This is an important episode as it tells you about the circumstances which led to our immigration from India to Pakistan and your immigration from Pakistan to United States.
Before I embark upon the details I would like to acquaint you with the background of our living prior to immigration.
Once during my younger days I was inclined to pray sincerely to God Almighty for a simple and comfortable living depending upon no one except God the Benevolent. In my prayer I did not crave for any luxury or wealth.
When I look back I realize that my prayer was accepted as it happens to all prayers offered sincerely and honestly.
A few days later I was happily married to the girl of my choice in May 1942 and in August of the same year I rather miraculously gave up my service in Railway (near Bombay) where I was leading a lonely life to join Hindustan Aircraft Ltd., Bangalore. It was a fairly good job which enabled us to start a new living with my parents and my unmarried brothers and sisters.
Bangalore was known to be a city of gardens and the climate was such that there was no need for fans in summer and no heaters in winter. In fact it was a summer resort for people living in Madras and Hyderabad, where the summers used to be cruelly hot.
The life was easy going for me and Khurshid as my father used to take care of needs of the house, and my mother covered the domestic affairs including the care of my children. My responsibility was only to share the expenses with my father.
During the period 1942 - 1948 three children were born namely Aslam, Akram and Nighat. All deliveries took place in the house through the assistance of a midwife. There was no need to go to the hospital as it is essential nowadays and the expenses were almost nil. Their up keep during infancy was no problem as my mother used to take care of every thing with the assistance of my sisters. Khurshid had nothing to bother either for kitchen or the care of the children.
There was a full time cook (Ghous Bi) who used to live with us and her salary was probably Rs. 6/= per month (about $42 a month in today's money). She was a very noble lady who served many of our families until her death.
Since Bangalore was a popular commercial city most of our relations living in towns used to visit us occasionally and we used to pay our visit to our in laws when convenient.
During my spare time I used to see good English movies regularly and Urdu movies occasionally. The mode of transport for me was my Bicycle. The most enjoyable recreation was witnessing the thrilling soccer matches between Muslims and Hindus.
Lal Bagh which was known to be one of the best Botanical Gardens of India was within walking distance of our house. Occasionally we used to visit the gardens for a change or for picnic. The children used to enjoy the visits very much.
Refrigerators, deep freezers or air-conditioning units were unheard of those days. In fact they were not needed even by the rich people.
Muslim population in Mysore state was about 11 % in those days and they were classified as backward in Education. In order to promote education among Muslims the school and college fees were reduced to 50 % so much so the education appeared to be almost free.
Doctor Sab was employed in Shimoga District, Sirdar had settled down in Bangarapet after working for a few months in Hindustan Aircraft. Sarwar, Nawab, Hameed and the three unmarried sisters were going to school. All in all life for us, i.e. myself and Khurshid was supremely happy as we were close to our parents and other near relatives; two of our married sisters with families were not far from us. In other words you might say that we had all the comforts and not much of the responsibility.
Life went on merrily as far as we were concerned and we had a feeling logically so, that this is the type of life we are destined for and we thought it would continue until we were ready to pack up for the other world. But it was not to be. The purpose of writing this long background of our living was to pose a question for you. Would you expect any person in the proper frame of mind to even consider migrating to a brand new country full of uncertainties and innumerable challenges?
I am sure you would agree that no one would think of such an adventure. But you forget one aspect as to how Destiny plays its part in changing one's life and steers him to another direction even if he did not plan it that way. Wait for the next episode full of thrills and near miracles.