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Thanks everyone on Pakwheels who read, commented and liked the thread and posts. Hope to see you all soon with a new thread
Allah Hafiz
Abbottabad Daewoo Station while waiting for bus.
Ticketing counter at Abbottabad Daewoo station
