"Allah has heard our plea. He is giving a son, a father and a husband back to a family. Our Roza and prayers have borne fruit," said Fareeda Khan, whose husband Ehsan Khan was released by Maoists in Bihar after eight days of captivity on Monday morning.
Fareeda's hopes of her husband coming back alive hung by a slender thread after policeman Lucas Tete was killed by the extremists on Friday.
The family is happy that the 40-year-old Bihar Military Police havildar will be back with the family to celebrate Eid at the end of the week.
"My father never breaks his promise. He said he would come back home before Eid and I am told he is on his way," said Arshiya Bano, 14, Ehsan's eldest daughter. Hovering around her was her younger sister Julie K, 6, and brother Zeeshan, 8.
The family's joy is being shared by the 500 residents of Goregaon village, 40 km from the Jharkhand capital, Ranchi.
A peepal tree outside the village primary school beside the Khan's house has become the centre of festivity.
Ehsan's childhood friend Abu Khan said, "I was shattered to hear the news. But in the month of Ramzan our appeals to the lord have been answered. My friend will be back home and we will have our iftaar together, like always."
{{/usCountry}}Ehsan's childhood friend Abu Khan said, "I was shattered to hear the news. But in the month of Ramzan our appeals to the lord have been answered. My friend will be back home and we will have our iftaar together, like always."
{{/usCountry}}Ehsan's father Haji Moinuddin Khan, 80, expressed gratitude to the Bihar government and the Maoists for his son's release.