Rendezvous was essential. Dinner used to be informal. Drinks were not on the house. The house was located on river bank in Narayangung – a suburb of Dhakka. The property was owned by Qamar-us-Salam – the Finance Secretary of the Awami League. Funny, the house was not a residential accommodation. It was an annex hall of a cold-storage plant, kept cool and with low humidity – by a clever extension of the main cooling system.

The attendance was by invitation only. Sheikh Mujeeb ur Rahman had won almost all the National Assembly seats in East Pakistan. He could claim the majority in the whole House. In retrospect the elections are quoted to be free and fair – for the single time in Pakistan. The fact is: the Agencies had forecast fragmented returns – which would accord veto to Agha Yahya Khan. But as the results were declared the popular press perception was: Sheikh Mujeeb to be the designated Prime-Minister. And Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to be Deputy. Both had not fielded any candidates in the other’s wing.

Ambassadors of several countries had flocked to Dacca, to make acquaintances. The Belgian envoy was more persistent. As a perfect salesman, he wanted to promote a nuclear power plant in East Pakistan. A Belgian Firm was the licensee of the giant Westing House – for hardware. The Belgian diplomat did get an audience with the busy Prime Minister designate. Sheikh Mujeeb had a West Pakistani professional present in the meeting.

The pre-arranged protocol was as thus. The Sheikh would receive the dignitaries at his Dhanmundi residence. After the initial niceties. Sheikh would excuse himself for a short period and entrust the discussion to his West Pakistani lieutenant. Your guess is good. Sheikh himself would not return to the meeting, till after the departure of the visitor. The professional was instructed to compile and present the digest to him during the mid-might RV at the aforestated party safe house.

Master of Ceremonies of the house was, in fact, a mistress. During and of course, after, the dinner as well. She could easily relegate Super Models of today – into a distant second position. Depending upon the substance in the proposal/s, the assign was instructed to arrange a follow-up meeting , for the principal to state: "Deal or No Deal".

During one of the following dinner dates, the professional presented his observations and a brief in respect of the Sheikh. A follow-up meeting was indicated. And the professional was transported back to his hotel. The fact, that the said professional had been on friendly terms with Masih-ur Rahman aka Jadoo Bahi – was known to his political rival Sheikh Mujeeb-ur Rahman . But it hardly mattered, because Sheikh Majeeb had won unprecedented triumph in elections. Sheikh had full faith in the fidelity of his advisor. Because both had been introduced to each other, by no other than S. Hussein Shaheed Suhrwarthy – the only statesman Pakistan ever had – after the Quaid.

During next noon, the professional had a brunch date with Jadoobahi. He was picked up and taken to the house of JadooBhai’s current girl friend. Jadoobhai was a very pleasant personality, a very shrewd businessman and a politician par excellence. He had a Christian gentleman as his chauffeur, a Punjabi person as his business manager and a Hindu accountant – as his cashier. His several girl friends lived in several cities and towns of Pakistan.

He had excellent give-and-take relationship, with a Karachi, based up-and coming banker. He had been a Cashier, in the State bank of Pakistan – before he launched his private sector banking empire. His contacts were highly placed in all spheres of bureaucracy and politics. In fact Agha Yahya Khan became his great admirer.

The banker had micro-managed the construction of Agha Yahya Khan’s house in Peshawar. Being fare, for the sake of record, Yahya Khan, had to sell his Mercedes Benz car to pay off his liability to the building contractor. That is when he was under house arrest in a rest house in Abbatabad. The banker did take very good care of Jadoobhais extravaganzas.

Politically and practically, Jadoobhai, was the executive director of Maulana Bhashanee’s left leaning party. Maulana Bhashanee was a great character in the checkered history of Pakistan. One of his semaphore statements is as thus:

"You folks come and stay in the eleventh-storey plush suites of the Intercontinental Hotel. And you wish to discover, what East Pakistan is really like? And that too, in a couple of days or weeks! Come with me in the Noka (a boat). I’ll take you around the Gods forgotten creations. When you return after a couple of weeks of sailing – even your own mother would fail to recognize you!!!"

During that fateful prelude to disaster, it was Jadoobhais Mercedes Benz, which transported a fat sum of cash, that the banker intended to present, in respect of Maulana Sahib. Of course Jadoobhai and his friend did accompany the banker to Tenguile Dar us Slam – the head quarters of Maulana Bhashanee. Maulana was in process of abulation for his Asr prayers. The only follower that he found was the aforetasted Lahori professional.

The banker, and Jadoobhai and Maulana Sahid retired for privacy. And Lahori visit opted out of the proceedings. So he had the time of his life playing with Maulana Sahib’s favorite ground daughter aged 11 year. In a very short time both invented a sing language by which they conversed! Special servings of Ras-gula’s were greatly enjoyed by both. Till todate the Lahori visitor can recall the giggle of the young lady – after so many decades and the traumatic events which took place immediately thereafter.

Please pardon me, you must he finding interspersed statements – as enigmatic. Please bear with me, so were the times and personalities. Let us revert back to the brunch date with Jadoobhai at his girl friends bower.

During the course of the pleasant meal, the lady of the house ignited a phulghari. She said: "Mr! you may not know it but you are sitting next to the future Prime-Mintister of Pakistan."

A long pause clasped, before the guest recovered from his reverie. And he said: "But I had a midnight dinner with Sheikh Majeeb ur Rahman – who already been declared the Premier designate of Pakistan?!"

Thankfully jadoobhai came to his rescue and stated: "Muzeeb would go Islamabad. He would declare concessions on his Six point Agenda. When he comes back, I would not let any aircraft land at Tejgoon airport. Because strip. His plane would be diverted elsewhere, and I would be the next prime-minister – not of Pakistan but Bangla Desh!"