Page 84 - Love Story of a Commando

to step out of the shelter home and we did not. TV and cable connection was
still there, with very limited channels, and radio proved to be a better
companion in those times of seclusion.
We could make out that severe clashes of forces and locals were
going on. People were pelting stones on forces and forces were retaliating
with pellet guns. That was heartbreaking. Forces were equipped with
weapons of mass destruction and they were free to use them. It was not wise
to engage with them unarmed.
We heard that many tourists got trapped in Kashmir and took shelter
here and there after the conflicts erupted suddenly. Then the imposed curfew
ended all their hopes of returning from this heaven on earth soon. Tourism is
the main occupation of Kashmir and generates huge revenues for the
government and helps locals to earn their bread and butter comfortably. But
these regular curfews and conflicts in Kashmir broke another dream of the
average Kashmiri family of food in the belly and dignified living.
Maybe that is what the plan is! Of the so-called separatist leaders or
enemy country. After all who bothers what happens to the common people.
It’s government vs government, agenda vs agenda and country vs
country where people play mere pawns!
The groceries were diminishing quickly and kids were getting
cranky. There was no movement around. The air was chilly and dull. The
timings of the curfews were eased after some time. The common people,
mostly male members of families, would rush to the local markets in fear of
not getting the daily groceries. The street markets would set up within
minutes but the prices were touching the sky.
Fear instigates a profit-making attitude in many people. But the
protests had gutted hundreds of shops and properties worth crores were
destroyed. The administration would keep documenting the heavy losses,
sending files to Srinagar and also maintaining law and order in the area.
Normalcy was limping back gradually, and we could feel that the
administration might lift the curfew fully anytime soon. This happened too.
Curfew was lifted…after three months!
The separatists, terrorists, government and forces all got back to their
routine drills, leaving Kashmiris all alone to start from scratch again. This is
life. It moves on even in the most demanding times. We are still humans
carrying that powerful moving force in our hearts, known as hope!
Kashmir would never perish. It would survive. I knew that.
Daily life in Kashmir returned slowly but surely. The nooks and
corners were filled with the warmth of people bonding over cups of kahwa
again. The markets were smelling of kesar and cherries. The vendors were
buzzing and shouting to passersby. There was a lot of negative news around
in the aftermath of the riots and long curfew. But Kashmir was used to that.