6. Reyaz is Born
I was expecting again. During the sixth month, at my insistence, I was
taken to Tripolia hospital for check-up. I was very apprehensive due to the
earlier experience. BP was on the high side again. Bed rest and light food was
prescribed once again. This time every one was over cautious. He did check the
BP regularly and Amman would take me to Tripolia hospital for check up on regular
basis. Whenever I wanted to move around or ask for the regular spicy food, I
was frightened away of adverse effects of high BP.
Mamoon Abba, who had a very social nature, got bored lying down in his bed
continuously. A house in Khazanchi road, close to ours, was taken on rent,
where everyone except Naani Amman shifted for the sake of change. I was also
asked to join. This house was right next to the road. Hassoo was the favorite
of her Amman and mostly remained with her and used to recite the Quran to her
mother. As long as Doctor Saheb used to be present there, the three brothers
and I were chatting endlessly. Together we used to have Baitbaazi (Antakshari)
and carom and cards which I had learnt from him. And when he was not around I
played Ludo with Asim. I was feeling much better now but the restrictions were
not abated.
During the next check up at Tripolia, the D-date was given and I was asked
to get admitted 4 days in advance. As the car was there it was decided to go
only at the eleventh hour. Bhaiya was helping us in expenditure in a big way.
He used to get me lots of fruits including some exotic ones. Bhabhi had also
moved here and was staying during those days. The penultimate day we moved to
the hospital in a cabin that was allotted to us. It also had a small kitchen
attached. Amman virtually got the entire kitchen shifted
there. I was under the treatment of Miss Dr.Gupta. On 26th midnight
I had the pain and was rushed to the labor room but when Dr. Gupta came, she
sent me back to the cabin ruling out any immediate happening. In the morning at
7 O’clock, I went again to the labor room. This time walking on my own. Dr.
Gupta also arrived soon and by 9 O’clock, the boy was born. The weight was 10
pounds. This was the morning of 27th December and 25th of
Baqreed month. Message was immediately sent across to Patna city. Out of
superstitious apprehensions new clothes were not stitched before the child
birth. Within a couple of hours I was sent back to the cabin. I remained there
for 10 days the fee for the room was Rs.2/- which included the regular round of
the doctor. Doctor Gupta explained to me the miraculous benefits of the mother
milk. I followed her advice always. She was so nice to me and she had so much
of intrinsic genuine warmth inside her. People like that are rare to come
across.
I stayed in bed for five days despite a very normal delivery. In modern
times, even after the caesarian, the next day the patient is made to walk down
to the toilet. To top it all, in my case every evening, childbirth geets were
sung in loud volume. This attracted other ladies present in the hospital. Even
the sewing machine was brought to the hospital and for the whole day clothes
were getting stitched for the new born. What a phase that was! A couple of days
after me, an English woman gave birth to a boy. All the clothes for the child
were arranged prior to the birth. I learnt these things are just superstition.
In case of my remaining children, I always did prior stitching.
After ten days, and after having taken the shower, I was finally
discharged from the Hospital. After 4 days, I was told that Mrs. Dr. Shafique
was admitted to the same hospital at his recommendations and she too was
blessed with a son who also became a doctor like Reyaz and they are still close
friends.
After a month, chilla was held. Clothes were given as present by one and
all for both the mother and the child. A cap used to be there invariably. From
the grand father’s side, was the traditional Turquoise Dholne for the neck and
Gold Panchlari for me. Mumani Amman was a disciple of Phulwari Sharif Khanquah.
The historical name was picked up from there which was Mustafa Reyaz Hassan.
Poor Quasim Mamoon despite his disability had come to the hospital. He gave
money to Reyaz and also gave me a steel locking box (sandookcha) telling me
with a smile to store money in it. I have preserved it. In the riot of 1946,
while most of such boxes were looted in Dhawalpura, this one remained and still
remains with me in use. Inshallah, I will pass it on to Reyaz as a token.
* * * * *
GOING PLACES BEYOND PATNA
His house-job was about to be over. Focus now got shifted to job. That was
the time of World War and doctors were being sent to the defense forces. He was
concerned. The factors being the illness of Abba, and I was another anchoring
chain. All the bachelors were sent for defense job including Dr. Mohsin and Dr.
Tabib. Doctor Saheb applied for a Railway job as also for the civil service
which he got. He was the first one in the family to have become a
doctor and getting a government job was no ordinary feat. Celebrations were
held at both the places. This was 1941. On temporary deputation he was
initially sent to Barh. He assured that as soon as he gets the govt. quarter,
he will get me there. There he met Dr. Imam. It was a large hospital and the
position was of a senior doctor given to him on temporary basis. The quarter
was available within a week. He wrote a letter that next day he was coming to
take us there.
I had never been out of Patna ever. Ours was a small family and all the
close relatives were confined to Patna. I had never traveled in a train. After
Reyaz was born, one day Bhaiya took Bhabhi and me to Pahleza Ghat and we had a
steamer ride and thereafter train trip to Hajipur. On the steamer we had toast
butter and egg and at Hajipur it was banana which was the specialty of Hajipur.
As I had left Reyaz behind, we returned by the very next train. It was like a
picnic party and we enjoyed it. I used to wear burqa.
As promised, he came on Saturday and announce departure the very next day.
Mamoon Abba arranged for a cook name Wazir and Mumani Amman arranged for all
the kitchen items and cutlery. Bhaiya presented a tea set of silver and plates
and quarter plates. Those who were included in the trip was Mumani Amman and
Mamoo Abba and the three sisters and Asim and the cook. From my side, besides
Reyaz Amman, Bhabhi and the nanny were to go. A full size bus was arranged and
we started with lots of excitement. It was a three hour journey by road. Amman
had arranged for sufficient snacks and food-stuff for the journey. The quarter
was impressive and situated right on the bank of the Ganges. It had plenty of
space and rooms. The kitchen as per the British tradition was at a distance
from the main section. The best part was there was electricity and running
water supply. It was all so thrilling. There was enough number of rooms for
everyone. In the morning, when he went to the hospital, I took Bhabhi and
Hassoo to the river. In the same clothes that we were wearing, all
three of us would take a nice dip. It was an isolated place and there were no
steamers within vision. After the hearty bath in the river, surreptitiously we
went to the bathroom without getting noticed by any one there. Mamoon Abba was
staying at the front portion of the house and Badlu Mian used to walk him
inside and he played with Reyaz for an hour or so and then go back. Doctor
Saheb used to come for lunch as the hospital was close by. After the lunch and
rest, he would go back at four in the afternoon. He also was going for
consultation on call. The doctor’s fee was Rs.2/-. Once when he was going on
call in a rural area on a Tonga (two wheeled horse driven cart) The ditch on
the road was so bad that he fell down the tonga and the horse moved on. He
wrote a letter to Bhaiya for buying a second hand car. Barh had lots of houses
of affluent and noble families and a few of them were known to Amman. Occasionally
we were invited for a party there. A month passed by in a jiffy. Communication
came that the regular doctor was about to come. We had to come back though
everyone wanted to stay on for some more time. It was a nice place and taking a
dip in the Ganges was a real bonus, which was never experienced anywhere else.
The next posting was at Sasaram. This city was founded by Sher Shah. From
the ruins one could make out that the city must have been quite majestic and
grand during those days. The fort of Sher Shah is surrounded by lakes on the
three sides. There are a couple of very beautiful mosques as well. Sher Shah
had made Grand Trunk road from Delhi to Calcutta via Sasaram which
still exists. Sasaram had sizeable Muslim population and majority of them were
well off. A few of our relatives too were there. One was Abba’s sister Achho
Phuphi whose husband was a noted lawyer there.
By this time he had learnt driving from Bhaiya. Before leaving for
Sasaram, he bought a black Austin car for seven hundred rupees. The car came by
road. His job schedule was exactly the same here. Same timings same lunch
recess and the same consultation fee of Rs.2/- . One night when he returned, I
had high fever and Amman was sitting by my side. Reyaz was then 9 months old.
After he came I lost consciousness. After the first aid, He took out the car
and along with the orderly went to Dehri-on-sone to get some injections and
medicines. Must have returned very late at night. I probably had
cerebral malaria. “Atiben” was the name of the medicine I still remember and it
came in a tiny bottle. Next day morning when I woke up or rather gained senses,
I saw Amman was showering me with prayers and he was checking my pulse. He sent
Amman to take rest as she must have remained there the whole of night but he
himself remained seated by my side. Had he failed in the correct diagnosis of
the ailment, it could have been fatal. As I recovered, Mamoon Abba and Mumani
Amman and all the children including Nazim , Asim and the three sisters joined
us there. It was like back to the festive days. This house was also pretty
large. My MIL this time had also brought Sumran Bua along. One Sunday we had a
picnic over the hill. Except the elders, everyone piled on the small car.
When we reached the base of the hill, a challenge was thrown as to who
will reach the peak point first. I took the strides and after reaching some
height when I turned back, it was a hilarious scene behind. All of them were
desperately trying to climb the slope of the hill with both hands on their
knees. It was revealed that they had weakness in the feet particularly the
knees. That was hereditary. The genes have passed on even to the next
generation. Sufi and Shama are the worst affected. They cannot climb the stairs
without supporting their knees with their hands. Among my children, Nikhat and
Ejaz have inherited it, though in relatively milder form. Talat too had it and
so has it been passed on to Khalid.
As our picnic went on, we had lunch under the shade of a tree, roamed
around in the woods and reached home at around 4 in the afternoon. We were
welcomed with the expected reprimanding as Reyaz was crying all through
searching for me.
It was a nice place and we had a gala time there. Once we went to
Dehri-on-sone and visited a sugar factory there. Benaras too was pretty close
but the schedules of the hospital was so hectic that we didn’t get a chance to
go there. We stayed there for nearly a year. For his seniority even that
hospital for a higher incumbency. Leaving Sasaram was also regretful. The
charge was handed over and the entire lot returned bag and baggage to Patna by
train. The next joining letter was for Araria. This was an interior village of
Purnea. Purnea itself was referred to as Kala Pani those days. Araria had to be
worst. But he had the firm view that in Govt. service he had to go where-ever
the orders came for. Initially he went alone and came back soon to take us
along. It was so far away that this time Mamoon Abba, the sisters
and my Amman could not go along. The rout to Araria was tortuous.
First crossing of the Ganges by steamer. The first train then took us to
Sonepur. After changing another train, we reached us Araria after 24 hours. A
covered bullock cart was waiting to receive us at the station that was sent by
some landlord there. It was not an easy ride. Eventually when we reached the
destination, the quarter was equally disappointing. The hospital was right
across the road. Some of the employees of the hospital were also Muslims but
from their dress or dialect it was difficult to distinguish them from a Hindu.
Local men used to wear dhoti. Malaria and Kala-azaar was rampant in those
areas. Friday and Monday was the day for injections which used to be like a
fair. People used to flock in from all sides. Majority of the population were
skinny but the belly was bloated.
In the backyard was a tree of apple-custard and the fruit was real sweet.
We all had it including Reyaz which became an invitation for his fever.
Sometime in the mid of night Doctor Saheb woke me up as injection was to be
given to Reyaz. In the morning when he woke up, Reyazs'
voice suddenly took a nasal tone. Probably that was Diphtheria. God
was kind to us that it was diagnosed and treated at the initial stages itself.
When the rains started, all around we could hear the croaking of frogs and
hissings of the snakes. I was directed to remain in the bed with mosquito net
on after the sunset so as to feel safe from the snakes. The cook told me that
here it rains snake. I did not believe him. One morning when it was raining
heavily he called me and showed me half a dozen snakes measuring around 2 feet
each were crawling; each holding the other’s tail. I was told they were
poison-less snakes. Nevertheless they were snakes and frightening as always.
This place had nothing to feel rejoice about. There was practically
nowhere to go and no acquaintances. There was a renowned Landlord who once
invited us. Two bullock carts were sent to fetch us. When we landed there over
a dozen kids of the locality were there to receive us as if we had landed from
another planet. It was basically an agriculturist’s house and underneath ever
bed there were onions, potatoes and other produce. For the meal, an entire goat
was in the offering. Along with chicken that was reared at home even the fish
was from the in-house pond. The fried fish was a real treat. After the lunch
when were took permission to leave, the ladies of the house came to meet us. It
was then revealed that Seth Saheb had four wives. Each one had a different
room. The household and farming chores were equally distributed
amongst them. They all looked like Hindus. No chappals and a foot long
Ghoonghat on the face. I was presented with a Sari and Kurti. The sari was not
bad but the kurti I gave to someone. When we reached the bullock cart, a big
sack full of rice was kept there meant for us. He told me when we were
returning that having four wives was nothing unusual for this place. He became
sort of family doctor for them. During the rains when the approach road was in-accessible
with bullock cart, Seth Saheb used to send elephant to get him.
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Chapter
INDEX.