Following interview of Zahidbhai Hakimuddin, Bahrain, by Mudar Patherya


I was in Bahrain in the early Eighties and my work required me to travel extensively. On one occasion, I was flying from Bahrain to London via Cathay Pacific. At around two at night I was waiting in the departure lounge after having completed the check-in and immigration formalities when I noticed some Qasre-aali sahibs in the area. I put two and two together; I realized that Huzurala – traveling to London – was transiting via Bahrain and was in the VIP lounge!

 I took my chance. I went to the person accompanying Huzurala and requested if I – in tie, shirt, trousers and no topi - could do qadambosi. He nodded. I hesitated. I said I have no topi; he said, ‘Kai nai, jaao’.

 I tiptoed into the VIP lounge. Maulana was alone; I ventured even more hesitatingly as I was intruding on his privacy. Maula saw me; aap yeh farmayu ke ‘Aao, aao, ghabraao na.’ I ventured closer with a flimsy rumaal on my head. I drew within whispering distance, offered my hand in qadambosi, Huzurala graciously took it into his and I sat down on the terminal carpet. Beside him.

Maula did something amazing thereafter. “Upar beso,” he said. Alongside. I was most nervous. I didn’t know what to tell him. I mean I couldn’t make small talk and ask him where as he was going or how warm it was these days. I was kind of stuck.

 Thankfully, Maulana started the conversation. “Su business chhey tamaaro?” he asked. “Travel ghanu karo chho?” he asked. “Ghar ma kitla bachchao chhey?” “Tamein hamaari flight ma chho?” He put me at ease. I started talking to him about this and that. Relaxing by the minute.

We conversed for around 20 minutes one to one. Finally, when it was time to leave, I requested Aqa Maula if I could take a photograph of him. He agreed. Je Bhaisaheb wahaan hata, mein yeh request keedhu ke aap photographs laiye toh he replied that ke tamaaro pan Maulana saathe photo laiye. I demurred; I was in suit and tie without topi. The result is that only Huzurala’s photograph was taken.

 Thereafter, I took leave, we went to our respective flights and I will never forget how Huzurala, when he should have been in aaram with strictly no disturbance, willingly accommodated an adnaa moomin, conversed for a good 20 minutes, made him feel at ease, enquired about his family and made it the latter’s experience of a lifetime.

 
It is this picture of Huzurala – not the actual photograph - that I will always carry. A man willing to go out of his way to make a stranger feel great.
 

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