Flight at 5.15 am to Pune, boarded a full flight sitting in an aisle seat at the fag end mentally preparing to have a power nap to make up for the lost sleep. Flight takes off and as I closed my eyes, fellow passenger wanted to go to the washroom, I obliged and, on his return, he accidentally stamped the end of the saree what we call the Pallu that was touching the aisle. I heard an evident sound and realised it was the pallu that tore. The man apologized but there was very little he could do, and I race my mind for a solution but nothing significant strikes. Early morning no shops, no malls and no luggage with me as it was a day trip for an important client meeting. I reach to my cab and Hussain Sheikh is the man assigned. I began to enquire for any outlets or general stores to buy pins or thread & needle. He enquires the problem and I show him my torn pallu. After a thought he hesitantly asked if I was ok to go to his house as his wife Rubeena was a tailor and could fix this for me. I was amazed and wondered how God sends help in the most unforeseen situations. We reached a point beyond which his car could not go, and we began to walk.
There were a cluster of houses all knit together and we entered his house. He introduced me to his family of his mother , mother in law, wife Rubeena whom he had already called and alerted and she was waiting for me. A small staircase leads to a cozy room with a bed and a tailoring machine. Rubeena makes me sit on a small chair and takes my pallu to start fixing it. Here I met Nadira and Naziya their daughters who were studying class 12 and class 10 . They were up early studying for their exams. Nadira revealed that she was pursuing science and how her Abbu was keen that she should give her best to become a doctor. Naziya the younger, spoke English fluently and her aspirations of cracking civil services. Rubeena did an awesome job in fixing my problem and was offered to have chai with them. Given all that I had gone through, a hot cup of chai was the best I could get. I expressed how thankful I was to Hussain for all the help. It was in a moment they began to narrate about him, the way he supports the family ,the importance to education he gave to see his daughters rise . The hardship he went through to make the extra money to give that basic to his family was all very moving. The warmth that this family showed to a total stranger like me was overwhelming. As I left their house a thought just passed my mind that women are extremely gifted by nature but if we have the right men in their various avatars in our lives be the positive force behind then the journey of life blossoms to its true sense. I have felt that and sure there are a zillion women who may resonate. While we are all wished a Happy Women’s Day, its just a gesture for me to take a moment to thank the men in my life, a few watching me from up the skies who have been the force behind who I m today.
#gratitudeforever
