For Akbar, Aiku Lal is his ‘mother and father’
An enduring bond
Despite knowing that he may lose his only beloved possession — 13-year-old Akbar, whom he has been looking after since he was only four after finding him abandoned in a park here — Aiku Lal is busy these days in making arrangements for his ''son'' so that the latter could fulfill his wish to observe his first ''Roza'' (fast during the month of Ramzan) on the day of ''Alvida'' (last Friday before the end of Ramzan).
Though Aiku knows that Akbar would go to his biological mother Shehnaz if the Supreme Court, where she has filed a petition seeking his custody, decides in her favour, he wants to make it a memorable occasion for him.
Akbar also knows about the case but he does not want to go with Shehnaz for Aiku Lal is both his mother and father. And why not? After all, it was Aiku, who looked after him all these years and showered love and affection on him. “Aiku is my world...I pray to the Almighty that every child should get a father like him,” said Akbar, a student of seventh standard at Mumtaz College.
Aiku Lal, a roadside tea vendor, feels he should be allowed to have Akbar as he had brought him up like his own and cites the example of none other than Lord Krishna. “Yashoda is known as Krishna’s mother and not Deoki,” he said.
That Aiku brought up Akbar in accordance with his religion becomes amply clear the moment one enters his small house in Kaiserbagh locality in the city. One could see the idol of a goddess and also the holy Koran kept nearby.
He, however, says he will hand over Akbar to Shehnaz if the apex court rules that the right of the biological parents were more than those of the ones, who bring up the children. Aiku says he never prevented Akbar from meeting his biological mother.
“Akbar is free to meet Shehnaz whenever he wants,” he told Deccan Herald. Aiku found Akbar in 2003 in a park and brought him home. He had informed the police but the latter asked him to keep Akbar after failing to trace Akbar’s parents.
Four years later, Akbar’s mother appeared and sought his custody but Akbar refused to go with her though he did recognise her. Both Aiku and Akbar appear to be tense as they await the judgment.
