Chapter 5: Tempest

As the insurgency intensifies, the local government resigns, making way for governor's rule, which unleashes a wave of violence. This includes curfews, raids, crackdowns, and burning of markets and schools. The community witnesses its first martyrs, beginning with Shabeer Ahmad, who is shot by the army for refusing to remove a Pakistani flag. Shafiqa’s family becomes a central symbol of the neighborhood’s tragedy: her sons, Shaheen (called ‘Natipora’s Einstein’ for his academic brilliance) and Imran Bhat (nicknamed ‘Maradona’ for his football skills), are the first to cross the border into Pakistan, and her daughter Rukhsana is brutally beaten by soldiers. Amid this backdrop, Kashmiris unite under the call for ‘Azaadi’ (freedom), with massive processions of men, women, and children marching and chanting slogans of independence. The landscape itself changes, moving from the warmth of summer to the crisp autumn and cold, dark winter, symbolizing the descent into political turmoil.

Imran, now a young student, is caught between the realities of the external conflict and his personal intellectual curiosity. He despises rote learning, preferring to engage with concepts in his own way, especially in science. His constant questioning frustrates his teachers, and he is often punished for going beyond the textbook. This includes questioning why they don’t study the history of Kashmir itself, a subject absent from the curriculum. His father, Ab Jaan, encourages him to seek knowledge beyond the school’s limitations and promises to teach him from an old book, Kashmakash. At the same time, Imran is preparing for a test on Shakespeare’s The Tempest. He memorizes lines about the character Ferdinand's labors and love for Miranda while grappling with the political reality around him. His efforts to focus on his studies are frequently interrupted by the violence surrounding him.

One morning, while studying, Imran sees a group of young men crossing through the family orchard, carrying Kalashnikov rifles. Among them is Imran Bhat, Shafiqa's son, who has now become a local commander for the JKLF (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front). This moment is pivotal for Imran, who is both fascinated and terrified by the sight. He imagines himself as one of the militants, armed and marching, and struggles to return to his study of The Tempest, his thoughts now clouded by the sight of the insurgents. His father, noticing his distress, warns him to keep quiet about what he saw, reminding him of the dangerous consequences of speaking about the insurgents.

Despite the warnings, Imran becomes swept up in the growing resistance. One day, he sneaks out of his house to join the masses marching for freedom. He is exhilarated by the experience, imitating the slogans and gestures of the protesters. The chapter describes the collective fervor of the people, united in their demand for independence, waving green flags, and chanting slogans for Azaadi. Imran’s youthful innocence is on full display as he throws kisses to the crowd, trying to be a part of something larger than himself.

The ongoing conflict and insurgency bring a prolonged curfew, leaving families like Imran’s in a state of desperation. Supplies dwindle, and basic necessities become scarce. Ab Jaan, trying to provide for his family, sneaks food from his shop to keep them fed during the curfew. The community, struggling to survive, faces collective uncertainty, and even children adapt to the new normal by playing war games, imitating militants and soldiers.

In one of these war games, Imran hides in an abandoned house once owned by his Pandit neighbors, the Tickoos, who fled during the exodus. The house is in disarray, with signs of looting and decay everywhere. Imran discovers a satchel containing a math notebook, which symbolizes the lost potential and disrupted lives of those forced to leave their homes. The sight of this house is a stark reminder of the broader human cost of the conflict.