“Have you told your parents?” Rafiq asked.
“Have you lost your mind? They will never approve of it.” Abdul said sternly.
“So when do we ‘declare’ that we have picked up weapons?”
“Are you looking for glamour?” Abdul asked.
“Well….not really...but at least one photo on the whatsapp...with a weapon….just an acknowledgement of our resolve.” Rafiq suggested softly.
“No… that is an old style….why to become a target? We will keep doing our job and on an opportune moment, we will get our recognition. Our families should not suspect our activities. This is what Peer Bhai has ordered.” Abdul explained.
Rafiq’s exuberance rested. He was in profound awe of Peer Bhai who had recruited him and Abdul a month back. In his hideout up in the jungles, he had trained them to handle AK 47, pistol and grenade. Peer Bhai had been active for three years and had lobbed a number of grenades on the security forces but in the process had killed and injured scores of innocent people. The radar of terror mentors across the borders had homed on Rafiq and Abdul on the social media due to their radical posts. Peer Bhai had then received orders to recruit both of them. He further radicalized the duo and employed them to deliver weapons, ammunition and grenades to various locations, extort money from businessmen and threaten political workers. It gave these young boys a ‘kick’ of lifetime. Then one day, both were told to reach an abandoned warehouse on the highway in the evening with their pistols.
Rafiq and Abdul told their families that they were going to Srinagar a the ‘night out’ with friends.
After they reached the warehouse, Peer Bhai explained the plan –“We will wait for the convoy of security forces to come on the highway in the morning and throw grenades inside one vehicle each. We will then fire on the protection party close to the warehouse and escape in different directions. I have reconnoitered the area and you will closely follow my orders.” He then indicated the important locations on ground from the terrace of the warehouse.
They cooked some rice in the large room of the abandoned warehouse with firewood and waited for the morning. While Peer Bhai 'appeared' to be sleeping, Rafiq and Abdul twisted and turned...the gunny bags were in any case not an ideal bed…
During the night, they heard an announcement by security forces to surrender…..Peer Bhai came into immediate action while the duo was shocked.
“This is the time of reckoning...prove yourself….we will fire on the forces and escape in different directions….we have seven grenades...we will fire these and create space to get out...but we will wait for the dawn…that will be the best time.” Peer Bhai explained. The appeals for surrender continued through the night.
At the crack of dawn, Peer Bhai took the lead and threw the first grenade out of the window towards the forces….Rafiq and Abdul quickly followed….the blasts shook the whole area. All three of them then started to fire from different windows.
This was the stage where Rafiq and Abdul discovered the difference between real firing and a ‘video game’. Their bodies were shaking and their hands wobbled incessantly.
Then there was lull in the firing and another announcement to surrender. At this stage, Rafiq kept his pistol on ground and started to move out of the door with raised hands…like a zombie. He must have walked only a few steps that Peer Bhai fired at him….and shouted….
“You will not surrender you fool...come back..”
Rafiq dashed on the ground to save himself….he then started to crawl back…crying…. “I do not want to die...”
“That you should have thought earlier...” Peer Bhai shouted.
Once Rafiq was back, he came close to both of them, caught them with their necks and hissed - “Do or die boys..….the hoors in the heaven are waiting for you...” He said while laughing hysterically….
God knows if they went to heaven or not...but their family members surely lived in hell thereon.
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