Hamid by Hamid Ansari and Geeta Mohan: An extract

Learn an extract from Hamid right here.

In November 2012, a 27-year-old Mumbai-based techie Hamid instantly disappeared. Despite the fact that his dad and mom knew he had gone to Afghanistan for a job alternative, the reality appeared removed from it. It turned out that he was chatting with mates throughout the border, particularly a lady. He went to guard her however was let down by the betrayal of his mates. All of this crafted an unforgettable story of perseverance and grit the place Hamid was labelled as a spy and his mom knocked on doorways to get justice for her son.

Within the guide by the identical title, authors Hamid Ansari and Geeta Mohan make clear the story which appeared straight out of a narrative guide to start with. It has been printed by Penguin Random Home, India. Right here’s an extract.

10 November 2012

It was 10 p.m. when the telephone rang. Fauzia knew it was her son calling from Kabul. That was when he referred to as her each evening, holding the promise he made to her when he left for Afghanistan. This might be the final time he spoke together with her earlier than he crossed over into Pakistan. ‘Salaam Alaikum, Hamid, how are you?’ Fauzia requested as quickly as she picked up.

Hamid was in Kabul. He was going to take the Dosti bus the subsequent morning. Guilt jabbed by means of his coronary heart when he heard his mom’s anxious voice. ‘I’m high quality. How are you and everyone at house? Work is okay. I’ll get some orders,’ he mentioned, holding his nerves regular.

‘When will you be again?’ she requested.

‘I ought to be again by the 12th but when I get held up then I might be house newest by the 15th. Don’t fear.’

‘Keep protected. And are available house quickly,’ mentioned Fauzia earlier than blessing him and disconnecting.

11 November 2012

The following night, just like the ritual it had grow to be, Fauzia waited for Hamid to name after she returned from faculty. She sat for dinner together with her husband, Nehal Ansari, and Khalid and expressed concern that Hamid hadn’t referred to as.

Khalid mentioned, ‘He should be busy. Don’t fear. He’ll name when he finds time.’

An unconvinced Fauzia referred to as up a couple of of Hamid’s mates to test if they’d heard from him.

12 November 2012

This was a Monday. When Hamid’s quantity remained unreachable, the complete household was anxious. His dad and mom and brother began making calls to mates, acquaintances and former colleagues. By the night, Fauzia was having an absolute meltdown, imagining essentially the most horrid circumstances through which Hamid could possibly be. She tried to brush these ideas apart and mentioned a prayer for her son’s security.

‘He mentioned he can be returning at present. Why hasn’t he referred to as? We have to test with the airways,’ she instructed her husband.

Khalid, who was sitting beside his father, reminded Fauzia that he had mentioned his return can be both by the 12th or newest by the 15th of November. ‘That is completely irresponsible of him, however he will need to have received caught someplace. Let’s wait one other day,’ he mentioned.

They’d dinner in silence. Later that evening, Fauzia went to Khalid’s room to speak to him since she was stressed. As she entered, she noticed Khalid sitting at his pc attempting to determine if he might discover any digital hint of Hamid. He checked out his involved mom and put up a courageous entrance, ‘I’m attempting to attach with him on-line. I’m positive he should be in a low community space, or possibly there’s a disruption in Web provide; it’s Afghanistan in spite of everything,’ he mentioned.

When Khalid went to mattress, Fauzia sat in entrance of the pc to search for all of the flights to and from Kabul. There have been solely two every week, on Thursdays and Sundays. She thought to herself, ‘It’s Monday so he couldn’t have come at present. Thursday can be 15 November. He should be on that flight. I’ll test tomorrow morning with the airways.’ She left Khalid’s room and went into the drawing room to take a seat in silence for a bit.

She tried Hamid’s quantity once more to see if it rang. It didn’t. It was now round 10:20 p.m. She instantly had a sinking feeling sitting alone within the tiny drawing room. It felt like time had stopped. She seemed as much as the wall clock, and noticed that the second hand was not transferring. Time certainly had stopped in that family. All of the wall clocks of that home had stopped ticking. Fauzia was petrified. She didn’t sleep that evening, weeping alone and praying for her son’s security.

13 November 2012

Fauzia referred to as in sick to work. She was decided to get some info on Hamid. She pulled out the variety of Ariana Airways and located the variety of their Kabul workplace. Her fingers shook as she dialled. ‘Please let him be on the checklist, please, please,’ Fauzia saved muttering because the telephone rang. It saved ringing for a really very long time, until lastly she heard a younger male voice say, ‘Good day, Ariana Airways. How can I make it easier to?’

‘Good day, that is Fauzia Ansari calling from Mumbai, India. I wished some info relating to a passenger. May you test if he’s in your Thursday flight to Delhi?’

‘I’m sorry. We don’t give out passenger particulars. That is our firm coverage.’

‘Son, I’m calling since I’m anxious for my baby. My son Hamid Ansari travelled to Kabul and was presupposed to be again this week. He mentioned he can be again by 15 November. Please assist me. I solely need to know if he’s booked on the subsequent flight or not. Please assist!’ It was the plea of a determined mom.

‘Maintain the road, ma’am,’ mentioned the person.

She needn’t have anxious and will’ve waited a couple of days. However one thing didn’t really feel proper to her. Add to that the truth that Hamid was not reachable on his telephone. She had a sinking feeling, like part of her was being minimize off. Her fears have been taking over a lifetime of their very own and she or he was not in a position to focus on work. She wished to ease her nerves by getting some info on Hamid.

The person got here again on the road and mentioned, ‘Ma’am, might you share his particulars once more?’

Fauzia did so. He put the telephone on maintain once more and when he got here again he mentioned, ‘Madam, there may be no one with this title booked on our flight this coming Thursday.’

She was shocked into silence. Tears rolling down her cheeks, she mentioned, ‘Son, please test once more. He should be on the checklist.’

There was silence on the opposite aspect, then the person mentioned, ‘I’ve the checklist in entrance of me. He would possibly guide a ticket later. There may be time. He has two extra days, madam. Please don’t fear. I’m positive it is possible for you to to attach with him quickly.’

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