IT is the first Jumma (a ritual after a person`s death) of Abdul Fateh`s mother on Friday in Killi Shabo, a suburb in northern Quetta. I was advised strictly against asking the name of Fateh`s late mother because they do not tell the names of their family`s women to outsiders.

Fateh`s family has cooked rice, meat and other items for their relatives, neighbours and madressah students after Quran Khwani for the departed soul.

One of Fateh`s relatives is a white-bearded Ghulam Rasool Magsi. He has been coming to Fateh`s house daily for the last three days for rice so that he can break his fast. Ghulam Magsi has been dependent on his generous neighbours, who are aware of his poverty. Sometimes,Ghulam Rasool and his family have dates onlyforIftar.

Ghulam Rasool, in his 50s, used to work as a driver for the Caltex Company. After losing his job there, he became a conductor on a wagon running between Quetta and Khuzdar four years ago. He quit the job due to the rude behaviour of his driver. He used to abuse him and quarrel with passengers.

Having grown a white beard, he couldnottake the abuses.So, he said goodbye to the job, sitting at home forever. His elder son got a security guard`s job at a private school. He used to get a salary of Rs8,000 per month and became the family`s breadwinner. But, things have changed after the outbreak of Covid-19. Since schools are closed,his sonhaslosthisjob as well.

Qadir Rind, who lives in the same neighbourhood as Ghulam Rasool, has been calling me forthe last three days so that he could introduce me to the latter.

Since 35 media workers, including four bureau chiefs, have tested positive for Covid-19, I sleep during the day and lie awal(e like an owl the whole night in order to remain at home and save myself from the virus.

Finally, an angry Qadir is able to get in touch with me after three days/and I go to his place after calming him down on the phone.

It was last Friday that Qadir and I saw Ghulam Rasool outside his rented house. With a slight hesitation, he invited us for a cup of tea at his home. We politely refused. A father of six children, Ghulam looks tense.

We chatted with him in front of his house. `I do not 1(now what scourge has fallen upon us,` he bemoans, pointing to an oven.

`The death of Fateh`s mother has ironically become a sourceof sustenance for us. I have been bringing rice for three days from there.

There is only one lamppost in the street. I peer into the eyes of Ghulam Rasool and find them overflowing with tears. It seems as if his tearful eyes speak a language of their own. They have a story to tell about the misery that has trapped Ghulam Rasool since the outbreak of Covid-19.

`I have to give the rent. I have to feed my children, but there is nothing I can do,` he laments. `I cannot beg after growing this big white beard.

Wearing plastic gloves and a mask, I put my hands on his shoulders to soothe him and tell him to have faith in the Almighty and pray for his, and humanity`s, deliverance from the pandemic.

Ehsaas scheme UndertheEhsaasProgramme, the government has been givingcash handouts to the poor. But unfortunately, most people in Balochistan have not even heard about the programme.

`What is it?` Ghulam Rasool wonders, enquiring about the scheme. Unlil(e him, his neighbour Hafiz Amanullah is aware of the programme and has sent his national identity card number to BISP (Benazir Income Support Programme). However, he has not heard back from the administraters.

Hafiz Amanullah gives lessons in holy Quran to children in Jinnah Town, a Quetta suburb not far from Killi Shabo.

Ever since the outbreak of Covid-19, he too has been sitting idly at home. He is living on the generosity of a general store owner in his neighbourhood.

`To my knowledge, only three people from our mohalla have been paid under the Ehsaas Programme,` he says over a cup of tea after Iftar. `If we are notneedy, who is then?` The numbers of beggars and child workers have gone up manifold in Quetta these days.

Under a scorching sun, they are out in search of work the whole day. Unaware of any programme to cater for their needs, they struggle for two square meals.

However, there is no certainty that they will earn enough to afford even a subsistence meal.

These days they are running from pillar to post for Zakat.

And that is what Ghulam Rasool Magsi and Hafiz Amanullah have been waiting for.

While leaving Killi Shabo, I ask Qadir how Fateh`s mother died. `She was fine. But suddenly she developed some breathing problems and died a few days later,` Qadir concludes.

Fear overcame me because he shook his hands with me twice and I had put my hands on his shoulders a number of times.