Erica, Jheel , Kabir and Ayra nodded their head in agreement to Nani Amma's statement . Four of them felt thankful to the lord for keeping them and their families safe .
Everyone slept peacefully after dining . Next day as the sun shimmered pleasantly , Ayra insisted her Uncle Humza to take them to their Mustard field .
Kabir, Jheel , Erica and Ayra went to the farm. Since it is mid January the mustards plants are at spring with beautiful canary yellow flowers sparkling against the contrast of it's forest green leaves .
"Wow this is beautiful" exclaimed Erica . Jheel and Ayra too loved the aesthetical beauty of the mustard field . Kabir said," Humza Mamu(word for maternal uncle) this Tractor is amazing! Will you make us take a ride on it".
Humza replied, " Yes Kabir I will take you all on a ride ". All the four friends sat on the tractor .
As the tractor took rounds about the circumference of the field Kabir exclaimed ," While Sitting on this Tractor I feel like a King".
The mustard essence mixed with the scent of wet soil made the whole experience surreal. Four teens enjoyed their time.
In lunch Makke ki roti (Corn flour flatbread) and Sarso ka saag( Mustard Greens Curry) was prepared by Husna .
"Aunty this food is so delicious !" exclaimed together Erica and Kabir .
Jheel beamed ," Aaho(Yes) Makke ki roti is Punjab's speciality . After relishing the lunch ,the 4 buddies sat next to Nani Amma to hear her story . Amma got happy to see that the young generation was taking interest in history .
"We will stay here for a while since our pindh(Village) is now a ghost town . We will only go back when it will be suitable for us to return back to
Fazilka" Rashid said to Roshan .
Days passed the riots flared up and they reached to Fazalpur . Amir and Rashid was tense for Azra, Roshan and Saira's security .
Roshan was making food when all of sudden Rashid and Amir closed all the doors of the house . Roshan shivered sensing some danger . Saira too looked afraid and she hid behind Roshan .
Roshan looked through the window of her room and she saw 30- 40 rioters were burning each house one by one .
"Roshan take Ammi( word for Mother ,Here it is referred to Azra) and Saira to the roof along with you". exclaimed Rashid .
"Ammi (Azra) and Abba (Amir) will take Saira along with them , I will stay with you Rashid!" wailed Roshan .
There was no time to argue so Rashid sent Saira with Azra and Amir .
Rashid and Roshan hid themselves in the hay stack kept in the storeroom . The rioters burnt the house and went away .
The smoke filled the interiors of the house . Rashid picked up Roshan who had fainted due to the smoke .
Rashid and Roshan escaped the burning house . Rashid some how managed to jump on their neighbour Gurmeet's house roof .
Then Rashid came to the courtyard of that house through the roof's ladder that was descending into the courtyard .
Gurmeet's family was acquaintance to Amir's family . Hence they protected Amir's family from paws of rioters .
Roshan felt severe pain in her abdomen . Gurmeet's farm too got burned with Amir's farm henceforth there was no grain or anything left in the kitchen to eat .
Everyone was hungry , Saira got high fever . Roshan was suffering from severe stomach ache . She knew her unborn was in some danger but Roshan was helpless as they could not step out to seek medical help risking their lives .
After 2 days Roshan's pain became unbearable so , Rashid took a great risk by visiting the local midwife Geet who lived nearby .
Geet informed Roshan that her baby had died in the womb . Roshan and Rashid came back home heart broken . The attack of rioters , the hunger , the cruel turn of destiny took away an innocent unborn baby .
Roshan got drowned in despair . Rashid too felt miserable . Within a few days their new hope to live ,their unborn baby had died .
Everything felt upside down in Roshan's life . Finally an army truck came with food and other necessity to help the survivors of riots in Fazalpur .
"India will be freed on 15 August 1947" announced Lord Louis Mountbatten , the last viceroy of British India .
There was pain and agony in the air when India got the news of it's freedom from slacks of oppression .
"During the whole time until the independence all the women including me kept small packets of poison with them so that they could die instead of losing their dignity to the monsters" reminisced Roshan while narrating her tale of loss and survival.
Kabir's phone rang bringing everyone back to the present time .
"What! Should I return Maa! You don't need to worry , everything will be fine " Kabir exclaimed with worry lacing his voice .
"What happened KB!" Jheel , Erica and Ayra spoke out at the same time .
"Heart Attack!" Kabir replied .
Erica shrieked,"What my Dad got a heart attack , He must be so stressed right now that is why the attack occurred !".
"No not your Dad Erica" Kabir replied.
"Papaji(word for father) !My Papaji got the attack .He eats so many calories, the cholesterol must have caused the attack! " now panicked Jheel .
Kabir blurted out,"No, it's my papa who got the attack. He is in ICU(Intensive Care Unit).
Ayra said,"KB your dad is a fighter, He will be okay ".
Kabir nodded his head and without saying a word he went towards the roof of haveli . Ayra followed him silently . Kabir sat on the terrace floor with his hair clutched in the grip of his own hands . Kabir was shaken by the news of his father's heart attack .
YOU ARE READING
Identity Crisis ✔
Historical Fiction#1 in #Secularism (as on 25 January 2021) Name, Religion , caste , nationality , colour or race what defines the identity of a person? Ayra, Kabir , Erica and Jheel are four buddies who are inseparable since childhood . They are more like a f...
