KARACHI PORT

Their Women could speak up in front of male members and were free to make

significant decisions on important issues. Almost every male member of

the family was either serving in or had retired from the Pakistani army.

Consequently, they enjoyed enormous political clout. It soon became

obvious to Sehmat that the Sayeeds were more feared than respected in

the social circles they moved in.

Sehmat lost no time in acquainting herself with the traditions and

customs of her new household. As a quiet observer, she made mental

notes about the family, its dynamics and internal politics. Being the

youngest daughter-in-law, she was showered with love and attention by

all the family members and servants, which helped Sehmat establish her

own identity and position in the household. The Sayeeds appreciated the

fact that despite her personal loss, Sehmat was only spreading good

cheer all round. She was always smiling no matter how heavy her chores

were.

Sehmat soon earned the confidence of the men of the family on the

business front as well. While conducting her first business meeting, she

not only showed maturity but also skilfully negotiated the deal, leaving

both her husband and father-in-law in complete awe. A large shipment of

spices belonging to an importer was confiscated at the Karachi Port.

Unable to pay the high penalty, the importer refused to pick up the

consignment. Sehmat made agreements with a few buyers at a profit and

paid for the entire consignment. This brought a windfall profit to the

Sayeeds’ home. With good money pouring in, Brigadier Sayeed began to

look up to Sehmat for advice on various issues, including his own

official ones.

Sehmat remained diligently focused, in spite of the smooth sailing. At

every opportunity, she searched for safe locations to instal her listening

devices. Two large photo frames in her father-in-law’s room were her

favourite and most important spots. Each afternoon, while the men were

at work and the women napping, Sehmat painstakingly and meticulously

mounted the tiny pieces of equipment and concealed them the way she

was taught. These devices could then be controlled by her from the

safety of her bathroom through a portable unit.The bathroom soon doubled up as an operations room from where she

could send an SOS message or even make an emergency call. Using

microscopic headphones, she also became a mute listener to the meetings

that the Brigadier held at the haveli with his deputies.

Though Mir had categorically warned her from doing so, she went on

to instal and commission the Morse code equipment and, under the cover

of the running water, transferred vital messages to the other side of the

border.

She gave no reason for anyone to suspect her activities. With her

charm, love, openness and friendly behaviour she had won the hearts of

the Sayeeds. The only fly in the ointment was the elderly Abdul, a

servant of the Sayeeds who had served them for over twenty years.

Behind his thick grey beard and wrinkled face, Abdul had a set of

piercing eyes that missed little. Abdul did not trust Sehmat. Even though

she tried, Sehmat could not win his trust and confidence, which made her

extra cautious all the time.

Abdul served the Sayeeds with fanatic loyalty. He had come to be

treated as a member of the family from an ordinary household servant.

On one occasion, he had risked his life to safeguard that of his master’s.

A snake had attacked the Brigadier while he was taking his morning

walk on the front lawns. Abdul had then shown exemplary bravery in

picking up the reptile and tossing it away, but not before getting bitten by

the venomous snake. Abdul had survived the attack but the Sayeeds

carried the debt of gratitude on their conscience and treated him as a

respected elderly member of the family.

Abdul had nurtured in his heart an irrevocable hatred for all Indians.

And he had his reasons. Post Partition, while he had managed to escape

to Pakistan, his entire family had been slaughtered in front of his eyes

during the Hindu-Muslim riots. Having unsuccessfully voiced his

opposition to Captain Iqbal’s marriage to Sehmat, Abdul could never

bring himself to repose faith in the new bride.

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