In an inspiring story, 48 years old Razia Begum drove from Bodha town in Telangana’s Nizamabad district to Rahmatabad to bring back her younger child, Nizamuddin, who had gone to Nellore with his friend on March 12 to look after the latter’s ailing father.
However, he had to remain there after the lockdown was imposed.
“I accompanied him as he was going to see his father who was unwell and I also wanted to visit a dargah at Rehmatabad. We went in train on March 12. I had booked a return ticket for March 23 but the trains were cancelled and the lockdown started and I got stranded there,” said Nizamuddin.
Then the son, mom tried to figure out different ways but none of them were working, blame the complete shutdown.
Razia Begum was worried that her son would not take proper measures against coronavirus and thought that he would be safe if he is with her.
She had no options than using her scooty, she got the permit as well.
“I had no option but to go on my scooty. Hiring a car was out of question as no one was interested and besides if I was travelling in a car the chances of being allowed by police on the highway were bleak. I thought that by riding on the scooty alone I would be able to convince cops to allow me to travel. I neither informed my son nor my brothers and sisters. I started off early Monday morning and only after reaching Toopran on the outskirts of Hyderabad I informed my son that I was coming to pick him up,” she said.
Luckily, her scooty did not break down anywhere. She took 15 to 20 minutes rest at gas stations where she would eat the rotis she packed, drink water.
The policemen stopped her at multiple places but after hearing her story, they were taken aback and allowed her to go.
“When I reached the Telangana-Andhra Pradesh border, it was late evening and the cops there were surprised to see me. They were taken aback when I told them where I was coming from and where I was going and it took a lot of convincing to allow me to go. They were worried about my safety; they said that there was no one on the highway and night was falling. However, I convinced them that I will be safe and drove away. The highway was dark and lonely but I had to pick up my son. I was stopped by police at a checkpost at 2 am on Tuesday on the outskirts Nellore. After listening to my story, they said that the road ahead was dangerous and advised me to halt for some time. I waited at a road side shelter near the check post till 4 am and then called my son that I was nearby,” she said.
“She arrived at 7:30 am. She drove almost 23-24 hours to pick me up and I was overwhelmed and very happy to see her. We left again in the afternoon and returned to Bodhan Wednesday evening. She had her first good meal after two days,” Nizamuddin said.
COVID19: Mom drives 1400km on scooty to bring her stranded son home
