THE LAST JOURNEY
The municipal clock struck four. It was four o’clock; Ramesh got up in a hurry and sat down. He went to go the toilet etc. When Ramesh returned, he saw that Anwar was still sleeping.
Ramesh shook Anwar and said, 'Get up quickly Anwar, it's four o'clock. If the five o'clock bus to Baramulla leaves, it will be difficult to reach the village before sunset.
Anwar lay down lazily for some time, and then got up yawning. He was still drowsy.
Anwar went to do his daily chores. Ramesh started getting ready to go home.
Ramesh and Anwar are childhood friends. Both are residents of the Baramulla district. Both their villages are nearby. It was with the help of Anwar that Ramesh got a job in a textile mill here in Delhi. It had been only six months since he got the job and since then he has been staying in Anwar's room.
Ramesh was going home for the first time after getting the job.
His father had died when he was a child. Therefore, the responsibility of running the household fell on his shoulders at a very young age. The condition of Ramesh's house was not very good. He was the only breadwinner in the family. Now after getting a decent job, the living conditions had become comfortable.
Ramesh's family consists of an old mother, a young sister, a wife, and two children. Despite poverty, they have affection for each other. Ramesh worries about his sister's marriage 24 hours a day.
Ramesh had been away from home for such a long time for the first time in his life. Sometimes he would miss his children a lot. He would wish that he could leave everything and run home, but then how would things work out - thinking this stopped him.
Going home meant spending two thousand rupees on bus fare. If he spends two thousand rupees on traveling in a job of fourteen thousand rupees, how would he manage the rest of the household expenses? This was a problem that Ramesh did not have a solution for. Every month some or other compulsion arose and Ramesh could not go home. The day before yesterday a letter from his wife Sheela had come. Tomorrow was his elder son Deepu's birthday. That is why she called everyone at home. Ramesh was taking Anwar along with him in this connection.
Ramesh opened his briefcase to see if he had left anything behind. Mother's eyeglasses, Sarla's salwar suit, Sheela's saree, and children's clothes and toys were kept properly. He closed the briefcase, he was satisfied. Both of them closed the room and headed towards the station.
The bus to Baramulla was standing ready. Ramesh and Anwar bought tickets and sat on the bus. The bus started moving.
Ramesh took the newspaper from a passenger sitting next to him and started reading. His eyes were fixed on a headline in the newspaper. It was written in bold letters- 'Twenty people killed by terrorists in Kashmir.' Don't know when this series of murders will stop.' Ramesh said while handing over the newspaper to Anwar.
Anwar read the entire news in one breath and then he said, 'Those who shed the blood of unarmed innocent and helpless people cannot be the followers of any religion. They are the enemies of the country. These people are playing a dirty game of weakening the country on the instructions of foreigners.'
'You are right Anwar, these handful of crazy people have swallowed the happiness and peace of our country.'
'Hmm!' Anwar replied briefly. He started reading other news in the newspaper.
Ramesh got lost in his thoughts on seeing Anwar reading the newspaper. He started missing home. He wished he had wings and he could fly and reach home quickly. To pass the time, he took out his wife's letter and started reading it. It was written-
Dear Soulmate,
I always pray to God for your health and long life. You have completely forgotten us after going there. Deepu and Bablu remember you day and night and keep bothering me by asking all kinds of questions.
Last night I had a very horrible dream, and since then my heart has been very restless. I want to come to you right now. But I am a woman, so I cannot do this. Deepu's birthday is in three days. I request you to come on that day. My eyes will be fixed on the door.
Waiting for you
Your Sheela
After reading the letter, Ramesh kept it in his pocket. He started thinking about Sheela. Sheela has such a good nature. Ever since Sheela came to his house as his wife, despite the scarcity, Sheela has filled the house with happiness. Ramesh was still lost in thoughts when suddenly the bus stopped. Before anyone could understand anything, five-six masked young men carrying rifles boarded the bus. The faces of the passengers sitting on the bus had turned pale with fear.
The terrorists started getting down the people of one community. Opposing the terrorists was like inviting death. Therefore, all the passengers on the bus were scared.
When the terrorists tried to catch Ramesh, Anwar shouted- 'No, don't catch my friend. What harm has he done to you?'
'Be quiet. Why are you hell-bent on giving up your life?' One terrorist said staring at Anwar.
The terrorists got down fourteen people including Ramesh from the bus at gunpoint. These included women and children as well. There was a strange panic everywhere. Due to fear, no one was able to speak.
A passenger cried and pleaded, 'What enmity do we have with you? We are innocent, please don't kill us.'
However, these arguments did not affect the terrorists. The terrorists were in a frenzy and did not understand the language of mercy and justice. They had aimed their rifles.
Anwar got down from the bus as fast as lightning and stood in front of Ramesh. He roared, 'First kill me, then kill my friend.' This did not affect the terrorists. The rifles roared and fifteen lives were reduced to corpses.
The bullet does not differentiate between Hindus and Muslims, so along with Ramesh, Anwar's body also fell on the ground.
The terrorists were happy with their success and went away laughing. There were corpses scattered on the ground. The rest of the passengers of the bus were standing like statues. The mutilated body of Ramesh, who was dreaming of going home a moment ago, was lying on the ground. The pain of not being able to reach home was visible on his face. His eyes were probably still searching for his wife and children.
The blood flowing from Anwar's corpse was mixed with the blood flowing from Ramesh's corpse. The colour of the blood flowing from both was the same. There was no difference between the two.
