Q: Was your first shop at the Ladypool Road

A: yes. It was the next door.

Q: Under what name?

A: 198 Midland Fashion

Q: 198 Midland Fashion

A: 198 Midland Fashion Ladypool Road

Q: Ladypool Road

Q: This was your first shop

A: yes.

Q: What business did you have here?

A: First we started with jean, leather, school uniforms and then we used to get stock from Pakistan and we also did wholesale. We progressed a lot in this shop. progressed a lot.

Q: Did you have any Government support for your business?

A: No. And we never ever claimed any social security or any help. From this shop we got our house, did travelling, helped people, helped widows. My husband supported marriages. Every year we support people with clothes, buy them machines. If a girl is getting married we get Dahez, food. We did a lot. Then we bought this shop.

Q: From the shop, 198, you bought this one

A: Yes

Q: what business do you do in the new shop

A: same. clothing, shoes. We did ladies, men and children.

Q: specially clothes

A: yes

Q: what about the gem stones?

A: My husband started this in a very small try and Allah made it successful

Q: When you came here you were 17 and your children were small.

A: I was a housewife

Q: When did you join the business and felt the need?

A: When the children grew up and they got married I started to get board and my husband said come to the shop. people are working there sit with them.

Q: How old were you?

A: I never noticed my age.

Q: Masha Allah. You look very young

A: I never felt my age

Q: You made a mistake by telling us your age that you are 63, you do not even look 40 to me.

A: I have grand children and great grand children. 4

Q: OK

A: Thanks to Allah. I had good time.

Q: When you came here, what was people’s attitude here?

A: people were busy. They did not meet very much. When just say hello when we meet. Now people know each other well. If the shop is closed, people come to ask why is the shop closed. Although everyone is still busy in their won work but it is OK. No problems.

Q: And when you came here, how was the attitude of local people here?

A: It was all fine. Thanks to Allah. My nature is such that I get on with every one. I never disliked every one. I looked at every one with love.

Q: You gave love and got love

A: yes. It has been good. Thanks to Allah. My children are married. They have their own businesses. My grand children come here to help me. Its good. We go all around the world. We take holidays. I have just come back from holidays. I travel round the world. My husband was with me. I did not care about any thing else.

Q: Your husband must have faced difficulties

A: whatever difficulties were there, my husband faced them. I stayed like a queen.

Q: he gave you security.

A: He made me feel like a queen. I never had any problem. He said its unto you if you come here, its unto you if you want to go out. I wanted to always stay with my husband. If he needs any thing. Wherever we go we go together. We go on holidays. I have done 5 Huj and 49 Umras. My husband has done a lot more. People call him Haji Sahib. This is all thanks to Allah.

Q: What did you achieve from this shop?

A: If you work hard and with honesty, God will reward you for that. Dishonest money will badly affect you future. Better to work hard with honesty and God will reward you with fruit. Fruit in a tree and branches will spread out. Keep working hard. Do not hurt any one. Treat every one with love. Help people. Help the children. Ask if a poor widow needs any help. Allah says feed your hungry neighbour first then feed your self. Not many people do this today. They say i should eat whatever is mine. I someone is dying, let them die, if some body is hungry, let them be hungry. It is not like that in the world. These are hard times. Better to pass this time with love and care.

Q: you talked about some awards?

A: Yes, For Midland Fashion, my son got ward for the best business.

Q: for best business.

A: Best business. He got two awards. Two or three to Tahir Javed.

Q: Tahir Javed is your son.

A: yes. We have kept him at the front so he get experience.

Q: He is your eldest son.

A: He is our eldest son.

Q: how many children do you have?

A: I have 3 daughters and 2 sons.
Q: Are the sons older then daughter?

A: I have two older daughters and then son. This one the youngest son.

Q: Are they all involved in this business with you?

A: No. Every one has their own. This is mine and my husband’s. My husband got me the clothes stock so I will be occupied.

Q: When you came here, Did you ever think that when have time you will help your husband at the shop or you will go out of the house……

A: I was courageous. I did not mind. I like going around public places but I respect my home. I never had any problem, no argument with anyone. No theft or any thing. People come and ask if we are well.

Q: you have had a long time looking after your shop…..First it was your husband…

A: I spent time with my children first but before that it was my mother in law, my father in law. I looked after them for 30-25 years. It’s been one year since my father in law died or not even a year. Only little time. my mother in law died year and a half ago. I used to look after them. I used to come to the shop for one or two hours after giving them lunch and then I used to go back home. But I was happy. I had blessings from my elders. I used to look after them and I had their blessings. My mother in law used to say that you will wear a crown of gems is Allah’s heaven.
My husband is very good with me. I have lot of support from him. He is very lively.

Q: You have time and you are here to support you husband. you could hire somebody to help out in the shop but in a way you are looking after the business and saving on expenses.

A: yes. Saving on expenses.

Q: How are the modern generation of girls supporting their homes and their husbands?

A: The girls of modern generations are asking their husbands to cook themselves and eat. They say I do not have time. I got ready made food. I will heat it and eat.

Q: Then business support goes beyond that now.

A: This is hard to run. Our children are tired. They say was cannot do this. We are in one place settled. They want to go out and work. I am happy in these four walls. Allah has given us respect. Our work is good.

Q: And for this you need to meet lot if people as now the deliveries are coming….

A: Yes. We get stock delivered here. We get delivery every Thursday. I iron and display them myself.

Q: Do have to iron all of these?

A: I do 3 or 4 pieces at a time. It keeps me healthy and occupied. I have no tension.

Q: how to like the atmosphere at the Ladypool Road. You mentioned …….

A: It OK. Every body is very busy. Every body is involved in money making. Nobody meets as such. When we meet on the road, people say hello, Salamo Alekum. You are ok. That it. Nobody has time.
Q: After talking to you, I am guessing that you are saying the feeling of love and care is getting less and people are busy ……

A: Now a days, people have internet, laptops, phones. Our children, daughters, daughter in laws all have these. These are separating families. They donot sit down and have conversation together. All are busy with these. This is bad.

Q: Has it ever been like this that you asked someone to do something and because they were busy, you suffered a loss?

A: No. I do not ask anyone like that. We hired some girls. Allah has give us brains and eyes. We can see what is being done or not. So we decided not to keep them. Me and my husband are enough. Alhamdu Lillah.

Q: Many years back, your children grew up and you joined the business and as got busy and lost track of your age, what changes have you seen on Ladypool Road?

A: Not much has changed.

Q: Not much has changed

A: It is the same people. Some have grown old, some are dead, some are unwell.

Q: And new business

A: The new business people do not mix with any one. The old ones still have love in their hearts. They meet and ask about each other.

Q: And what are the changes over the years?

A: Not much. Its dirtier now. Lots of rats. Lots of restaurants have opened. People through food on the road. Children’s dirty nappies on the road. Rubbish on the road. Rubbish from the car on the road. It has become very dirty. Some people who come here are not very descent. They through every thing on the road. Rubbish thrown from the pram, from their car, from their pocket. It has become a rubbish road.

Q: Was it a clean road before?

A: It was clean road. It was cleaned every day. Now I do not see who cleans it. Wind does the cleaning. The street, footpath stays broken. The grills do not get cleaned. The government is tired. People do not know how to walk, look after. Today’s generation, youth, drive fast. They hit the walls, hit the grills. They hit the pillars on the road. Nothing.

Q: Your are describing the reality…….

A: You can see it. More cars are being stolen. You cannot leave a car unlocked. You cannot leave any thing exposed in the car. you cannot wear gold, you cannot take money out. People follow you.
People who follow you are the people who have recently migrated from other countries. When it was Pakistani and Indian people, they used to know what to wear and how to go around. It is not the same now.

Q: Were there mainly clothes shops on Ladypool Road or other shops like grocery were there?

A: Grocery as well. The Maney supermarket was the big one. The oldest on Ladypool Road.

Q: Is it still there?
A: No it is finished. Somebody else has come. Mr Maney was very old and was very known from India. They used to sell every thing. Then there was Uncles’ Home Store and then there was Woolworths. Now where Raja Brothers shop is, it used be owned by my husbands uncle. Its was fridge shop.

Q: OK. Electronics shop.

A: yes. Electronics shop. It was their shop. It was sold when he died. So Raja Brothers bought these.

Q: What was the name of your husband’s uncle who owned that shop?

A: Hafiz Ali Ahmed.

Q: Hafiz Ali Ahmed Sahib.

A: Yes he was very well known. He has pictured with some big people.

Q: OK. Whey Hafiz Ali Ahmed Sahib died….

A: Then they sold it.

Q: His children sold it…..

A: Something like that.

Q: And then Raja Brothers bought……..

A: They bought it. They still respect him a lot. All the big and good people are dead.
New people have become big headed and money minded.

A: True

Q: And about the beauty saloon which are here. Were they here before or not?

A: No. They are here now on every part of the road.

Q: So, new saloons have opened…

A: Quite a few

Q: And the new girls….

A: The new girls go there. Their skin gets damaged. Their hair gets damaged. They go there one week and next week their faces become red. Some put on red cream and some put on yellow. The best is what Allah has given you.

Q: The inner beauty…….

A: The inner beauty is the most beautiful. This is temporary beauty.

Q: How much does you husband recognise your support……

A: He supported every one.

Q: how much does he recognise that he because of your support the business flourished or he enjoyed business with your support.

A: He enjoyed my support. He is happy. He says what is the point of keep saving money. We should support people in need. He has set up places for people in need.

Q: you were telling that your husband started this business with one tray of gem stones…..

A: One tray of gem stones and brought clothes from Pakistan. After that we had very good sale.

Q: How many years did it take from the tray of gem stones to become this shop? Was it very slow….

A: I did not notice. Weeks or months. It was because of Allah’s kindness.

Q: And when you came here as a bride, What were you hoping from this country, from your household when you were coming to England. What and how it will it be?

A: I did not think about it and I was in Singapore.

Q: So you are from Singapore. You came here from Singapore…

A: No. I came from Pakistan. My parents went to Singapore from India and then came to Pakistan from there. I came here from Pakistan.

Q: OK. You visited another country before here. You have been travelling since childhood.

A: Since childhood. My husband has been very good. May Allah give him long life and heath. I have travelled a lot with him. He likes travelling and I like travelling.

Q: It was pleasure talking to you today. And you told us about Ladypool Road and your role in the business. From this people will learn……….

A: Every body should work hard. Hard work is rewarded by Allah. You will get success in whatever you do with honesty and commitment. The children should support their parents. Brother and sisters are good but for parents, children’s help is very important. Tomorrow, parents will grow old
and they have to manage this.

Q: Times comes that children are growing and they do not want to do this business and want to do something different. Did you have to see………

A: If something like happens and Allah gives us life, we will do whatever we feel like. We might finish the business or rent the shop. And whatever money we get, we will have roti at home.

Q: It was so nice speaking to you A Ji. Thank you