In 1957 Quetta was the most Anglicized city of Pakistan. You won’t find this in Ripley’s Believe It or not. Quetta Club, in the cantonment, was swinging. Fancy Dress Balls, crowded swimming pool, events for children and the Sunday Polo match. I was 12 years old, studying at the St Francis Grammar School. Enjoying, watching & observing.
Lourdes Hotel was the only glamorous hotel in Quetta. Across Lourdes was Anderson Road. We lived in the first house, No. 64. Typical old Army house — rundown, faulty plumbing, no heating, and enough grounds to house the Bagram Air Base. Lourdes was a French style place, as the name implies — Garden umbrellas and all. Frequent hangouts in the late afternoon included my father, Major Qureshi, dental surgeon at the CMH, M Akbar Bugti, Mr X of the Intelligence Service, and assorted foreigners working on various internationally funded projects, especially the Quetta/Kandahar Highway. Mr Joe Festner was a German Mining Engineer who had made Quetta his home. His wife, Kama aunty, was the head nurse at CMH. In Rawalpindi, Mr Bhandara was earning a fortune keeping the bars open. Mr ‘L’ was a young German engineer who moved around on his motorcycle. He was a great hit with the older generation. Young, Aryan looks, adventuresome.
Mr L gets down on one knee and makes a marriage proposal. Miss Candy, still stunned, holds out her hand. Mr L reaches into the pocket of his soiled work trousers, and pulls out a small jewelry box
In mid-1956 two German girls arrived. Mid 20’s, tourists. Kabul and Quetta were havens for backpackers. The two girls fell in love with Quetta and the fun, and decided to stay on. Let’s call them Miss Candy and Miss Glow. They got local jobs and settled down. Soon a love affair was brewing between the dashing Mr ‘L’ and Miss Candy. Much encouraged by the older crowd. Miss Candy became serious and was awaiting a marriage proposal. By early 1957, when no proposal came forward, the girls decided to leave and continue their interrupted travel journey. They said their goodbyes and boarded the train to Karachi. Inter-compartment, Ladies only. The train departed at 11 am, pulled by a majestic steam engine of the North Western Railways.
At 12 noon (the same day), Mr L came tearing in on his motorcycle. It was Saturday and the gang was enjoying themselves at Lourdes. Mr L started crying and announced that he was very much in Love with Miss Candy. He was ready to marry her. “HELP, HELP, DO SOMETHING! I WANT TO MARRY HER!” He was screaming and distraught.
Immediately a car was requisitioned — an old American 6-cylinder Plymouth. Three occupants got in. The intelligence chap, Mr X, my father, and Mr L. Festner stayed back to coordinate the operation. Mr Bugti was already in Karachi at his permanent residence at the neo–Classical PALACE HOTEL. The love chase starts. The train has a 90-minute head start. But the Plymouth is a powerful beast. The car is an intelligent Asset. Festner alerts Akbar Bugti. The Divisional Head of P.W. Railways, Quetta is ordered to signal the rail driver to stop the Train at the next station. After a 60-minute chase, often dangerous, the car catches up with the train at an obscure station. Both the girls are looking out the windows, wondering why the train is parked at this isolated location. Mr L jumps out of the car and runs to the carriage window. Miss Candy wonders if she is dreaming. The window is open. Mr L gets down on one knee and makes a marriage proposal. Miss Candy, still stunned, holds out her hand. Mr L reaches into the pocket of his soiled work trousers, and pulls out a small jewelry box. A ring is slipped on her finger. She looks at the Diamond and says “yes!”. Meanwhile all the women in the compartment who have never witnessed such a drama are confused. What is happening?
The intelligence man requisitions a small compartment and the two girls and Mr L are shifted there. The train proceeds to Karachi. The car returns to Quetta. In Karachi Mr Bugti receives the trio at the Karachi Cantonment Station. Behind the Station is the St Anthony’s Church. Mr Bugti has made prior arrangements. The couple are formally married. They then retire to the Palace Hotel.
Note: Any errors, omissions, etc. are my responsibility. Perhaps at the age of 12 years, I may have overlooked some facts.