KARACHI: This is the story of Hamida Banu, who was smuggled to Pakistan from India under the guise of a job in Dubai 20 years ago. She got the opportunity to have a ‘digital meeting’ with her children after two decades through social media.

Hamida’s family in India traced her location through a video, which was uploaded by YouTuber and prayer leader (Paesh Imam) Waliullah Maroof on the site from Karachi.

Landing Dubai, reaching Pakistan

Hamida, who hails from East Mumbai’s Kurla Quraishpur, ordeal started in 2002 when a cooking job scam in Dubai landed her in Hyderabad, Sindh. A female agent in the Indian state had asked her to pay 20,000 Indian rupees for the employment.

A foreign job was not her first experience as she had worked as a cook for almost nine years in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai. Three of her children’s marriages were also done with that income. She was the bread earner of her four children after the death of her husband.

“We did not land in Dubai, but in Pakistan. They did not exit us from the point where people are checked,” she told Aaj News in her own accent while recalling the incident. “They exited us from another door and asked us to not speak loudly.”

Unfulfilled promise and window of opportunity

Hamida never had any ounce of doubt that she was becoming a victim of “human trafficking” with her past experience of foreign jobs.

She was kept at a house in Hyderabad where a person used to give her food, which was only enough for one time meal. Hamida managed to escape from an open window after three months of captivity and reached Karachi. The initial years were spent at a shrine.

Later, a vendor gave her a marriage proposal. The vendor, a widower, wanted to marry Hamida as he needed someone to take care of his children and serve them food.

Her husband passed away three years ago after getting infected with the coronavirus. Hamida now lives with her stepson.

“He cared for till the time he was alive,” she said to a query on her husband. “But, whenever I spoke about going back to India he used to set a condition that ‘you will come back’.” Hamida never wanted, leading to an unfulfilled promise and an unmet desire to return home.

Pakistan, India ties – a hurdle to overcome

The desire to meet children always kept Hamida restless that was increased with the passing of her husband. She decided to seek help from her neighbour, Waliullah Maroof.

Hamida and Maroof’s mother are good friends, she always asked the latter’s son to help her. But, the YouTuber, a social activist, was hesitant to do the needy in view of the cold ties between Pakistan and India. He knows the neighbour from his childhood and used to buy items from her small shop.

Maroof had used his social media accounts to help women from Bangladesh – who had been trafficked to Pakistan – find their families.

Then on July 31, he uploaded a video on YouTube. A user tagged Mumbai journalist Khalqan Sheikh on the video from where it was re-shared and reached Hamida’s grandson. He described the lady sitting on a charpoy against the backdrop of a house entrance as his grandmother when he told his mother Yasmin.

The family contacted Sheikh. And, Maroof made the video call to them after confirmation from both sides. It went viral and prompted the Indian High Commission in Pakistan to contact the social activist, rekindling the hopes of homecoming. The commission, after taking all the information, has asked Maroof to submit a request and all the necessary documents.

A phase-wise process of Hamida’s return has started. But it was premature to say how much time it would take.

‘May my grandmother never go back’

Granddaughter Sakina, who is oblivious of Hamida’s feelings, wished that her granny never goes back because “she loves her very much”.

“I pray to Allah every night before sleep that my grandmother never goes back. I don’t want this,” the ten-year-old girl said.

Salaam to Pakistan, will not come back

“I did not even make new clothes on Eid and Shab-e-Barat while remembering my children for the past many years,” she said. “But, now she could not express her feelings and could not eat after speaking to the children.”

Hamida shared that she had lost all hope of going back to India, fearing that her death has brought her here.

“I will not come back to Pakistan after going back to India,” she said, stressing that she loved her stepsons very much and would always pray for them. Hamida would continue to be in touch with them, however, she would not return after meeting her children.

An August 15 gift for India

Aijaz, one of the stepsons of Hamida, sent good wishes to Hamida. “I was married when my mother came home. Then God gifted me a daughter on August 14. She is a gift for us,” he said, “now I wish… and I appeal to leaders of Pakistan and India that sent my mother back home on August 15.”

He described the wish as a “gift” for India on Independence Day.

The stepson praised her mother’s cooking skills, adding that he would never forget it.

The media reported that Hamida’s family in India tried their best to contact her, however, all efforts went in vain. Elder daughter Yasmin said that her mother used to stay in touch whenever she went outside. But the 2002 trip was unusual as it took time to get any updates.

She was able to contact the agent after a prolonged delay. The agent claimed that Hamida was fine but then she vanished.

Hamida’s family was anxiously waiting for her return.

Aaj Digital tried to contact high commissions in India and Pakistan for their version but it could not be made.