In the Riots

[This is completely a fictional story]

The era of the fuming rivalry had emerged out of nowhere. It was that time when the entire nation was drenched in the blood of the mankind due to the riots that took place between the Hindus and the Muslims in December, 1992.

20th December, 1992

Even the sky was falling low in the dusk but the rage in the people refused to get low. All that could be seen around was the red colour spilling out from bodies. All that could be heard was the dreadful screams of the people, regardless whether they were women or children. Red rivers everywhere.

I, Ali Ahmed sought refuge on the borders of Maharashtra along with my friend, Ajit. The only place, I didn‘t find any donnybrook between any Hindu and a Muslim was between us. Never did he leave my hand nor did I ever isolate him. Since childhood, we were divided by our mazhab but united by brotherhood. People tried to attack us too, who were just 15. Somehow, we tried to escape.

People were seeking those of the opposite caste to kill, as if a hungry beast looks for a prey. We were hidden behind a burnt up car where we saw 2 people running with swords, the rim edge of which was thin sharp.

The screams of the people faded off, at least for the moment and we took a sigh of relief. The night spent was full of fear.

21st December, 1992

The rising Sun gave a clear view of the aftermath of the armageddon the next day. Our eyes were so weary, felt as if tons of rocks were put on the little eyelashes. The silence in our ears was suddenly broken when we heard a mob making an appearance in the region. We saw them with their hands loaded with all possible hand-tools one can think of. From a dagger to an iron rod, from a hockey to a sword.

“Bhhaag Ajit!” I screamed with my voice fused with fear. We ran till our breath was heard till our ears. Grace of God it was in the moment when we found a bike nearby.

Midday heat it was, when we were riding on the machine, trying the goodness out of us to escape from the filthy cases of being killed in the riots. We drove almost from an hour and we were in the suburbs and we saw the indicator pointing towards ‘E’. The fuel was to get over at anytime. I rode the bike with great speed.

We were enjoying the safe ride until a turn came where I lost balance and we both tumbled in the farm on the sideways of the road. I and Ajit laid there like half-dead. I rose up, dusted myself and lifted up Ajit and to my surprise, what I see near me is a loaded AK-56 just nearby us. Ajit gave me that let-us-have-it look to me. I grabbed that AK-56 hoping it to provide us some sort of safety.
We trod along the way.

24th December, 1992

It was after that discovery of AK-56 that we were feeling much safe. Somehow, we passed a day bit normally, without witnessing any dispute and we hoped the same for the day. But fate had some other plans.

We saw a group of people, still had their blood hot due to the riots and were approaching towards us with rage in their eyes. We had no route to escape. One of them asked us furiously, “Hey, what are your names?” I looked at Ajit in hesitation. I pretended to be dumb and gestured that Ajit was deaf. Ajit was able to recognize my trick. But who knew that those people didn’t give a damn. I saw one of them raising their weapons, giving that I-don’t-care look to us. I, within no time pulled out an AK-56 and shot him right in his trunk. The others tried to stamp us but I turned the weapon towards them and shot several rounds in the entire group. All of them were slept to death.

Ajit looked at me in shock. “What have you done, Ahmed?” he said, accusing me of the murders.

“I was protecting both of us. I don’t want to die by the hands of such narrow-minded creatures”, I replied.

We moved on. We faced days of severe inhumanity that was spread all through the nation.

28th December, 1992

Days passed since the ignition of the wrath of the two divisions of religion. We were sitting under the shade of tree where I saw a fruit falling from the tree. It was too hard, having a green colour. Ajit saw it in my hand and without a word; he held my hand and started running.

Suddenly that fruit exploded and BOOM! I and Ajit were thrown off because of the immense heat and our clothes were into pieces with our back black. We laid there unconscious for hours and when my eyes opened. I saw a man staring at us.

He introduced himself as Dhiraj Shah and was the owner of the house. As soon as my eyes opened, my eyes burst into tears when I saw Ajit in deep sleep, not willing to wake up. “Ajit, wake up!” I cried out. But he did not want to suffer any more. Tears in my eyes and anger in my mind.

“What a filthy mentality these people have who fight in the name of religion! Why do they do so? Why don’t they understand that we have divided God in the name of religion?” All my frustration was out in a moment.

Dhiraj watched me in despair and offered me some water. He consoled me, “Son, not all understand like we do. Not all have the heart like we do. Peaceful will be the day when these people realize that God is one and we all are a family. Until then, we will be living life on a thin line between the two religions. And vengeance will be called again if the line breaks.”

I saw Ajit lying, free from all his problems and despairs. It was me and Dhiraj who had to face the bitter reality of living in that fiery hell.

I took shelter I Dhiraj’s house. He was shocked to see an AK-56 in my hands. I explained to him everything- how we escaped from the hands which had killed numerous innocent people.

31st December, 1992

The night seemed quite and the sky was studded with the jewels of the stars with a big, white bead- the moon.

Hardly had I recovered from the grief of Ajit’s loss when I heard a knock on the door. I opened the door and there, I saw what I wished I never would see! Those radicals were at the doorsteps.

Dhiraj was standing right beside me. I could not recognize if they were the Hindus or the Muslims. When Dhiraj explained to me how we were in need and introduced us to them, the man with anger in his eyes hit a hard stroke with his sword across my body. I collapsed! Death was just a few seconds away. I could not utter even a word due to immense pain. Blood on my body and I fell down on the ground. All I could do was watch Dhiraj helplessly with my eyes flickering. Dhiraj fought with them but those radicals, blind in the wrong beliefs of religion stabbed Dhiraj’s back with a dagger. Five strokes in his body gave him a very dreadful death. I smiled at those radicals and spoke my last words in broken voice, “You all do not have to correct knowledge of God. We all kill each other in the name of religion. Imagine your kids divide themselves in categories and then later fight, and kill each other. How will you feel when your own kids kill each other on your name?  Now imagine how God might feel. I am a Muslim. See, my blood is red. Dhiraj was a Hindu. See, his blood is red. He had a heart. I have a heart. Can you tell me one major difference between the religions? When you were born, did you know you will be born in this particular religion?

If God really wanted us to belong to a particular religion, He would have given a distinct identity to every person of every religion when he was born. But all are born the same. God doesn’t want any discrimination. God has no religion except one- religion of love.

But I feel sorry for you guys. You won’t ever understand how beautiful God and His creations are. You won’t ever be able to see his beauty. Because you have your eyes covered with the blind faith and superstition. Get well soon guys. Get well soon!”

The world was celebrating the New Year. We celebrated the beginning of a peaceful era, free from all the discrimination and pain of the world!