Chapter 1
‘Why don’t you let her go? Nighat asked.
‘How can I Nigu!? I love her too much. Allah! Why did I love her so much?
‘Nigu! Please do something I beg you’. Saying this Ibrahim wept.
‘Zuva! Don’t lose hope. She will come back’. Nighat replied in a cold manner.
‘Wait! Someone is calling me. I’ll call u back’. Nighat said in a rush.
‘Listen!’ Before Ibrahim could say anything Nighat already disconnected the call.
Nighat and Ibrahim, they met each other accidently at Pahalgam in the summer season of 2014. Which usually is the season when schools take children to picnic and the year 2014 was no different. Pahalgam witnessed huge rush once again and coincidently both Delhi public school, Where nighat studied and Government higher secondary school Nawakadal which was Ibrahim’s School choose Pahalgam for their students. Hence it was Pahalgam which became the stage for a beautiful friendship of Nighat and Ibrahim. The weather had been very hot in Srinagar contrary to what it was in pahalgam. The water of river Lider as usual was flowing with full speed, colliding with the huge rocks embedded in it. The water jumped in the air on kissing the rocks. It was really a fun day.
The boys of Ibrahim’s school except him were roaming behind the girls of Dehli public school who hardly paid any heed towards the downtown boys. The girls belonged to high profile-families as compared to the boys of Ibrahim’s school. However, it was Imran, one of Ibrahim’s friends who had dropped his number written on a paper near a circle of girls who were passing a bottle between them while music played in the background. Arbin, who had the remote of the music system in her hand, was assigned the duty of stopping the music at any moment she wanted and was supposed to keep her eyes closed which she never did. Nighat had already bribed her with a Dairy milk silk chocolate which was an assurance that the music won’t stop at her. Nighat, in the meantime caught Imran dropping the paper piece near the circle and according to her nature rebuked him and Imran could do nothing except lowering his gaze, not just because he was dumb but because of his weak English. He was surrounded by the entire circle of girls who were questioning him from all sides.
‘Hey! Excuse me. Why have you all encircled my friend? Ibrahim questioned while coming in rescue of his friend.
‘Listen mister! We know you government school boys very well. Don’t try to act like a hero and get lost!’ Nighat raised her voice.
‘I don’t need to act as I see no Katrina at front. So spare him’. Ibrahim replied notoriously.
‘It seems you are full of attitude. Come girls let’s talk to their teachers’. Nighat commanded her friends.
‘Wait! Wait! We can do anything you want but please don’t tell our teachers. They are damn strict’. Ibrahim pleaded as he was very much afraid of his mathematics teacher, who was famous as ‘Gabbar’ in the school.
‘You insulted me na? Now you would have to sing a song in my praise’ Nighat said.
‘May I? Imran asked.
‘No! It’s he who will sing’. Nighat said pointing towards Ibrahim.
‘We want to see as if the boys can do anything else than other than roaming around girls’. Nighat said while handing the microphone in hands, moving away from him.
Mujhse Yeh Har Ghadi, Meraa Dil Kahe
Every moment my heart tell me that
Tum Hi Ho Usaki Aarzoo
You are its desire
Mujhse Yeh Har Ghadi, Mere Lab Kahe
Every moment my lips tell me that
Teri Hi Ho Sab Guftagoo
Only talk about you all time
Baatein Teri Itni Haseen, Main Yaad Inko Jab Kartaa Hoon
Your talking, speech,is so beautiful,That when I remember them
Phoolon Si Aaye, Khushaboo
Whole atmosphere becomes scented as if a scent of flower is flowing.
Ibrahim Sang with closed eyes, shivering but his voice had a sense of innocence and immense feel, others roaming there also came close once the melodious voice entered their ears. Ibrahim had never sung on a microphone before but once he took over the microphone, it was as if he had been singing for years. The gathering was away from the fast running river Lider of pahalgam. The sun wasn’t bothering them too much. A mild wind was whirling around Pahalgam. Everyone sat down circling Ibrahim.
‘Let’s make this live. You take on Facebook and I will go on Instagram’. Some Boys gossiped. Thereafter not only them but almost all of the boys started making Ibrahim live on social media. The magnetic attraction of Ibrahim’s voice attracted Naira, The most gorgeous girls of Delhi public school, full of attitude, known for her independent thinking and hardcore feministic views; she was the daughter of one of the trustees of Delhi public school. So she was seen very differently by other girls, almost all felt jealous of her. She was also the president of the students union of her school. She came at front stood folding her arms and attached he eyes at Ibrahim.
‘Hey! Girls Showkat sir is approaching’. One of the girls from the Delhi public school shouted and with that the girls who gathered there disappeared. Ibrahim’s eyes too opened after sensing something wrong. But little did he know that the reality would be so beautiful.
‘Naira! Naira! Sir tried to bring Naira back to reality. She was frozen by Ibrahim’s voice while all other girls had left leaving behind Naira.
‘Hey you! Just go from here’. Sir asked Ibrahim to go. He went away without saying anything but his eyes were reflecting something which they didn’t before. While naira was taken away from Ibrahim both of them looked at each other as if they had met before. They felt something strange for each other.
“Do you know that those boys belong to a government school?
“Naira! Are you listening?
Sir was trying to make her realize the mistake she had done by mingling with government school guys and hence questioned her time again. But Naira had just a cute smile to offer. Nighat and her friends came in front and saved Naira because somehow they knew that it was because of them that this all got initiated. NIghat took Naira with her, gave her some water asking her to relax but she hardly knew that water couldn’t relax the butterflies rumbling inside her stomach, that it couldn’t slow the pace of the horses which ran in her heart. Ibrahim’s voice and the innocence with which he left had much deeper impact upon her. She was feeling suffocated as if something was stuck in her throat. She wanted to talk with that guy.
‘I may die of this suffocation. I have to get this off chest. Naira said after taking the bottle neck close to her lips.
“Have you gone mad”. Nighat asked.
“What’s in your mind? They belong to a government school’.
‘Sir wil kill us both if he saw us getting close to those guys again’. Nighat said angrily.
‘It isn’t out of mere attraction; there is something special about that guy’. Naira explained.
‘Ok! We will find a way of talking to him after lunch. Get up now’. Nighat held Naira’s arm and made her get up towards the canopies their school had set up for lunch. Around which many guys from Ibrahim’s school roamed.
“Nighat look he’s there’. Naira pointed her finger towards Ibrahim who was standing near a rock along with his friend Imran, leaning against a big rock.
‘Naira! Naira! Don’t go!’. Nighat tried to restrict Naira, who freed her arms from Nighat’s hold and went towards Ibrahim, Whom she saw walking with his friend Imran.
‘Why isn’t she getting out of my sight? Ya Allah! What have I done? Ibrahim murmured while kicking the empty Mountain dew cold drink bottle lying on the ground, talking to Imran.
‘Oh! No! I hope you are all right’. Ibrahim uttered as the bottle stopped just near Naira.
‘Won’t you spare her now? Let’s go back naira. Nighat shouted first at Ibrahim, who was looked at the ground and then at Naira, who had her gaze fixed to Ibrahim as if she had taken over from where she left before.
‘Don’t rebuke him please! Naira pleaded. This made Ibrahim raise his gaze which he had pinned to the kicked bottle lying on the ground.
‘Ok! Do whatever you want to do. I am out of here’. Nighat left Naira there after getting annoyed, as she couldn’t tolerate Naira’s behavior towards Ibrahim. As Nighat left Imran too gave a slip to leave Naira and Ibrahim in each other’s company. Ibrahim slowly raised his gaze from Naira’s toes to her gorgeous face. Ibrahim could feel his irregular heartbeats.
‘I am So…………….’ Ibrahim was about to apologize for something wrong he didn’t knew he had done.
‘Sssssshhhhh’ Naira placed the finger of her left hand upon his lips keeping stopping him from apologizing.
‘But…….’ Ibrahim tried to speak but Naira pressed her finger upon Ibrahim’s lips. Imran and his friends were watching all of this from behind the tree and were feeling jealous of Ibrahim’s destiny.
‘Choubrr ha cha bomb wallah!
Khudaya! Mea manz kya kami aas?
‘Ya haa cha trath hish’
She is hot as a bomb
God! What less did I have?
She is like cloud burst
Few murmured to his other friends.
Naira tried to leave freeing Ibrahim’s lips but just as Naira turned her back Imran and his friends were signaling Ibrahim to ask Naira for her phone number.
‘ Number hyov! Ibu Number ratusu ya dee ….’
Naira slowed her steps; she too wanted Ibrahim to ask her for her phone number. Naira was sure that Ibrahim would approach her.
‘Excuse me! Ammhhhhh’. Ibrahim’s throat dried as he tried to talk to Naira. It was enough to turn Naira back.
‘Naira! That’s my name’. Naira replied while turning towards Ibrahim.
‘Naira! Naira! Naira!’. Ibrahim couldn’t utter anything except her name.
‘He wants your number’. Imran came out from the tree behind which he was hiding.
‘Tell your friend to ask himself till then by’. Naira turned her face in annoyance after being disappointed by Ibrahim. Ibrahim was continuously scolded by his comrades who all came out and were forcing Ibrahim to go after the girl.
‘Hey Naira! I love you’. Ibrahim hid in the circle of his friends engulfing him after raising his voice to reach Naira’s ears, she turned back and smiled at Ibrahim’s childish behavior.
‘Look! She is calling you’. Boys tried to make Ibrahim know about Naira’s actions who was signaling Ibrahim to come towards her by moving her index finger in to and fro motion. Ibrahim was reluctant but the boys pushed him towards Naira. She took the pen out from the chest pocket of ibrahim’s shirt and wrote her number upon his hand.
‘Do give me a call Ibu’. Naira murmured, placing the pen back into the pocket slowly after coming close to ibrahim’s chest.
‘Just! Be mine’. Naira murmured listening to the mad heartbeats of Ibrahim’s .
‘I can’t be even myself now.’
‘Ahh! Never leave me please!’ Ibrahim said, slowly wrapping his left arm around Naira’s back while naira pressed the pen that she was yet holding in the pocket against Ibrahim’s chest, making him aware about his gazing friends.
‘Aaahh!’. Ibrahim murmured.
‘Sorry! But your friends are witnessing it all’. Saying this she smiled. Ibrahim too passed a smile.
Naira and Ibrahim were on the verge of breaking the barrier between highly reputed schools and the government schools. They both delivered sermons of true love through their eyes. It seemed that they were out to replace every love story we had listened so far. They were out to give love a new definition. Could a DPS girl afford to fall in love with a government school boy? At present they were just living in the present moment, walking tangling arms.
Chapter 2
Pahalgam day was over but Ibrahim was still in pahalgam, somehow. Naira was lost too, while her friends threw cozy questions at her.
‘Aa honton pe khwahish tu bun le
Come and weave your desires upon my lips
Baki jo hasrat wo chun le
And choose the rest of your wants/wishes
Bikhre hai jo katre mere…….Ho…
My bits are all scattered
Haan Tan se Tan Uljhale Zara
Let’s tangle our bodies together
Phir se Mann sulgaa le zara
Set alight the heart once again
Chakhne Toh De Tukde Tere
Let me taste your bits
Main jalti raatein teri, tu wo subah jo buja de
I am your burning nights and you’re the morning that extinguishes it
Bheeg Loon, Bheeg Loon, Aaj main teri Baarish may bheeg Loon.
Let me get drenched in your rain today.
The girls in the bus sang this stanza time again just to tease Naira as it was rumored that naira had hugged a boy, she was trying not to pay any heed towards them and gave suitable replies to them
‘Cool me down
I’m feeling so exotic
I’m hotter than the tropics’
She was at the front foot while tackling her colleagues.
‘His lips were burning. I tried to take whatever of that fire I could’
‘Ammmmmmmmmmmmummmmmmmm’. He tasted…. Naira stretched her arms before resting them upon Nighat’s shoulders. The girls tried to tease naira but it rebutted.
On the other hand Ibrahim was restless, trying to ponder upon the things; he was taking back with him on his way back to pahalgam.
‘Waai Mummy Waai Mummy Dil mea Raaavan
Oh Mom! Oh mom! I am losing my heart.
‘Toath Dilbar Haa Chui Mea pyaranaavan’
My Lover is keeping me Awaiting.
Guys in Ibrahim’s bus gave no special treatment to Ibrahim and teased him through singing Kashmiri songs, clapping their hands in the background.
‘What is wrong with you guys? Ibrahim questioned angrily.
‘Teri ankho ka yo kajal mann karay se gori gayal….’ Imran sang in reply
(The kohl of your eyes injures my heart…….).
Ibrahim could do nothing except smiling at the childish behavior of his colleagues.
‘Oooooooooooo oooooooooooooo ooooooooooo’ . Ibrahim’s smile licensed all to come and pinch him as he tried to hide his face behind the hands, turning red in embarrassment.
So in this way, Pahalgam trip was over but not for Naira and Ibrahim. Pahalgam had entered their essence and decorated their soul by its impeccable beauty and memories. The cold wave of air entering through the window of his seat added fuel to the fire inside Ibrahim’s body. Everyone was home at night except Ibrahim, who still searched for his home. He went to his room directly without conversing with his family, who had been awaiting the return of their beloved. Ibrahim was the youngest of them all.
‘He must be tired Ammi’. Noureen replied to her mother after being asked to check whether Ibrahim was alright.
‘Yes he must be feeling tired’. Mehnaz, Ibrahim’s fifth sister who was closest to Ibrahim copied the same words from Noureen, thereby leaving no room for any debate on Ibrahim’s strange behavior. Ibrahim lived in the Nowhatta area of Srinagar and didn’t have a much happy life. His father used to drive an auto to support his family and had huge expectations from Ibrahim. Mohammad yousuf, a hardworking person having huge liabilities of his family upon his shoulders with five daughters and Ibrahim at last whom he loved very much. He wanted Ibrahim to excel in studies and contribute to the society, especially to his locality, which had seen nothing except stone pelting and killings from decades. ‘Noureen,’ ‘samya’, were pursuing their masters through the University of Kashmir. While ‘Awrah’ and ‘Zehra’ studied Bachelors in journalism at Maulana Azad College (Amira Kadal), Mehnaz was in her first year of the college, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in philosophy and was closest to Ibrahim. Ibrahim was the lone person of their family, who had opted science after clearing 10th standard.
Next morning Ibrahim got up early for his tuitions. His mother made ‘Noon chai’ for both Imran and her own son. Abu also brought ‘lawasa’ from the ‘Kanduru’ (Roti maker) for both Imran and Ibrahim, they treated Imran just like his own son. Abu used to wake up very early because he parked his auto in the first row, right after the fajr namaz to be able to start his earning as early as possible.
‘Ibrahim! Ibrahim!’ Imran called his name after parking his white colored Activa scooty near Ibrahim’s house.
“Asalaam u alaikum! Aunty’. Imran greeted.
‘Walaikum asalaaam. Gobur miyoan cha theek ? (Are you all ok, my son?)’ . Ammi said with a smile upon his face.
Meanwhile Ibrahim came down from the stairs, locking the buttons of his shirt and joined Imran for the tea.
‘Shukur Haaz khudayas kun (All ok, thanks to Allah)’. Imran replied after a pause, seeing Ibrahim coming down.
‘Amiss kya Gachi Ourr ta dorr haai chu (What will happen to him, he his fit and fine)’. Ibrahim replied while crushing a bubble of his ‘Lawasa (Kashmiri bread).
‘Bozthai Aunty? wachi kya chum choan Naichu wanaan.
( Listen Aunty! What your son is saying to me?).
‘Haha! Chou wani chai jaldi, cheer ha gachi, aaz ha chui viva (haha! Have your tea quickly rather we will be late. We have viva today)’. Ibrahim said sarcastically.
‘Yana piyatha ya pahalgam piyatha aav tana chu na sued kathai karaan (Since his return from pahalgam, he doesn’t talk like before).
‘Wansa kyah daleel cha (Shall I tell her, what the real matter is?)’. Imran murmured, smiling at the same time.
‘Let’s go now. You had enough tea’. Ibrahim took Imran with him before he could reveal as to what the real matter was.
‘Khuda Hafiz Aunty’. Imran shouted as Ibrahim took him away towards the exit door.
‘Khuda Hafiz Ammi!’ Ibrahim shouted from the door.
Finally they moved towards their tutor Javid Naqshbandi, known for his elegant dressing and maritial status, he was dire strict but one of the best Kashmir had got. His institution always remained jam-packed and offered admission to limited number of students.
‘No! I am sorry we can’t offer you admission at this point’. Rafiq baya, who handled the institution affairs, was making a girl understand that he couldn’t grant her admission as no seat was seemed vacant.
‘Please sir!’ The girl was trying to motivate Rafiq baya, who looked stubborn. She turned her back in disappointment and tried to take an exit from that room. In the meantime Ibrahim and his friend entered and were immediately received by a bunch of other lads studying there. Ibrahim was one of Javid sir’s favorite students and was the star performer in the viva’s. But today, he had some other plans; he handed his bag to Imran and followed the girl making her exit.
‘Hey! Hey!’ Ibrahim tried to call the girl as she was crossing the road while rain drops started to get intense.
‘Hi ibu! How are you? I am sorry. I forgot to take your number’. Naira said.’
‘Ibrahim! Mmmm…. Beautiful name, i love you too Ibu.’ Naira said making Ibrahim blush.
‘Awww! My love you are so cute’. Naira said touching Ibrahim’s light bearded face.
‘Ok Ibrahim! Do whatsapp me at night’. Naira said at last.
‘You were insisting for admission na?’ Ibrahim asked.
‘Yes! But unfortunately, I wasn’t granted’. Naira said.
‘I swear I can easily get you in’. Ibrahim said who seemed very eager to help her.
‘Really? Naira asked.
‘Yes! Swear I will. Just give me a chance Naira’. Ibrahim pleaded.
‘OK! Ok! Come down! Jaan’. Naira replied.
‘I’ll fix everything and text you at night’. Ibrahim assured Naira.
‘Ok! I’ll take a leave now’. Naira Said.
‘Bye! Don’t go please’. Ibrahim murmured with a deep sigh. It was as if Ibrahim didn’t want Naira to go but didn’t have the courage to say so. But as it is said lovers don’t need words to express their feelings.
‘Well I was thinking to bunk the school. What are your plans today?’ Naira said. It seemed, Naira listened Ibrahim’s words wrapped in his deep sigh.
‘Nothing special! Ibrahim replied hurriedly. As everything special was happening in Ibrahim’s life, something more important than the viva of Javid sir.
‘Then come I will take you to my favorite place’. Naira said smilingly While Ibrahim followed whatever she said.
Naira took Ibrahim in her modified purple ‘Ritz Car’ to boulevard and then they took a shikara towards ‘chaar chinar’.
‘Ya Allah! How will I pay the shikara fare? Ibrahim began to rub his hands over his face.
‘500 rupees’ said the shikarawala. Naira took out a five hundred rupee note out from her bag and handed it over to the shikara walaa. Chaar chinar, a naturally isolated island type of park in the heart of the world-famous Dal Lake, Which is also the main attraction of tourists. No one was there as it was early in the morning. So it was a perfect place for Ibrahim and Naira to speak their heart out. Especially for Ibrahim who wanted to spend time with Ibrahim.
Chapter 3
Naira and Ibrahim sat on an iron bench. Naira took out the water bottle from her bag as she was feeling thirsty. Meanwhile Ibrahim placed his hand upon the back of that iron bench supporting Naira’s back.
‘What are you doing?’ Naira questioned Ibrahim with a harsh look after feeling something near her back.
‘Nothing! Sorry! Sorry!’. Ibrahim looked bothered.
‘Hahaha! Aww! My sweet boyfriend…Why are you so cute….I fell more and more for you by your cute nervous expressions’. Naira replied.
While butterflies started to disturb Ibrahim’s stomach. He had never been called a boyfriend before. Naira held Ibrahim’s hand and got close to him and took a leap upon his shoulder.
‘Don’t you dare leave me alone’. Naira kissed the shoulder she was leaping on before leaping on it again. Ibrahim got goose bumps he had never been through this.
‘Please tell me if you have any intentions of leaving me’. Ibrahim said while Naira looked towards the lake.
‘What!’ Naira looked towards Ibrahim.
‘What are you saying? I didn’t come close to you because of attraction. The entire school is after me. I was teased for hugging you but that hardly matters for me. Ibrahim’. Naira replied in anger with tearful eyes.
‘I love you Damn it. How do I show my love to you’. Naira said.
‘I swear upon my mom that I didn’t want to hurt you. But I feel bit afraid at the moment. See you are a high-profile girl all the boys must be after you. I mean you are so gorgeous that you would easily find a richer person who can fulfill your needs’
‘You know when the ‘shikara’ was about to stop. I checked my pocket and see there are only 55 rupees. My father earns 500 in 2-3 days. I don’t even have mobile phone to chat with you. Do you still think that I am your perfect match?’ Ibrahim uttered emotionally after getting up from the bench.
‘We aren’t in a business deal, this is love and it is like this. It erases all barriers of the society. Even lovers vanish at times’. Naira started to get more emotional.
‘When I leaped upon your shoulder, did I ask whether you can fulfill my needs or not?’
‘When I said that I love you, did I ask how much your father earns?’ Naira said looking into the eyes of Ibrahim.
‘But…………..!’ Before Ibrahim could say anything Naira took over.
‘Sssssssshhhhh….Stop please! I think, my eyes were unable to pass on my true feelings in you lest you would have never said so much to me’. Naira went bit far from Ibrahim, turned her back as kohl mixed with tears started falling from almond eyes. Ibrahim was really nervous and had already got goose pumps by the thought that had just come across his mind. He went close to Naira, trembling and placed his nervous hand upon her shoulder and as she turned back, Ibrahim abruptly placed his palms upon Naira’s fair cheeks and placed his lips upon Naira’s wet lips, sipping her black tears, erasing all of her complains , Even the ‘Bul bul bird’ pair got romantic and kissed each other. Naira hugged Ibrahim after the kiss.
‘I love you the way you are, I have nothing to do with your status. The only thing that I care about is my love for you’. Naira said.
They then made their way back towards the car which they had parked in the boulevard road parking. From there on she went to a mobile gallery and asked Ibrahim to wait in the car, while she herself went out into the mobile shop.
‘Please! Don’t separate us God!’ Ibrahim said while tightly combing his hair by his fingers.
‘This is my gift to you’. Naira handed a new IPhone to Ibrahim.
‘Hey look! I can’t take this. Swear! I can’t’. Ibrahim said after being the recipient of such an expensive gift.
‘Throw it out of the window’. Naira replied in anger.
‘No! I mean ok! I will take this as my gift. I need not to throw it out, Happy?’ Ibrahim said.
‘Very much……Zuvaaaa’. Naira said in excitement.
At the end, Ibrahim had to accept Naira’s gift. Ibrahim and Naira were with one another for the entire day, it was for the first time that Ibrahim had bunked any class, especially that of Javid sir. But it seemed that for that day, he had forgotten everything and had only Naira to care about, his first love.
‘Have you been to Pari Mahal?’ Naira asked.
‘No! Not even once’. Ibrahim replied.
‘You must be joking or is it that you want to spent bit more of quality time with me?’ Naira said after coming close to Ibrahim as they sat at the cafe coffee day table.
‘Your coffee mam and here is yours sir. Do you want anything else? The waiter asked placing the coffee cups upon the table.
‘No! And please don’t disturb us from now. Thank you’. Naira said annoyingly.
‘No! baba, I mean I haven’t been to ‘Pari mahal’ really’. Ibrahim said blushingly as the entire café looked at him, his clothes were not upto the level. Ibrahim was bit bothered, as he knew that Naira would take him there and he didn’t found his clothes suitable to visit such a place with Naira. Moreover; he didn’t want people to pass any remarks upon him. Ibrahim was wearing his old clothes which looked dull, compared to Naira’s apparels, who was wearing louis vitton (Brand name), ………Dressing).
He didn’t want that people should say anything wrong seeing them together. Naira was known for her unique and stylish dressing in her friend circle and had a huge fan following on intagram. So this thought was inevitable.
‘We’ll go there some other day. I have an urgent work to do’. Ibrahim said.
‘Sssssssssshhh! Quiet’. Naira looked unaffected of what Ibrahim had said.
‘Please! I really need to go home’. Ibrahim pleaded
‘Ok! Huh!’ Naira turned her head from Ibrahim in anger, also turning her car back towards Downtown Srinagar.
‘Next time pakka’. Ibrahim said trying to overcome naira’s anger.
‘Sorry! Please…Don’t remain silent. Please!’ Ibrahim pleaded.
‘It’s ok naa’. Naira replied.
‘Bus! Bus yahin Pohanch gaya ’. Ibrahim said.
‘Are you still upset with me?’ Ibrahim replied.
‘No! Surely not, but I will be if you won’t call me tonight’. Naira replied with a sensuous smile.
Ibrahim too passed a smile and left the car that naira had stopped in the Nowhatta Chowk. Opposite jamia Masjid, this had always been surrounded by controversies, known for its huge gathering of Friday prayers, where after stone pelting breaks out, every Friday. Also for the mob lynching of a Dsp police officer.
‘I think you should leave its Friday today’. Ibrahim said.
‘I have hardly seen any stone pelting incident from such a close view as you must have been’. Naira replied showing her curiosity and excitement for the stone pelting.
‘Can I be at you place?’ Naira asked.
‘No! My family is dire strict’. Ibrahim said.
‘Huh! Ok I am going back to my home. Ummmm!’ Naira raised her voice and took her tongue out to mocking manner, while she turned the steering of her car back towards the main road. Naira left while Ibrahim kept waving his hand slowly until the Adhaan (call of the prayer) from the loudspeaker of Jamia Masjid entered his ears and he started to run towards the grand mosque. Where he sat under the fountain pool and performed ablution to offer the prayer. He came out smiling as if his prayer was answered; indeed it was he never knew that such a girl would fall for him and so deeply.
‘Allah! Don’t separate us ever. Please! Ibrahim murmured with himself looking at the sky.
‘Helllo! Brother. Where you have been now, your family was worried for you. Go and see them first then you have the entire day to gaze at the sky’. Imran said after placing his hand upon Ibrahim’s shoulder.
‘O shit! Ammi must be worried. I’ll see you soon’. Ibrahim said in a hurry while running towards his home.
Finally Ibrahim reached home after offering the prayer.
‘Asalaam u Alaikum Amm’. Ibrahim said while catching his breath.
‘Walaikum Asalam! Where were you Ibrahim till now, do you have any idea of how worried you Abu is. Go show your face to him first’. Ammi said.
‘Ok! Ammi’. Ibrahim replied while his eyes kept gazing the floor.
Ibrahim went to his father’s room hurriedly
‘Asalaam u alaikum Abbu’. Ibrahim offered his salutation.
‘Walaikum Asalaam Beta’ Abbu replied.
“Abu! I am very sorry for coming back so late that too on Friday. Please pardon me!’ Ibrahim said.
‘Gobur! Kenh chuna naair kheh bata, Boacha aasi lajmach (son! No worries go have your lunch, you must be feeling hungry)’. Ibrahim’s father replied, inserting his arm into his sleeveless vest.
Ibrahim’s father went out after starting his auto.
‘Bahai Draasai (I am leaving)’. Ibrahim’s father shouted.
‘Khudayss Hawaal ‘Allah bless)’. Ibrahim’s mother answered, opening the window of her kitchen.
‘Ibrahim saab aava (Has Ibrahim arrived?)’. ‘Posha’ Aunty, the next door neighbor of ibrahim asked Nadiya baji, ibrahim’s mother.
‘Ahanu shukur Khudayass kun, woat Asal Paaith. Bata khiyoan akiyah yithai paaith(Yes! Thanks to Allah, he reached safely. He had his lunch just moments before.)’. Nadiya baji replied.
‘Ati loag na kani jung.. Awai prichumai.. (Stone pelting has begun..That’s why I enquired’. Posha Aunty replied while taking her clothes off from the cloth rope tied in ibrahim’s small garden. She used to hang her clothes in Ibrahim’s small garden because she didn’t have one, actually in down town; those residing in downtown don’t usually have big gardens as the people living in the civil line areas have.
Chapter 4
Ibrahim went to his room and fell upon his bed after closing the door.
‘Naira! Wondmaiye! Zuv…..Pagal hai korthass (Naira! Be my life sacrificed upon you….Mad! You have made me)’. Ibrahim murmured, moving his index finger to and fro upon his lower lip, trying to find an answer to the question, Naira placed upon his lips. His heart was still beating madly, disobeying its usual rhythmical law.
‘Tharra tharra cham jigrass
Mar aba shayad!
Shivering, is my heart,
I may die!
Sharr mea jigruk draavno’
The desires of my heart
Are yet to get filled……………. ……………………………………………
Ibrahim was restless; he had never felt the same. Despite being with her for so much of time, he still was unsatisfied. It was as if the fishes inside his stomach demanded more of Naira to settle down.
‘What shall I do?’
‘I shall call Rafiq baya for Naira’s admission’. Ibrahim said looking at the celling of his room. He got up and took Naira’s gift out from his bag.
‘Thank God! A jio sim is free with it’. Ibrahim said as he saw a red label pasted upon the mobile box. It further mentioned that the Sim card will automatically be activated once inserted in the phone. So, Ibrahim had the phone in his hand, ready to call Rafiq baya, with whom Ibrahim shared a healthy bond. Ibrahim’s funny nature and poetic nature had almost turned them into friends though they had huge age difference. So, he knew that Rafiq baya would hardly turn down his request and same happened. But Rafiq baya’s response didn’t only grant Naira her admission but had taken Ibrahim to a world of fantasy. He turned prophetic and began to see himself and Naira, hand in hand while coming out of the institution.
‘Ibrahim! Ibrahim! Ibrahim!……….’ Ibrahim’s mother, Nadiya knocked at the door.
‘Haan Mummy!’ Ibrahim replied to her mother’s third call.
Yes Mummy!
‘wondmaiya zuv.Theek chukha? Cha koana wapiss jawaab divan’ Nadiya replied
May my life get sacrificed upon you. Are you alright? Why don’t you reply back?
‘Kiheeenai Mummy! Bas nindr aasm peamach’. Ibrahim answered while hiding the phone under the pillow of his bed.
Nothing Mummy! Just had fallen asleep
‘Wala che chai goada, pata karakh araam’. Nadiya shouted while going down towards the kitchen.
Have your tea first and then take rest.
‘yakiya! Aas’. Ibrahim replied at last
Here I come!
Ibrahim went down and joined his family for the tea after hiding his phone under the pillow of his bed. Ibrahim quickly sipped the tea from his cup and made his way back towards his room, checked his phone and was eagerly waiting for the evening the sun to set. Ibrahim never used to hide anything from his parents. His heart-felt restless; if he ever tried to but this time, his heart was forcing him to hide things. Something in him was surely changing. Naira had done something to him.
At night Ibrahim shivered before calling Naira he had never talked to any girl so late. Ibrahim was so nervous that he disconnected the call multiple times before Naira called back.
‘Asalaam u alaikum Ibu!’ Naira asked.
‘Walaikum Asalaam!. Ibrahim replied.
‘How are you love? Naira asked.
‘I am good’. Ibrahim replied.
‘Won’t you ask for my well-being? Naira said.
‘Ya! How are you.’ Ibrahim said.
‘Leave it! Huh!’. Naira said.
‘Naira! My stomach may explode. I want to meet you right now’. Ibrahim said.
‘What are you saying? Are you alright love!’ Naira Asked notoriously.
‘Ammmm! Seems like someone is in a romantic mood’ Naira said.
‘No! I mean yes! Yes! But no, we will talk tomorrow’. Ibrahim said biting his nails while resisting his desires.
‘Calm down! Calm down! Don’t worry. I think you are not comfortable speaking’. Naira said.
‘No! I mean yes! No! I am ok …. Ya!’
“I mean I want to talk’. Ibrahim said while he was shivering.
‘Ibu! Go sleep!’. Naira said while laughing at the craziness she was witnessing and disconnected the call.
‘Why did I do this much for him?’ Naira questioned herself, lying upon her bed looking at the celling’.
‘I don’t know. Naira! You are crazy’. Naira buried her face under the pillow of her bed after questioning herself trying to hide her happiness under it. After that she slept.
Ibrahim on the other hand slept hugging his Pillow tightly closing his eyes.
‘Naira! Muaaah!. Ibrahim kissed the pillow after then closed his eyes hopeful of seeing Naira in his dream.
Who would have thought that Ibrahim’s first love would be in Delhi public school, none of his comrades believed in him, he was bit shy to approach a girl in these matters. Delhi public school, where from the girls won’t even bother to look at the local school boys, they usually choose friends belonging to high profile schools. But Ibrahim had shocked everyone. Meanwhile it was too early to decide whether or not they were serious about each other looking at their ages. They were teens and it’s really easy to fall in love during teen age. That may be one of the reasons why Naira fell after Ibrahim. Isn’t teen age love like this, It happens without any parameter that’s why teen age has often been compared to madness. Its devoid of any shame, all it cares is the beloved. It was like the moth and the candle. Both Ibrahim and Naira looked ready to annihilate after one another. But it could only be known with the passage of time as if this was a mere attraction or the setting of another epic love story.
Chapter 5
‘In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent. Praise be to the Lord of all worlds. Prayers and peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, his family and all of his companions. … Peace be upon you with the mercy and blessings of Allah’. The teacher In charge of assembly took to the mic of the regular morning assembly of Naira’s school.
‘All the girls of class 12th are hereby informed that the school has decided to take the girls of the class on a tour to different villages, in order to capture the real essence of old kashmiriyat’. She further spoke.
‘Mam! What sins have we commited?. A boy sitting in the assembly murmured.
‘Haha!. Some boys started laughing.
‘Silence! You all should assemble here at 10:30 am’. The teacher in charge said in a strong tone.
So the morning assembly concluded with this. All the girls looked quite enthusiastic regarding this tour and almost all were looking forward towards getting some knowledge about the way their forefathers lived.
‘Wish! They could allow some boys too’. Nighat said while adjusting her pony tail pleat.
‘Ya! Would have been fun’. Naira’s another friend replied.
‘Well! I don’t know about others but I would have loved if Ibu would have been with me’. Naira said while the girls were taking to their buses.
‘Wait! What did you just say? Nighat asked Naira while she was surrounded by all her friends.
‘Ibu! Who’s he by the way? Nighat asked with a surprised look.
‘Guess!’ Naira replied.
‘Ammmmmmm! Don’t tell me that Pahalgam guy’.Nighat said, getting surprised.
Naira passed a smile showing green signal to Nighat for her answer.
‘My God! How did all this happen so quickly? Nighat asked while trying to know more about her friend’s relationship.
‘Girl! It just happened’. Naira answered.
‘Oh come on! Tell us while we are on the way’. Nighat said.
‘Girls we are heading towards ‘Kunan and Poshpora village’. Showkat sir got up and announced.
‘What kind of name is this? We wont go there. Girls replied in a unanimous tone.
‘I know the name is very different but I have orders to make you visit some unique named villages’. Sir replied.
‘We are hardly interested in seeing flowers (Posh)’. A girl replied.
‘Haha!’ Girls laughed again.
Mean while Naira narrated her whole story to their friends till they reached the destination.
‘Girls we have entered our first destination that is ‘Kunan’ village. Kunan Village, with population of 554 is Gandoh sub district‘s the 19th least populous village, located in Gandoh sub-district of Doda district in the state Jammu & Kashmir in India. Total geographical area of Kunan village is 1 km2 and it is the 8th smallest village by area in the sub-district. Population density of the village is 1065 persons per km2.
Nearest town of the village is Doda and distance from Kunan village to Doda is 72 km. Pin code of Kunan village is 182203. The village comes under Gandoh panchayat. Gandoh is the sub-district head quarter and the distance from the village is 30 km. District head quarter of the village is Doda which is 72 km away’. Showkat sir was guiding the girls through the beautiful village.
Naira and her friends were looking at the children walking with bare feet playing with mud in the fields. Girls wearing the traditional Pheran and women walking in columns carrying firewood over their head. All this thrilled Naira.
‘Once the second batch of girls come from Poshpora village to Kunan, we will proceed towards Poshpora village’. Sir announced.
The other bus carrying the second batch of class 12th girls had went to Poshpora village first and then they were expected to come to Kunan village, in which Naira and company was roaming right now. Naira and company were expected to go to Poshpora later.
‘Walk straight in a column and don’t look here and there’. Sir advised strictly seeing army men approaching them.
‘Apna card dikha’. An army personnel asked Showkat sir to show his identity card. But the army personnel hardly looked interested in the information displayed on the identity card of Showkat sir. His eyes were roaming somewhere else. He was having a deep look all over the girls.
‘Kya hum jaa sakte hai?’. Sir asked.
But that hardly bothered the ears of the army personnel.
‘Ammmhhhh! Kya hum jaa sakte hain?’. Sir asked the second time.
‘Kyu Bay badi jaldi hai jaany ki?
‘Kahun aur bhejdun?’. The army personnel said while misbehaving with sir.
The girls were feeling terrible and were shrinking in themselves as the army man started making rounds around them.
‘Jao’. The army men didn’t rest their gaze till the girls disappeared.
‘Are you alright Sir?’. Girls started asking sir one after the other.
‘I am all ok. Don’t worry!’. Sir consoled them.
They met the people of Kunan who welcomed them open heartedly and offered them their traditional food. Time passed till the dawn came closer but the other batch hadn’t yet returned to Kunan, so Showkat sir called their in charge and came to know that the entire village was cordoned by the army.
‘Sir! I am been taken out along with all the males of the villages and a search operation has been started by the army. The girls are also the houses……. …… ….’. Saying this, the phone was disconnected as if grabbed by some army men.
‘All the males of the village are ordered to come out of their houses along with their identity cards. We have full information of some militants hiding in your houses. Come out!’. Someone took on the loudspeaker asking the males of kunan village to come out. Both the villages of kunan and Poshpora were under siege.
The males were assembled in the far off field and a huge number of people were taken into the custody and brutally tortured. Units of the Indian army launched a search and interrogation operation in the twin villages of Kunan and Poshpora, located in Kashmir‘s remote Kupwara District.
The females inside the houses were shouting and crying for help but nobody knew what was happening inside the premises.
‘Leave me!’. Shouts came out from the houses. The army men came out after the sunset. The males were mercilessly beaten but somehow managed to go inside their houses, only to witness everlasting humiliation. The women were naked, blood was on the floor. They didn’t even spare the teenage girls of the school. Some of them were lying unconscious upon the floor. They were terribly bleeding. 100 women were gang raped by soldiers. Nighat and some of her friends had escaped but unfortunately Naira became a victim. She was immediately taken to hospital by the villagers as she bled terribly.
Asif khan 
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