Dear Readers,
The UK has given me a lot over the years. I have had a decent run so far and with the help of multiple people over a span of almost five decades, I have managed to build a respectful life in London. However, there was a time when I felt gravely overwhelmed with life here and had almost called it quits. In my previous column, I mentioned questioning my future in this country after a mere three weeks of setting foot here. To this day, I wonder how different my life would have been had I given up and returned.
So mere days after landing at Heathrow, a wave of emotions gushed through me. Work wasn't going as well as expected. Life felt expensive at that point. Remember, I was only a student struggling to juggle a physically-taxing job, my classes, and my expectations from my own self. I returned home from a particularly difficult day at work and school. Fed up, I spoke to Tak and RL about my decision to go back to India. In their own ways, they tried to convince me to stay and explore potential in London a little bit more. However, I was adamant.
Determined to go back home, I went to the Air India office in London and approached a white woman sitting at the counter. Was I confident about my decision to give up? No! Having just spent three weeks in London, I believed the lady wouldn't understand my English. So I asked to speak to the brown gentleman nearby. Enter Mr Kapadia. Dear readers. This man is quite possibly the reason I managed to stay back in the UK.
Mr Kapadia asked me my name and we had an easy conversation in Gujarati. I asked for a ticket to India. A little perplexed, he asked when I would like to return? I said, no. Just a single ticket. Not returning. After a brief pause, he asked when I landed in London. I said three weeks back. He asked me if all is well. Is there a problem at home? Is a loved one ill? I responded by saying I see no future in this country. There is a lot of struggle so I would rather go back to India and start afresh. Mr Kapadia gave me a good stare for may be half a minute. I stood in front of him unwavering. I had to look self-assured in my decision.
After a few moments he said wait a minute! And went inside. Within minutes, he came back and said that he had spoken to his manager. Air India, according to him, gave away a complimentary ticket once a month as a reward to passengers for their support. Now, we are talking mid-December. So he said that month's ticket is allotted. "So IF you wait for 3-4 weeks, I can get you a free ticket in January.” The man, Lord be with him, asked me about my monthly expenses, did a brief calculation, said a ticket would cost me £90, so I should instead wait a couple of days, go sightseeing, experience an English Christmas, and all in all, I will still save £80.
Come back on January 10, he said, and I will make sure your ticket is free. Mr Kapadia was probably 10-15 years elder to me. He placed a hand on my shoulder and said, "if you have already landed in London, why not enjoy it?" I was convinced. A free ticket to India? I was ecstatic at the proposition. I left the office convinced. What's a couple more weeks here, I thought.
It was a foggy day in London as I stepped out and made my way back to the house. As I reached closer to home, I saw a bright light shining ahead of me. TAKE COURAGE, the red neon light said cutting through the fog. I found a sudden change in my mood. Is this God telling me to keep strength? First a free ticket, and now a message from God? As I climbed the stairs to my room, I took each step with greater spirit.
I met Tak and RL. They felt I was being unreasonably panicky so they were not as much interested in my free ticket story. They, however, noticed the difference in my demeanour and asked what had happened. I said God sent me a message today. “He is asking me to take courage!” I said. We later had our usual three course meal and then they decided to take me to a pub afterwards. Full confession, I had never been to an English pub before. The three of us went to a nearby pub and one of the guys asked for three half glasses of 'Courage'. Apparently my special message from God was in fact, a beer advertisement.
My First English Christmas
Well, I had a couple of weeks to bear and classes were closed for Christmas. I would go to the local library to read and Tak and RL had their respective jobs. Staying at home wasn't an option as the electricity and gas meters needed two shillings an hour to work. We used to be as frugal with heat and gas as possible and used both sparingly. So I would spend my time at the library, reading anything and everything.
Christmas finally arrived and all three of us went to Trafalgar Square to see the Christmas eve celebration. Thousands of people were assembled in the area. For me, it was the London culture that grabbed my attention the most. Strangers hugged and wished each other. Couples stood close and occasionally pecked each other on the cheeks. I was amazed at this distinct culture. There were also people who jumped into the fountains at Trafalgar. I was borderline amazed.
We then went to Westminster Abbey for the midnight mass. The christian ceremony had a grace of its own. It was rejuvenating and possibly for the first time since I landed, I was happy. I met several non-Church goers at church that night.
Britain may be a secular country, but it is undeniably Christian in its society. The Parliament recently talked about Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, all being Islamic countries. In comparison, it makes me happy to say that India is not a Hindu country. It is a country where people of multiple religions live together.
Christmas is a time when people shop. This trend hasn't changed in years. We would go to small nearby supermarkets too. Interestingly, there were no mega-markets in those days. I learnt how Sainsbury evolved from a small store near Holborn to a multi-million organisation, and how Tesco grew into a massive corporation from a barrow, in London. All these stores however, only stayed open till six or seven in the evening, and did not open on Sundays.
An idea sprouted in my mind. I wondered how much more they could earn if they learnt how to convert the traditional English grocery store into a self-service store. I realised that there was a big potential to it. This really helped build my future when I entered the convenience store business. Napoleon Bonaparte called England a 'nation of shopkeepers'. After the Ugandan expulsion of South Asians, they brought such a massive impact to British economy that even the media and the Royals took notice of their phenomenal success.
British Asians not only developed small stores, but pharmacies, restaurants, groceries, ready-made food items. The sudden boom in Asian, predominantly Gujarati businesses was such, that the Indian curry, a dish that made the Whites wring their noses with disgust, became a national dish. There are thousands of Indian restaurants in the UK today.
Soon, New Year's Eve arrived. Life was more traditional in those days. English way of life came in stark contrast to modern life today. Families got together more often. There was a willingness for co-habitation.
Dear readers, Unfortunately, we will have to cut short our trip down memory lane today. I have been proposed with an idea of converting these columns into a book and I am strongly weighing the possibilities. The past two weeks have been surreal for me as through sharing my experiences, with you I got to relive the moments. I may be 82, but I remember every single detail as vividly as the present. I am grateful for all the positive feedback this column has received. Until next time...
