12. Testing Times of Illness
Daughters were admitted to school and Reyaz got admission in Muslim School
as the session was midway and admissions were closed in Ram Mohan Roy Seminary.
One evening after having roasted corn, I had a severe pain in the abdomen. When
the home remedies didn’t click, Dr. Ahsanul Hoda, a class mate of doctor Saheb,
was called. While prescribing some pain killers, he suggested to consult as
surgeon. When the surgeon examined, he declared it to be a case of appendicitis
warranting immediate operation. It was a state of helplessness as there was no
way to immediately contact him at Saharsa, because of the floods. Thanks to
God, with a few antibiotics, the pain subsided. But it recurred every now and
then till a few months passed by. Eventually I decided to go for the surgery
and informed him by letter. Doctor Barat was probably the Superintendent of
PMCH then and helped us in getting the cabin but the date of the operation was
to be fixed after his arrival.
When I saw him, I was shocked to find that he had lost plenty
of weight and his complexion had changed pitch dark. He didn’t look healthy at
all. He said it could be malaria or Kaala-azar and he was having fever at
frequent intervals. He was waiting to come to Patna to get the blood test. I
forgot all worries of my own and diverted my whole attention to him. He was the
kind of person who never complained and completely ignored his own health. I
forgot about my appendicitis and he was admitted in the same cabin for
treatment. Dr. Madhusudan Das was the physician and he went for all sorts of
tests. He had some dreadful disease of those days. To make the matter worst,
the liver was enlarged to dangerous extent and Blood sugar level was alarmingly
high. In the family of doctor Saheb none of the parents had diabetes. Still he
and Nazim both got it. He was very fond of sweet dishes. Even after it was
diagnosed, he never bothered to control his diet and kept eating sweet dishes
and even rice.
Though the treatment was free for us but the medicines were expensive.
Ex-ray too was done on payment basis. The salary stopped after 3 months.
Expenses couldn’t be curtailed as large family was being supported. Nazim and
his family was also staying with us. Gradually, the entire savings were
exhausted. I was unable to think of any solution.
As a last resort I decided to sell off the ornaments. Dulha Bhai was aware
of the situation but he was not himself in a position to help us
financially. But he was against the sale of jewelry and asked me to have faith
in Allah who will arrange for something. The same day Majjoo Bhai came to see
him. He must have realised the position and immediately gave one thousand
Rupees with assurance of more to come. Another person to help us in those
difficult days was Nawab Bhai. Others just used to bother me with the questions
about his illness which had led to complete bed rest for months together in the
hospital. All I could tell them was that his liver is damaged and sugar level
is high. That was the most disturbing time of my life but still I didn’t lose
courage. Along with the medical treatment, I kept praying to Allah from the
bottom of my heart, for his health. My primary concern then was that the
children were still young and I was myself an orphan and had not inherited much
of wealth. So virtually there was no place for me to go. I repeatedly prayed to
God to have mercy on the children till they are old enough to manage on their
own. And the prayer that came from the core of the heart was heard.
Nawab Bhai often used to come to see him even though he was now
transferred to Darbhanga. After seeing the latest X-ray report, he was happy to
find drastic improvements. He advised us to go to Ranchi, for a change, and to
stay there for some time with the family. Nawab Bhai offered to take the burden
of all staying arrangements. Although a sanatorium is there in Ranchi, he was
not willing to stay there as he wanted me to stay with him. He asked Dulha Bhai
to arrange for a rented house. Dulha Bhai’s niece Najma was staying in Ranchi
and her husband Mannan had a motor garage. All arrangements were thus made
through him for our stay at Ranchi.
Reyaz was to appear for his matriculation exam with science. He needed
some tuition but resources did not permit that. Help came from Allah. During
his earlier transfer to Betiah, he had come in contact with son-in law of
Bakhshish Saheb who was a professor in Science there. He offered Reyaz to be
sent to Betiah where he can coach him properly and he can appear for the
matriculation exam from Betiah. Thus Reyaz was sent to Betiah. Shahnaz and
Neyaz were left with Amman as they were studying there. Mannan’s letter came
that though the rented house has still not been arranged, he offered us to stay
with them as the house was large enough and in the meantime another house could
be arranged on rent. Thus help came from unknown and unexpected quarters. They
were not our direct close relatives. Even what Nawab Bhai did for us, was a
rare gesture. He offered his own car with the tank full of petrol to enable us
to go to Ranchi and also helped us with cash. May Allah provide
him suitable place in the heaven, for the good deeds.
We reached Ranchi in the evening with Nikhat, Ejaz and Tahir. Next day,
Nawab Bhai’s driver took leave to go back. When money was given to him for
petrol for the return journey, he refused to take saying “ Nawab Saheb has
asked me not to take money”. I was overwhelmed. Tahir also had some work so he
left along with the driver.
I kept asking about Najma but was told that they live at the top of a
hillock. For us the arrangements were made in this large house.
Next day when Najma and Mannan came they apologized for the delay and said
since morning they were looking for a house for rent. Our basic requirement was
clan surroundings and proper ventilation. We stayed there for almost a week and
the meals were on the house. Even pure milk they used to send and with great
difficulty accepted the price. Eventually a portion of the house containing two
rooms were taken on rent for Rs.150 p.m. in the house of Begum Shamsuddin. This
was situated on Hazaribagh Road and had lots of greeneries around. The
essential furnitures were provided either by Begum Sahiba or Najma. The way
Najma and her husband welcomed us and treated us in those difficult days, I
shall ever remain grateful and obliged to them.
Close to where we lived, were a number of guava tress and the fruits were
very sweet. The two children with us, Nikhat and Ejaz were the only source of
our entertainment. Both of them had a good voice and used to sing well. Even
the visitors were all praise for their singing talent.
One day Ejaz came from the garden to tell that Nikhat has fallen down a
tree and is lying there and crying. When she was brought inside , Abba said it
was a fracture of the limb. Our miseries were not coming to an end. Till that
time, movement for Doctor Saheb was not permitted. So I had to go the hospital
which was far away from where we lived. I went straight for the emergency
section. Fortunately, I met a surgeon who was from Patna and knew doctor Saheb.
When I introduced myself he spontaneously asked “where is Doctor Saheb”. I told
him the story. He was nice enough to do everything required. He said it was a
crack in the bone and should be normal within three weeks. He called his driver
and asked him to drop me home. As he was on duty at that time, he was unable to
come to see Doctor Saheb. When I reached home he was worried how I must have
managed it all by myself. When Allah is willing to help, everything
automatically falls in place .
Next day the same doctor came to see him. I went to arrange for the
tea. He saw the X-ray report and other prescriptions.
“I’ll get all the medicines arranged from the hospital, being a
doctor you are entitled to it!”. He assured.
After three weeks, Nikhat’s plaster was eventually removed. His X-ray
report was gradually getting back to normal. The reports were sent to Nawab
Bhai who agreed it was time to get back to Patna and resume duty. The landlady,
Begum Shahabuddin whom we all used to call Begum Sahiba, fell ill. There was
bleeding with the stool which was caused by the rupture of the ulcer. It could
be dangerous. Doctor Saheb prescribed her some medicines and advised complete
bed-rest. She had no children. There was a servant who was there since the
childhood days who was cooking for her, and his wife was looking after other
household works. When she was alright, she gave us some
exquisite glassware as reward for his treatment. She wanted to sell
her bungalow to distribute the sale proceeds between her two step daughters who
had migrated to Pakistan. She offered the deal to us at a very reasonable
price. How could I divulge my financial position to her so I made some excuse.
We had developed a mutual affection during our short stay there and
she was very sorry when we returned from Ranchi. Mannan had arranged for the
car to drive us to Patna.
As we reached Patna, I met the children who had stayed back. Mumani
Amman who had gone back to Patna City in the meanwhile also came to meet us. A
panel of doctors examined him again. It was all due to prayers to Allah that he
was declared fit. Nawab Bhai who was now a professor in Darbhanga Medical
College, also came to see him. Nawab Bhai was not only renowned surgeon in the
entire state, he was also very influential. He helped in getting
Doctor Saheb’s transfer to Darbhanga Medial College as Superintendent. We were
told that there was not much of work load. Doctors had advised him
not to drive the car. A driver was therefore hired for a monthly salary of
Rs.30/- with food. I had taken a vow that after his recovery, he will offer a
“Chadar on the Dargah of Makhdoom Saheb Saint in Biharsharif. So were went
there and all the dargahs of saints on the way to Biharsharif were also
visited.
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Chapter
INDEX.