My Earliest Memories (Summer of 1963)

One of the earliest memories of my childhood come to my mind as scattered images. I was running as fast as my legs could carry me on black-top parade ground. Suddenly, I took a trip and fell. Both my knees get scraped. It hurt a little, but I was used to it; scraped knees were just part of running fast. I limped home, trying to hide my bleeding knees from Ammi. 'Ammi!' I called. 'Nomi,' she called back, her voice already holding that 'I know what happened' tone. She'd been watching me from the window all along. ‘Nomi, how many times have I told you not to run so hard?’ She didn't wait for an answer, her eyes already fixed on my scrapes. She took me to the bathroom, washed my knees, and then dabbed on that stinging yellow stuff. It burned! She gently pulled me close, holding my arms. ‘Nomi, you're four now. When are you ever going to stop running so hard?’ The parade ground of that of PNS Rahbar Naval Base off the coast of Manora, an islet near Karachi, Pakistan. where the salty air from the coast always carried the faint scent of the sea. This was the first place where I first became aware of my surroundings. I was four years old and do not remember having a friend to play with. My next memory was being in an ambulance, riding along with Ammi. ‘Where are we going?' I asked. 'To the Sick Bay,’ she replied. Why are we going there, Ammi? Are you okay?’ ‘Yes, I'm fine, Nomi, and no more questions, do you understand?’ ‘Yes, Ammi,’ I said, and looked out the window a little confused as to why Ammi was telling me why we were going in an ambulance when Ammi did not seem to be sick. The ambulance stopped at a place we call ‘Sick Bay’, It is the only medical facility in this Naval base. Ammi gave me a hug and then said, ‘Today, Abdullah, the driver, will take you for a long ride all over Manr.’ I asked her, 'Where is Abu?' She said, 'Oh, your dad is working, and he will be here soon.' I wanted to wait for Abu, but then Abdullah said, 'Come on, Babu, would you like to see a ‘Langri Butuck’ (Lame duck)?' I loved ducks! How did he know? He was smiling, and I trusted him. So off we went in the Naval Ambulance to do sightseeing of Manora My Abu is an Instructor in the Pakistan Navy and wears a cool white uniform with black epaulets and golden stripes. I had even learned to say his whole name: Lefty-net-kumander Jameel Akbar Mufti. Ammi is a teacher in the girl’s school on the Naval Base. She teaches for a few hours while Masee, the maid, keeps us company. I have an elder sister who is six, and a younger brother who is very little and can not play with me yet. We stopped driving. Abdullah was finally going to show me the Langri Butuck! As we got off the ambulance, Abdullah said, ’Ek Langri Butuck Ka Unda Aur Woh Bhi Gunda’ (A lame duck’s egg, and that too…bad). I rolled over, laughing! He said the phrase again, tickling my tummy, and I collapsed onto the dirt, laughing so hard my clothes were covered. I didn't care. I just laughed and laughed. On our way home, we stopped at the Sick Bay again. Abu was there with Ammi, and on a cot, there was a tiny baby. Ammi smiled. ‘Nomi, you are now a big brother of a younger sister and a younger brother!’ For a moment, I stood there, feeling huge. Like a real grown-up now, with even more little ones to watch over. Abu asked Abdullah to take me home, where my other brother and sister were waiting. When I reached home, they were playing my favorite song, ‘Aau Bachons air karaen tumko Pakistani ki’. I didn't understand the words too much, but I loved the music. Suddenly, I started dancing—or so I thought! I was jumping up and down, running as fast as I could, dodging the furniture and my siblings. Life was good, and I was in heaven.