Whilst i rush up for entering in
the new identity, i pack my gadgets and few sweet boxes to the university for
my academic scholarly defence. As i sat in the car to ring up all my scholar friends
and my mentor, I was very apprehensive to call Asma. I knew for the matter of
fact that Kashmir is going through severe topographical tiff and it has never
happened that Asma had not timely wished me. I was persistent to ring her up
but network could not be connected. And i wanted to take it that way that it is
just a poor network. Although i was preoccupied with many things but i wanted to
be busy and confused and clumsy but, my mind was partially stuck thinking about "where is Asma?"
Although, i have many Kashmiri Brethren as my close friends and associates but
Asma being from a Shahnawaz Scholar Family, and her virtual absence was a
matter of concern to me or that is probably the tacit training by our mentor to
celebrate success together. I clinched my thoughts and not to share what devil
my mind was thinking. I returned home with the “O.K. Done” feeling and took a
while to reassemble my thoughts on Asma's disappearing act. And then she replied to a message after
two days, to an old where about message that i posted when the flood didn’t fled
anything, it was a casual calamity. The nature’s war took it all...
Her trembled voice and the sigh
feeling of “I am alive, we are alive” made me shiver here and our 2 hours of
verbal conversation post that was horrific on what all has been gone with the water, wind and worse of both.
It could have been just another
flood, few another deaths to me, but it is
because of people i know from this valley have been so kind to me always, all
their faces would come in patches whenever any news would pop-up. To what Asma
said, to what she always says, to what she did not say that day-....i could
feel the misery. My friend wanted to be free, she wanted to be independent, she
wanted to be a part of free and independent Kashmir (she still wants it) but that day she just spoke on how will she reassemble and recreate , but she being an absolute optimist will rise and shine along with all her bretheren. I end on a status message by her, signifying belief, strength and
intensity which will help her heal, it read “ To everyone, i ever knew and i never knew.
I may or may not be tomorrow morning. Remember “LA ILLAHA ILLAHA MUHAMADUR
RASUL ALLAH” and display picture of beautiful pre-flood valley.
If i could share, the pain and
reluctance, the perseverance and power....i will say:
On graves, and earth all is
same,
Death or life all are his name,
We come to go back,
Go back to come again,
We might resist to this power
play
Let us fall to rise again,
And let us rise to fall again.
How many crosses, beads, and
books i pray..
The deads and breads have fled
away..
Let us fall to knees to only
say,
That “i will accept, to what he
may”...
-
Peace in
Prayers,
Kiran Sakkar Sudha
