They’ve got mail

In his letter, Arif says that he is well and eager to come back home.

‘‘In fact, the postman recognised the handwriting immediately,’’ says an elated Hameed, five years after his brother went missing. The letter — sent by airmail envelope and carrying the logo of Pakistan’s first Governor-General Mohammed Ali Jinnah, with the address neatly written on it, tells the story that has haunted the family for so long.

The letter comes from Mohammed Arif, an Indian national presently lodged with Lance Naik Jagsir Singh in Barrack number 8/6 of the Haldiala Central Jail in Rawalpindi. Stamped by Pakistani postal authorities on June 15, it reached India on June 22 and found its way to an unsuspecting Hameed on Saturday.

Much has happened since Arif went missing: the Indian Government initiated efforts to get the two men repatriated, as reported first by The Sunday Express; Arif’s mother Hazra Begum died on May 31 last year — four years after sending innumerable petitions to the government protesting that her son was not a bhagoda (deserter). In fact, Hazra Begum also ensured that Arif’s young bride, Noorchashmi Khatun — alias Gudia — was remarried in April 2003, after the family gave up all hope of Arif’s return.

However, having removed the stain of a deserter, the Army Headquarters has swung into action to ensure that the mistake of declaring the two men as deserters by the then commanding officer of the 108 Engineer Regiment be amended.

A Non-Commissioned Officer, Havaldar Haider Ali from the Regiment arrived at their doorstep in the last week of May to ensure that some monetary relief was provided to the family, says Hameed.

‘‘We have provided them all the details and hope that the Army will make all efforts to get Arif back,’’ says Hameed.

An affidavit on a stamped paper now declares that Arif’s mother has passed away and his wife — Gudia — has been re-married. Once processed, this affidavit is likely to ensure some relief for the family.

Meanwhile, Arif — unaware of the changed circumstances — writes home, hoping that all is well with the family. Offering affection to all his family-members, Arif also implores Hameed to take up the matter with the Indian Government in a bid to come back along with Jagsir Singh.

As Hameed prepares to write back to his brother, ensuring that the unhappy bits are left out, he is hoping that the Indian Government’s efforts will bear fruit soon.