Chapter 3: Snow

This chapter captures the stark contrast between Imran's innocent childhood in the snowy winters of Kashmir and the creeping presence of political unrest in the valley. The narrative begins with warm scenes of family life, as Imran, Haleema, and Ab Jaan spend cold winter evenings in the kitchen under the dim glow of a kerosene lantern. Imran eagerly listens to stories from his English Reader, narrated by Ab Jaan, while Haleema sits by the spinning wheel. The stories of Kasim, Ali, Red Riding Hood, and Robin Hood fascinate Imran and reflect his youthful curiosity. At the same time, Imran indulges in childlike habits, such as playing with odd objects in his pocket and mischievously putting a hot stoker in his grandfather's kaanger. The warmth of family life is disrupted when news arrives that the longstanding political tensions in Kashmir have escalated into violent conflict. Ab Jaan returns home one night with a report of a gun battle, signaling the start of a war. The atmosphere becomes tense as the family listens to BBC Urdu on a transistor, learning about young boys crossing into Pakistan for arms, as well as the larger conflict that now encroaches on their lives.

Imran’s childhood innocence is further shaken when he witnesses soldiers building bunkers near a local shrine, an unfamiliar sight in the valley. The military presence becomes more direct when troops approach the family’s home during a heavy snowfall, asking to borrow a shovel to build a bunker near their house. This incursion angers Ab Jaan, who protests against the soldiers, fearing for the safety and privacy of the women in the neighborhood. When Ab Jaan is physically assaulted by a soldier, Imran, in a burst of fierce protectiveness, attacks the soldier, creating a tense altercation that only ends when the local Imam intervenes.

The chapter vividly depicts the deepening conflict in Kashmir, symbolized by the cold, harsh winter and the presence of soldiers building bunkers. The peaceful, snowcovered world outside the Joo family’s home is juxtaposed with the violence and fear that intrudes upon their lives. Imran, still a child, faces the stark reality of war as he witnesses the humiliation of his beloved grandfather, an event that fills him with anger and confusion. The chapter ends with the family sitting in silence, their world forever altered by the political turmoil that has now entered their home.