The half portion that we had occupied consisted of three and a half rooms and quite a big compound with an uncovered verandah. There were no fans or heaters or cooking ranges. The cooking was done with charcoal which could be had at very cheap rates. There was only one W.C. and one bath room. It was not difficult to manage for our two families, Sirdar and myself plus Sarwar. Sometimes we used to have resident guests as well.
The uncovered verandah served as sleeping place in summer for those who could dare.
In the beginning when I was still working in Lawrence Road Akram had made a habit of visiting Saddar in the evenings. I used to come back from work at 5.30 P.M. to find Akram who was about 3 years old dressed up and ready to go out. He used to give me about fifteen minutes to have a wash and tea before taking him out. We used to go by bus, spend about half hour or so and ride back the bus. Incidentally there was only one bus company which ran the buses as per time table. The surprising element with Akram was that he never bothered to ask for shopping even sweets. He would be satisfied with the bus ride and the glamour in Saddar before returning home. Sometimes we had to wait for quite a long time for the return bus. I remember Akram used to get tired and would sit on the kerb and keep murmuring to say that he would never come to Saddar again. But the next evening I would find him fully dressed and ready for the journey again. I never refused this service to him. Aslam never cared for such entertainment and Nighat was too small. Aslam was smart in scheming as to how to skip school.
As time went on after one year or so Dr. Sab had to go to America for his one year course of MPH on Government expenses. Obviously Bi Bhawaj and her children had to move to our house in Jahangir Road which was already packed with two families plus. Anyhow we managed to live with complete understanding. Aslam got his company in Khusro and both of them were happy to go to school regularly.
Good schools with reasonable fees were very hard to find those days as a result we were forced to change quite a few schools for our children until they settled down in the proper one.
When Doctor Sab returned from America he had his job in Karachi city instead of his job at the Airport. But he had to shift to quite a number of Government quarters in those days until he could settle down in one proper place.
In the early days of my Airline Service I had the luxury of an official van with company's fuel. We used it to go to Clifton park almost every evening and on Sundays we spent the whole day in Frere Hall compound which had beautiful lawns. It used to be like a picnic as we carried our lunch, snacks and cricket bats and ball for Aslam and Akram to play or fight. We sat on the lawns or dozed for a while. Nighat had her dolls to play with. Alam was still a baby and would be satisfied playing around us on the lawns provided he was fed on time. Incidentally he was born in a hospital behind Drigh Road Railway station and we did not have to register in advance like it is done these days. Luck and God's mercy was with us as there was no problem even as we took a last moment decision to take Khurshid to the hospital. The lady doctor was known to Dr. Sab and the expense was very little.
All in all the life when we were in Jahangir Road could be described as most enjoyable although my income was quite limited and we could not afford any luxuries. We were quite content with what we had and probably this contentment pleased God who looked after us without any major incidents.
I recall we probably made two trips to India during this period. One by steam boat upto Bombay and train from there to Bangalore. The other trip was by Air to Bombay and train from there. Visa system had not been introduced and we could travel without any documents or checks.
On our return journeys from India we used to bring considerable quantities of clothes and other things which were hard to find here or they were more expensive. This pattern however reversed after a decade when Indians visiting Pakistan used to buy quite a number of things particularly textiles when returning from here. This was a good prospect.
As far as medical side was concerned Dr. Sab was a big source of help both for consultation or treatment. Once when Alam very young had become so sick with diarrohea and vomiting, that we had lost hope of his survival. Dr. Sab with God's blessing rescued him.