A Freezing Night in London

On 18th February 1959, we left Liverpool, where our ship had docked and reached London Euston Station. At the station we were received by Imam of the London Mosque Maulood Ahmad Khan, Abdul Azeez Deen, Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, Moulvi Abd ur Rahman and Professor Sultan Mahmood Shahid. We proceeded towards the Mission House in Moulvi Abd ur Rahman’s car.
The whole of London was brightly lit; the Christmas decorations in the streets and in the shops were still there. Up until then I had never seen such a big city. On our way Moulvi Abd ur Rahman gave us a running commentary on the various historical buildings. Finally, we arrived at 63 Melrose Road (the Mission House) where the Imam had arranged for a sumptuous meal. For the first time in three weeks, we ate spinach with meat and we loved it. During the voyage, for fear that, the meat may not be Halal, we did not touch it.
On 18th February 1959, we left Liverpool, where our ship had docked and reached London Euston Station. At the station we were received by Imam of the London Mosque Maulood Ahmad Khan, Abdul Azeez Deen, Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, Moulvi Abd ur Rahman and Professor Sultan Mahmood Shahid. We proceeded towards the Mission House in Moulvi Abd ur Rahman’s car.
The whole of London was brightly lit; the Christmas decorations in the streets and in the shops were still there. Up until then I had never seen such a big city. On our way Moulvi Abd ur Rahman gave us a running commentary on the various historical buildings. Finally, we arrived at 63 Melrose Road (the Mission House) where the Imam had arranged for a sumptuous meal. For the first time in three weeks, we ate spinach with meat and we loved it. During the voyage, for fear that, the meat may not be Halal, we did not touch it.
After dinner, the Imam took us to 61 Melrose Road and showed us into a two room flat on the fourth floor. That was to be our residence.
It was very cold that night and at that time there was hardly any central heating in the houses. Normally coal fires or kerosene heaters were used for heating the houses but in our flat, we did not have either of these. We wrapped ourselves in the quilts that we had brought from Pakistan and even then, we hardly slept due to severe cold. There were no carpets or linoleum on the floor. The windows were old fashioned through which the outside freezing clod wind came in. It was a dreadfully cold night. I was used to electric heaters in Rabwah. I could not imagine that in London We would spend a night in bitter cold without any type of heating. 
In the morning, we went across to the Imam’s residence for breakfast and he asked if we had spent our night in comfort. I told him that throughout my life, I had never been so cold during the night; even in Rabwah we used an electric heater. The Imam said:

“There is no provision for these items in our budget.”

In the afternoon when Moulvi Abd ur Rahman came he heard our story of the bitter cold through the previous night. Since he was Secretary of the Finance Committee he confirmed that there was no room in the budget but he promised that he would take it upon himself to arrange a kerosene heater. He said that if there was any room in the future he would reimburse himself. In a short while, he brought an Aladdin kerosene heater and he taught us how to light it. Soon the room became cosy and we breathed a sigh of relief. May Allah grant him an exalted station in Heaven. I cannot ever forget this favour.
In our small flat there were two old fahioned beds without any headboard. We had brought our bedding with us from Pakistan. There was a small kitchen and smaoo bathroom. In winter many a times the outside water pipes were frozen and the water supply would be cut off. Our flat was on the fouth floor. The Government would open temporary taps on the sides of the road for the people to carry water for flushing and drinking. It was a great discomfort and hardship for me to come to the roadside, fill up a bucket and then carry it to the fourth floor. Although it was once or twice in the winter but was back breaking.
The other hazard was the dense fog that engulffed the whole of London often during the winter months. Most of the times the visibility used to be nil. People would  abondon their vehicals on the road side and would then either walk home or take refuge in a Pub or a resturant for hours. I was once caught, a few furlong from my house in dense fog and was became totally blind.The visibility was nil. I could not see at all. I felt as if a white sheet has been spread in front of me. It was frightening. I even cried on the foot path. After a while a man approached me. I could not see him but felt his presence. He held my hand in his hand and said he knew where Melrose Road was. Slowly we walked towards Melrose and in about half an hour we covered this short distance. I pressed the bell and Salima opened the door. I nearly fainted. Salima thanked the gentleman and took me in. I will never forget that dreadful experience.
Now times have changed. There are no fogs anymore as London was Desmoked in 1962.

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