The release

Agnishekhar

Tr by Prof. Arvind Gigoo

(Besides being Convener, Panun Kashmir, Dr. Agnishekhar is a reputed Hindi poet, fiction writer and intellectual. Prof. Arvind Gigoo, who has translated this short story, is a well-known writer in English and an ace translator)

When released from the prison all Fayaz Lone was, the villagers were happy, and conveyed their congratulations and happiness to his parents. He had killed six CRP men and some Pandits. Eight other hard-core militants were also released.

Only Master Tara Chand wanted to know the reason behind this release. He came back after

chatting with the parents of Fayaz He ignored the opinions of his relatives and friends. But Prabhawati showed her love for and faith in her husband Tara Chand Their daughter Mansi had some reservations. Her husband Rattan Lal had decided not to leave Kashmir Muslims in the village respected Tara Chand and lovingly called him 'Master Ji'. He had not left Kashmir although his two sons and their families had fled from the valley.

The Area Commander of the militants, Rashid Dar, was the protector of Master Tara Chand. That is why he discussed politics and religion fearlessly with the others at the tailor's shop owned by Ghani Master Tara Chand used to write the news items for Rashid Dar and even translate them into Hindi to be published in the Hindi newspapers brought out from Delhi, Master Tara Chand was hurt when Rattan Lal sent messages to him asking him not to remain in touch with the militants.

Prabhawati said to her husband Tara Chand: Taskina was saying that Kashmir will be Pakistan the coming Friday.'

'What did she say about Fayaz Lone?! Tara Chand put the question.

'I did not ask her?'

'He has been released. There will be protests in Jammu and Delhi. Pandits will rise against this release of the killers.'

Prabhawati was silent. After an ugly pause she said:

'Pandits are involved in their own problems. We should have left this place the way our relatives left.' 'Rattan Lal did not agree to my proposal. How could we have left Mansi to these beasts?'

'Rattan Lal did not learn anything last year.'

Master Tara Chand trembled. He felt the ground underneath his feet slipping. The Area Commander called them to his place and said: 'Your daughter has been located. She will be in your home tomorrow in the morning. It was tough time for us to find her. The boys don't belong to our group.'

Master Tara Chand wept rivers.

Rashid Dar consoled Master Tara Chand: 'Masterji, remember God. We will not spare them. That is my promise.'

The news of Mansi's kidnapping reached Jammu. Rumours spread there..... 'Mansi has run away with a militant..... Mansi embraced Islam..... Mansi lives in Kupwara now..... Mansi will be sent here as a spy.... militants in Kashmir will assign her a role...'

Master Tara Chand asked Rattan Lal to take Mansi to Jammu for a few days.

Rattan Lal said: 'Jammu?' Master Tara Chand said: 'There the Pandits will humiliate us. We are safe here in the hands of Rashid Dar.'

Master Tara Chand was in Ghani Darzi's shop. A person entered the shop, sat on the mat and started smoking the hookah.

Ghani Darzi said: 'We honour this Pandit Ji living here. Are there many Pandits in your village?' The stranger said: 'There is one Pandit family.

Two militant groups say that they have claim on the family. Gunmen come to that place, relish the meals there and send the Pandit and one militant to the roof of the house to keep watch. Muslims

living there leads the same kind of miserable lives.' Master Tara Chand was motionless. He recalled Rattan Lal and Mansi.

The stranger continued: 'Pandit Ji, I took my daughter Rukhsana to Jammu to protect her from the boys and the army. She stayed at a Pandit's house for two-and-a-half months. Then I married her off.'

The silent Master Tara Chand reached home. Prabhawati came out of the kitchen and said to him: will meet Fayaz Leone's mother."

Prabhawati walked through the orchard of the Razdans, the garden of the Kouls and passed by the house of Arandhati. She remembered how the militants had kidnapped Arandhati's husband and then killed him. Arandhati had herself dragged the dead body to her house. Neighbours had been indifferent and unhelpful. Police had come and sent Arandhati to Jammu. Her house was burnt down.

There was mirth in the house of Fayaz Lone. Rashid Dar was giving instructions to some boys. Prabhawati saw happiness on the face of FayazLone's mother and thought a thought: 'How is the life in camps?'

The mother of Fayaz Lone enquired about the welfare of Master Tara Chand and Mansi. Prabhawati felt herself uncomfortable. She stood up and murmured: 'I will come again." When she reached home she found her husband sleeping. He opened his eyes and trembled as if there was an explosion nearby. He looked out of the window towards the house of Fayaz Lone and saw the people celebrating the release.

'Taskina's words are ringing in my ears.

Will it be Pakistan on the coming Friday?'

Prabhawati stood in front of her husband. He said to her, 'Should I pay a visit to FayazLone's

house?' Prabhawati entered the kitchen, came out with almonds and cardamoms and said: 'Give them these things in presence of all. They will distribute

them among others." With a turban on his head and a walking cane in his hand, the spectacled Master Tara Chand reached Fayaz Leone's house. Fayaz Lone and others welcomed him. Rashid Dar was saying to the assembled Muslims: The release of Fayaz and eight other freedom fighters is our victory.' A young man shouted: 'Indian dogs, go back. Pakistan. Zindabad.

Master Tara Chand felt miserable and thought:

'I am the only Indian here." He handed over the almonds and cardamoms to Fayaz and embraced him. Rashid Dar addressed Master Tara Chand: 'Master ji, Fayaz was your student. Bless him."

Master Tara Chand said: 'Dar Sahib, Fayaz was a brave boy. knew that someday he would do a heroic deed. My blessings are on him.``

Fayaz Lone addressed the people: 'By staying here Master ji has disproved the falseness of the propaganda the fugitive Pandits have spread in India about our freedom movement. He is safe and comfortable here. The words 'safe' and 'comfortable' haunted

Master Tara Chand till he reached home. He said to his wife Prabhawati: 'They boast of having been my students. Shameful!'

Prabhawati replied: 'You were proud of them. That is why you decided not to go to Jammu."

'But I never taught them to kill, loot, kidnap and go to Pakistan. I did not make Rashid Dar the Area Commander. Do you remember how Fayaz Lone killed six CRPf jawans and Pandits Raghunath.... Ashok Kumar.... Bihari Lal and others?'

Prabhawati said: 'But he saved my Mansi.' Master Tara Chand replied: 'You don't know

that Rashid Dar was behind the kidnapping of Mansi last year.'

Prabhawati shivered and asked him: 'Who told you that?' 'Akram Dar....who has joined another militant outfit. He told me all this.'

The silence was broken by some sound coming from the courtyard. Their hearts beat fast. It was Rashid Dar saying: 'You devil, Tara Chand.

You are a cunning man. You are a snake in the grass. I shall see you tomorrow.' Master Tara Chand held Prabhawati in a tight embrace.

In the morning everyone in the village was surprised to see the door of Master Tara Chand's

house locked.

(Translated from the Hindi by Arvind Gigoo )

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Courtesy:- Agnishekhar and May 2016 Koshur Samachar