The First Step of a Thousand Miles (Part-3)
Part 3: A Nervous Welcome The moment of immigration was near. I stood about six feet away from the counter, my heart pounding with nervous anticipation. Suddenly, I noticed a signboard indicating that this line was for Western and European travelers only. Panic set in. My mind raced, but it was too late to switch lines now. Just then, the officer called for the next person. ” With hesitant steps, I approached the counter, handing over my passport and embarkation card. Inside, my heart was a storm of prayers: Ya Allah, please help me through this. The odds were stacked against me. A Pakistani passport in the wrong line at an international airport? The chances of deportation were nearly certain. The officer looked at my passport, then glanced at me for a brief, agonizing moment. Time seemed to freeze. But then, something unexpected happened—he smiled. “Welcome to Japan,” he said as he stamped my passport for entry and returned it to me. My knees almost buckled with relief. Those three w...