Chapter 4: A Desperate Plea for Help

After getting a follow-up appointment from the Indian Embassy, we started making our way back to the hotel, burdened with the tension of what lay ahead. How would we move forward to France without any money? We barely had enough left for food. Lost in these thoughts, we didn’t even realize when we reached the hotel. Mentally, we were exhausted. In the room, we paced around in stress, wondering, “What will happen tomorrow? Will the Indian High Commissioner help us?” I kept thinking about how to explain our financial need and whether or not he would support us. My mind was spinning with questions.

That evening, we tried to distract ourselves by going for a walk, but our spirits were low. We found a modest restaurant, ordered the cheapest items on the menu, ate quietly, and returned to the hotel. Late at night, the two of us sat down to discuss how we would approach the High Commissioner the next day. If we directly asked for money, he might or might not help us. After much deliberation, we decided to request that he help us arrange for $500 to be sent from home in India. Back in 1988, there were many restrictions on getting foreign currency, which was only available through the Reserve Bank after all documents had been checked.

At the same time, we faced another challenge: it was now getting cold in Europe, and we had no warm clothing—just a T-shirt each. December had begun, and the snow was starting to fall. It was our first time facing such extreme cold, and all we could do was leave our fate in Allah’s hands and hope to face whatever lay ahead. As they say, when one’s resolve is strong, no challenge—be it cold, heat, rain, or storm can stop a person.

The next morning, after having tea, we got ready and headed for the Indian Embassy. Upon arrival, we informed the receptionist about our appointment, and a security guard led us to the High Commissioner’s office. We introduced ourselves, shared our press clippings and photos, but he barely glanced at them. Instead, he immediately asked, “Yes, that’s fine. What do you need from me?” I explained our whole situation, mentioning how we usually received support from the Indian community or the Dawoodi Bohra community wherever we went, but here, we had neither. We desperately needed financial help and, if the Embassy couldn’t provide it, we asked if he could help us arrange for $500 to be sent from India. Hearing this, he simply said, “We can’t do any of that.”

We tried requesting earnestly, “Sir, please help us. How will we continue our journey without money?” At that, the High Commissioner became visibly irritated, calling in the security guard and instructing, “Get these beggars out of the Embassy.” Our situation had become so desperate that we started pleading, “Sir, please help us.” The High Commissioner then told the guard, “Go, collect some donations from the staff and send them on their way.” The guard led us outside and said, “Come back tomorrow; whatever we gather, the High Commissioner will give you.” Disheartened, the two of us returned to the hotel, faces downcast. The entire day was lost to tension, thinking about what tomorrow might bring. When we returned to the Embassy the next morning, the guard led us back to the High Commissioner’s office, where something unexpected happened, leaving us both stunned.

To be continued…

Hame Indian Embassy ma thi bija Divas no appointment laine chalta chalta pachha hamari hotel taraf Aavi rahya hata tyare hame ghana tension ma hata ke have su thase? Paisa vagar yaha si hame Aagal France taraf kay rite jaisu? Khava-piva na paisa pan thoda j bacha hata. Have hamaru su thase aa badha khayalo ma hame kyare hotel pohchi gaya khabar na padi. Hame mentally bau j thaki gaya hata. Room ma bhi hame aam tem farya karta hata tention ma, ke have kale su thase? Hamare Indian High Commissioner help karse ke nahi? Emne Mali ne hame kai rite vaat karisu ke hamare Financial help ni jaroor chey? A madad karse ke nahi kare? A badhu magaj ma farya kartu hatu.

Sanjhe hame beve bahaar farva nikalya pan mood nohtu. Bhook lagi hati mate ek restaurant ma gaya ane menu joya pachhi je item sasti hati ee mangavi ne jama. Tyar baad pachha farta farta hotel Aavi gaya. Raate hame beve jan A discuss karva lagya ke kaale apne High Commissioner sathe kai rite vaat ni sharuaat karisu. Jo direct Paisa ni mangni karsu to shayad help kare ke naa bhi kare. Bau j vichar karya pachhi hame A nirnay par aavya ke apne High Commissioner ne request karisu ke hamare India si hamara ghare thi 500 Dollar mangavva che, A tame taatkaalik arrangement kari aapo. A Vakhate 1988 ma Dollar mate ghana restrictions hata je easily nohta malta. Foreign Java mate 500 ya 1000 Dollar thi vadhare nohta aapta ane A bhi Reserve Bank ma thi j badha Documents joya pachhi malta hata.

Biji taraf biji ek muskeli A aavi rahi hati ke yaha Europe ma thandi padvani sharu thay gay hati jyare hamara pase T-shirt sivaay koi bhi garam kapda nohta. December mahino chali rahyo hato ane baraf padvano bhi sharu thay gayo hato. Aavi Thandi hame pehli vaar mehsus kari rahya hata aagal have kai rite jaisu A Allah par chhodi didhu hatu ke je thase A jovaay jase ane A no saamno himmat si karisu. Kehvat chey ne ke Mann Makkam hoy tyare Insaan ne koi bhi Mushkeli ke Thandi Garmi Varsad ke Aandhi tufaan bhi roki nathi sakti.

Bije divase aaware hame Chaa pidha baad taiyaar thaine Indian Embassy java nikli gaya. Embassy pohchi ne reception counter par jai ne hame kahyu ke hamna hamaro High Commissioner sathe appointment chey. Hamare Security Guard andar High Commissioner ni office ma lay gayo. Hame Amna sathe vaat sharu kari hamari Paper Cutting ni file ane photos batavya pan Amye kay bhi barabar joyu nahi ane tarat puchhva lagya ke “Haa Ye sab to thik hay, Aap ko mera kya kaam hay?” Hame hamari badhi vaat kari ke Sir hamare harek jagya A thi support male chey Indian Community ane Vohra samaj taraf thi pan yaha hamaru koi bhi nathi ane support bhi nathi malo. Hamare Financial help ni Jaroor chey, jo agar Embassy kari sakti hoy to nahi to hamare India si hamara ghare thi 500 Dollars mangavva chey A arrange kari Aapo. Aa sambhli ne kehva lagya ke “Ye sab hum nahi kar sakte.” Hame bau request karva lagya ke “Sir please hamari madad karo, bina paiso ke hum yaha se kaise aage jaenge?”

Aa badhu sambhla pachhi High Commissioner hamara upar ekdam garam thay gaya ane Security Guard ne bulavi ne kehva lagya ke “Ye dono Bhikmango ko Embassy se bahaar nikalo.” Tyar pachhi hamari A vi halat thay gay hati ke hame beve jana rota rota request karva lagya hata ke “Sir please help kardo.” Tyar baad High Commissioner ye Security Guard ne kahyu ke “Jaao sab Staff walo se thoda thoda Chanda jama karke inko deke yahase ravana karo.” Hamare bahaar lay jaine Security Guard ye kahyu ke “Tame kaale aavjo je bhi Paisa bhega thase A tamare High Commissioner aapse.” Hame beve jan mayus chehre pachha hotel par aavi gaya. A Akkho divas hamaro tension ma gayo hato ke kale su thase? Bija Divase saware hame jyare pachha Embassy ma gaya hata tyare hamare Security Guard High Commissioner ni office ma lay gaya ane A vakhate avu banyu hatu ke hame beve jan a joy ne ekdam chonki gaya hata.

To Be Continued…