SEPARATISTS DO NOT WANT PEACE
Dr Atif was perplexed by the body language of these gentlemen. He took control of himself and said-
“Haji sahib, the surgery is on……it is fifty-fifty I would say….”
“Thank you Doctor sahib.” Haji sahib said. He then turned towards his assistant and whispered – “I wish the bullet had hit him a few inches above…. and things would have been easy.”
Haji sahib did not intend to be heard by anyone but his assistant…..but Dr Atif overheard the comment and shook his head in disbelief. It was for the first time in his long medical career that he had seen a case where people wanted a patient to die.
As Dr Atif was sitting in his office when he had another visitor; this time a uniformed man….
“Sir….how is the boy who was shot….?” The man asked.
“Why……..you too want him to die?” An infuriated Dr Atif responded. He then got busy checking reports on his desk…..indicating that he did not want to continue the conversation. But then….he had to look up as he heard the man sobbing. Dr Atif’s heart melted.
“Sit down please…” He said while offering a glass of water to the man. “Is he related to you..?” Dr Atif enquired.
“No Dr Sahib…” The man started to sob again….and then said… “It was a bullet from my weapon that hit him……I do not want him to die……or I will not be able to live with the guilt……it happened so fast”
Dr Atif’s eyes widened. Today was indeed a day of surprises for him. He tried to pacify the man and asked –
“What actually happened…?”
“Dr Sahib….the crowd was instigated by Haji Sahib and his team. It started with minor stone pelting….but became more violent as Haji Sahib and his associates started shouting inciting slogans. The situation went out of control…..the crowd attacked the security personnel…..several of whom were badly injured due to large scale stone pelting. Warnings were announced on megaphones but people were getting more violent every minute. We fired warning shots in the air but to no effect. Then a police vehicle was set on fire by the mob. The mob also started to damage the shops. The mob swelled to strength of more than a thousand. Some mobsters then tried to snatch weapons from policemen. At that stage, we had to open fire. As per instructions, we aimed below the knees…….but somehow; this boy got shot in the stomach. We carried him to our vehicle and brought him here.”
Dr Atif noticed blood stains on the man’s uniform who was still in tears.
“Don’t worry…..our team is doing its best…” Dr Atif said tenderly. He got up and touched the man’s shoulder and said. “You can wait here….I will give you an update.”
Dr Atif took a deep breath and came out of his office. He spotted Haji Sahib and his assistant talking to a nurse.
“Haji Sahib … let us do our job!! Please go to the waiting room.”
Haji Sahib glanced angrily at Dr Atif and left.
“What was he asking sister?” Dr Atif asked.
“He was asking as to what were the chances of the boy surviving.” The nurse replied.
In Dr Atif’s room the man in uniform was still sobbing ….sometimes biting his nails and sometimes folding his hands in prayer.
In the waiting room, Haji sahib was dictating ‘things to do’ to his assistant. He had planned to make full use of the ‘impending death’……more stone pelting…..more violence…..biting social media criticism….international hue and cry, etc.
In the operation room, the boy struggled with his life….hanging between prayers and ill feelings.
After two hours, Dr Atif sprinted towards his office…
“The boy is out of danger.” He informed the uniformed man. The man now started to cry uncontrollably. Dr Atif too could not control himself and tears rolled down his cheeks as he hugged the crying man.
Dr Atif then went to the waiting room to get the vicarious pleasure of breaking the ‘good news’ to Haji Sahib. Haji Sahib’s face went blank but the motions of his grinding teeth; visible on his jaws, gave out his true feelings. He gave a repulsive look at Dr Atif and left.
For the likes of Haji Sahib, such incidents are a window of opportunity……a chance to stoke the fire of hatred. They have no love for their Kashmiri brethren. The boy in the operation room and many such boys are just a pawn in their big dirty game of separatism. Haji Sahib wanted the boy to die……and he would love if a number of boys were killed in this manner. The aim to instigate people by the likes of Haji Sahib is to create serious law and order problems and force law enforcement agencies to open fire.
“Sorry Maulana Sahib…the boy survived……..no…no……next time we will ensure causalities….Allah Hafiz.” Haji Sahib then disconnected the international call and sat in his swanky car, cursing the doctors.
