Soul Asylum

Manama, Bahrain- 06/11/06
Land Mark Suites- on the Exhibition road, Bahrain …Decent place..away for the Weekend Saudi revellers….was my head-quarters…Checked in early with my better half and two lil’ ones….Last minute addition…could n’t leave my younger one behind…Very painful…

First night was relaxing … getting used to the slow lethargic Bahraini life-style…Very soothing away from the traffic and the daily grind..

Woke up and knocked off my official commitements and had a lavish family dinner at Caesers…’ The perfect family- outing …and the kiddo;s were at their best  behavior…

Evening stroll to the Downtown is mandatory and wifey preferred the comforts of the hotel room…Walked toward Baáb Al Bahrain ( Gateway of Bahrain)….a traditional natural port…strangely…with all the reclaimation ….the Baáb is almost 500 metres off the coast…Blame it on ..Property sharks…Nevertheless, the place has retained its old world charm….All Cabbies lined up at the cheap Paki Dabba’s ..each of one having names like Karachi, Islamabad….even found Charminar in the vicinity….Amazing ..how..one wants to be associated with ones roots…away in a distant land !!!

Passed by a Temple near the Baáb…flurry of activities…devotees flocking either blessed or to be blessed…Radiating positivity…wish the calmness is retained forever…not just to the next block !!!

Popped into a Audio Cassette shop…flooded with pics of all our Bollywood stars…the guy at the counter –gave me a knowing smile..My grey cells got into a frenzied flash-back trip….synopsis..data….processed…LIYAKAT …I screamed…..

We go back..donkey’s years…he was living in my area ..back in good ol’ Bombay..Struggling for survival…could never complete his studies….and to make things worse had 3 siblings to support…I vividly remember his mom…..manfully going through the ordeal …His Dad was an illegal immigrant in Bahrain …12 years back…No connection with his family for 7 long years…People used to talk…Lady gracefully strode over all and sundry….Faith is the foundation….

Liyakat begged and borrowed and landed in Manama 5 years back…..tracked his father down….He was in doldrums…just released by the cops and with a good samaritan backing him up…he was hawking audio tapes on the streets of Manama..catering to poor labourers….Liyakat joined him and all credits to the pirated DVD’s…they started aggressive marketing….on signals…and every nooks and corner of the city….Gradually…..they bought a small shop in Baáb area ….next to the temple….

Two of his brothers joined him…..and today this rags to riches story..shook me up…Not for the achievements….but what is being done after getting over the adversity….

Liyakat and his family support 500 homeless families back in Bombay…..food clothes….school fees….house for the needy…..It just humbled me….

They own two more outlets in the Baáb area and every day…around 40 poor guys are fed in Manama alone…Amazing…..

The Baáb Al Bahrain –is like a shield …..protects them…and ensures the foot fall….The temple …attracts…all devotees…..the shops get their customers……The sharks are dredging in further to reclaim more of the Sea…..It is the small fish which runs the Eco-system…..

……………All men are born equal…..but some are more equal in their deeds….