Following interview of Shaikh Shabbir K. Mustafa, Udaipur, by Mudar Patherya
 
 I served in a watch company in Bahrain from 1973 to 1984. I had gone to Misar where coincidentally Huzurala was present. I performed by qadambosi and Aqa Maula yeh maney poochhu ke ‘Kitna waras si Bahrain ma chho, tamein wepar kem nathi karta?  
 
 I mumbled a reply: I intend to do business. Aqa Maula yeh maney farmayu ke Waipar karvo hoy to Bahrain ma nahin, Udaipur jaao.
 
 My entire family was in Bahrain; I did not have the intention or wherewithal to go to Udaipur and start a business. 
  
 Next day, I went to Maulana and submitted my humble araz: Maula, Udaipur ma wepar karvu sehel nathi. Mein Bahrain ma wepar kari saku? Maulana instructed: ;Bahrain ma nahi, Udaipur ma jayi ne wepar karo!
 
   I told my friend about Aqa Maula's insistence. He approached Shehzada Qaid Johar Bhaisaheb with the request that Udaipur looks difficult. Shehzada saheb told me that Maulana has pronounced ;Udaipur; twice, now do what you think best. 
  
 I presented my last argument: I said we were strong of faith but only needed to reconfirm. Could we not go back to Maulana the last time for a clarification? 
 
   Shehzada sahib was patient. He called me after zohar-asar namaaz for the decisive araz. I finally saw Maulana annoyed. He saw me in the eye and instructed;Watan jao aney shitabi si jaao! Bahrain ne mooki do!

 I resigned my job in Bahrain. My employer was confused. My friends told me that I was making a grave mistake. Just about everyone told me that going from prosperous Bahrain to the back-of-beyond Udaipur appeared to be a poor decision. Irrespective of whoever had advised it.
 
 
 I returned to Udaipur in late October 1984. I had a Punjabi friend in Udaipur; he proposed partnership in some plywood and tent house business. Coincidentally, Sardarji's cousin was a dealer for Hero Majestic cycles and around that time Hero Honda was looking for dealers for a motorcycle that was to be launched. Since the cousin did not have a place, he recommended that we both become dealers. We left for Delhi to speak to the company about a probable dealership; we reached on a Wednesday two days before Huzurala's saalgirah. The following day, the company asked us for our offer. 
 
  Sardarji was a religious man; he said he was going to the Gurdwara and requested me to pray the Thursday evening namaaz, requesting for divine intercession for our Hero Honda dealership. I recalled Aqa Maula; I told him that it was due to this very dealership that he instructed me to return to Udaipur in haste. Mein yeh Rs 501 nazrul maqaam maana aney Syedna Taher Saifuddin Saheb na ziyaarat ni minnat leedhi. 
 
  
 The following day, the Hero Honda chairman interviewed us; his first question: how would a partnership between a Hindu and a Muslim work? I replied that the Sardarji was well known to me; I had worked with him before leaving for Bahrain. Then at the end of the hour, the chairman assented. We were appointed dealers for Hero Honda in Udaipur. Sealed. 
 
   We invested Rs 3 lacs in the business. Hero Honda's production commenced in 1985. we recueved our first consignment during the month of Aqa Maula's saalgirah. I requested trhe head office to consent to our shop’s inauguration with a procession on Aqa Maula's birthday. They agreed. Shabab members biked out with ;Long live Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin; banners, wearing white coat and pant with the traditional Rajasthani saafa. Hero Honda was thrilled; it gave us the Best Bike Launch award. 
  
 At one time we used to sell around 40 motorcycles a month; we now sell 10,000 a year. My company employs 200 people and for ten years, we have been among the top ten of Hero Honda’s dealers across India for sales, service and customer satisfaction.
 
   There is a lovely word in English that describes Maula. 
 
 Seer. 
 
 We watch; he sees. 
 
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