About Him 4 - London to Burnley

This is the long awaited fourth instalment in this series. We find out what happens while he travels from Heathrow Airport to Burnley, where he will be staying permanently. In 'About Him 3 - Last Look Back' he gets on the plane to go to the UK, but we didn't learn about what happened at the Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh, which was very significant to his personality development and conscious mind while he grows up.

Thank you for reading, and if you haven't caught up with the other stories, they are at the bottom of the page.

At the Dhaka airport they all stood in a group, all off them out of fear, because this was the first time ever they were at an airport. The only other time was when His father came to collect His uncle in 1979, when His grandfather died. He didn't see his grandfather or grandmother as they both passed away before he was born. He only got to see his mother for four years of his life, as she died when he was that age. Now comes his dad's turn, although he hasn't passed away, thankfully, he has only seen him until the age of seven years old, in Bangladesh.

There are a lot of pickpockets and thieves in Dhaka, and you have to be very careful with your money and any belongings. Even children have to be looked after every second, because if you don't keep your eyes on them, they could disappear and you wouldn't know where they were taken. They could be sent to Dubai to ride racing camels!

They were in the airport safely, checked in and waiting to get the nod to board the plane. He was standing next to his grandfather (His father's uncle), his father took him to the corner of the room, followed by his uncle and aunty. His father wanted to say some important things to him before he left for a new life, a new family with new surroundings never seen before.

His father was an Imam, equivalent to a priest, who used to teach in a Madrasa. He was a very religious person who believed that everyone's destiny lies with Allah. His father said to him to always remember Allah and never forget Him. To do wha tis always right and never get up to any trouble with people.

The main thing His father wanted was for him to listen to his uncle at all times and to seek his advice for everything.

''You're uncle is your guardian now, always listen to him and do not get into any trouble.''

With tears flowing down his father's bearded cheeks, he added ''From now on, your uncle is your 'Father', you have to call him father from now on, and your Aunty is your 'Mother' and your cousin is your 'Sister'.''

Feeling very confused at the sound of his father's hoarse voice, He nodded ever so slowly and turned his face away from his father.

His father carried on, ''I am now your uncle, so when you go to England, don't remember me as your father, i am your uncle. In front of me now call your uncle 'father' and your aunty 'mother' so that i know you will keep your promise.''

He thought to himself what this is all about? Why does this change need to happen and how can he cope with it? This will live with him for th erest of his life. At least his 'new' mother and father have promised to love him more and look after him as their own child. Anyway, at the age of four what matters for a child who is that age, and who doesn't understand anything? As long as he ends up safely in England, nothing else matters.

After a very short pause, looking at his uncle and aunt, He called them mother and father so that the pain in his heart would not last any longer and all this would be over with and they can get on with their journey.

 Bangladesh Biman (Bangladesh Airlines) being Bangladeshi you would expect them to provide curry and rice for the passengers, but this is one thing that was not on offer in this plane. Instead it was fish and chips, the traditional old fish and chips. The old English food loved by all in England.

Everyone in the plane were enjoying the snacks, refreshemnts and meals that were being provided by Bangladesh Biman, but he felt sick just by looking at what was put in front of him. He was so hungry that he could feel his stomach touching his belly and back at the same time! But he still thought he will go hungry until some decent food was put in front of him. The biggest problem was that he was very quiet and did not say anything to his new mum and dad, so caused him to be sick all the time throughout the length of the flight.

He did not know when he was going to reach London but he didn't mind being sick and going hungry all the way there, because it is London he will be arriving at, and that is where there is unlimited food and clothes where everyone is happy and living in peace, unlike Bangladesh.

He became so hungry that he kept fainting due to going without eating for over 12 hours. At this point they all left Heathrow airport heading towards Burnley where they would stay for a few months. He vaguely remembers leaving the airport and going round and round in the car in circles heading downwards. He thought to himself that maybe London is underground that is why they have to spiral downwards undergound to get to their final destination.

While in the car heading towards Burnley, He kept on asking to eat rice like a thristy person in the desert asking for water. ''Rice, rice, rice'' he kept on repeating. His uncle who he has to call dad since leaving Bangladesh tells him that it won't be long before they get home and he can eat as much curry and rice as he wants.

Walking up a path to a house after getting out of the car, they were visiting a relative who lives in Birmingham. There he would get to eat what he has been starving for throughout the flight over to England. At this point he was now barely able to get out the words out from his mouth, but his new mum and dad new what he was saying. 'Rice, rice, rice...'.

They all greeted their relatives in Birmingham after entering the house and rested on the settees. Within minutes he was called to the table to eat curry and rice, what he has been starving for since leaving a hotel in Bangladesh. That was over 14 hours ago. But he lost his apetite and only ate a few spoonfuls of rice and curry. His new mum and dad were surprised after what he has been through. Well, at least he ate some food and will be able to make it to their home in Burnley without asking for more food.

Burnley was where they were headed, where they would live for about a year until they had enough money to buy a house in Wirral. They would be living in their cousins house in an Asian area of Burnley.

Burnley is where he would meet his soulmate, his best friend, his cousin who he would spend the rest of his life with. Burnley awaits his arrival with open arms.

 Please catch up on my online stories series 'About Him' by visiting the links below.