Page 72 - BEATS: Secondary School Edition 2020-21

THE SEPARATION

a short story by Varchasva Sharma, MYP 5

oday, Jammu Tawi Railway Station had only two The windows shook as loud sirens filled the night
railway officials, Ayaan being the only passenger with fear. Bottles of Molotovs were thrown in buildings
Tthere. It was noon, and his train to Pulwama was while people ran from their beloved homes. More than
not due until 4 p.m.. As it was a long wait, Ayaan was a million Kashmiri Pundits had become refugees in
about to take a nap, when suddenly a well-built man their own country. Ahmeds, although Muslims were
in his late 20s approached and asked Ayaan to make mistaken to be Pundits as they lived in a Kashmiri
space on the bench so that he could also sit there. Pandit dominated neighbourhood.
Ayaan made room and asked him, “Where are you
travelling to, young man?” “I am Hasan Ahmed and I During the night of the incident, a young couple
am travelling to Dehradun via Delhi for my paramilitary with two children struggled to get their things as the
services, my train is at 5 p.m.,” he answered. “Strange, rest of the families fled the neighbourhood. “Salim,
we have the same surname. I am Ayaan Ahmed, and I gather the children,” said Inayat running towards the
am going to Pulwama via the train at 4 p.m.,” replied living room.
Ayaan.
Meanwhile, Salim took young Ayaan by his hand
Nobody could love Ayaan as much as his mother and held him tightly while Inayat gently picked up the
Inayat did. She died of brain cancer six months ago. He baby from the cradle and ran towards the door. While
would tell her the stories of his bravery while he served approaching their car, an angry mob showed up with
in the Indian Army. She was Ayaan’s everything but sticks and metal rods.
then sadly cancer took her away. Throughout Ayaan’s
childhood, his mother would be both his father and Salim quickly started the car and roared it across
mother. Ayaan’s father and brother were presumably the Kashmiri land, outsmarting the rioters. “Ayaan put
dead according to his mother. Their death was a direct on your seat belt!” Shouted Ayaan’s mother. Ayaan
result of a single night during the 1990s, when the quickly pulled the belt and attached it to the latch
Kashmiri Pandits were massacred. Ayaan had always on the other side of his seat. Salim endlessly drove
wondered what exactly had happened to the other along the deserted road until he reached the city of
part of his family, but his questions went unanswered. Srinagar. “Are you sure we will make it alive, Salim?”
So, what had happened on that fateful night? asked Ayaan’s mother, tearing up. “We will.” Said Salim
in a low and quivering tone.
A baby was born in the Ahmed family, a moment
which should have been celebrated, but sadly a Salim quickly got out of the car and ran towards the
horrifying incident would take place, which would cut street to his friend’s house. Salim furiously pounded
their happiness short. on the door, but to no avail. Soon the mob who had

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