Kakaji , an Aeronautic Engineer,was counting days desperately during first October of our independence. In the last week he was entering into a wedlock leaving behind his bachelorhood for good Gullay the middle man who was know to make marriages in Kashmiri Pandit families traditional marriage brokers called manjeemyoor was made to labor hard to find a bride of Baithooth choice.
But Pandit ji of Srinagar was indifferent and his concern was to go on unmindful with the program not in haste but self reassures, Shaib ji who had married brides fathers sister many years back ,was supervising the marriage arrangements there His nephew was an activists and had fair knowledge of the situation and impeding dangers, as such though to ask his uncle to send women folk back home, Shaib ji did not agree in spite of the fact he was apprised that the raiders have reached as said near Shaltaing .
Day to solemnize the marriage arrived after long wait, departure of the Barat got struck , causing anxiety moments in the brides house ,Muharat was slipping away ,inquiry revealed that Tongavalla has not reported as assured was the cause of delay so bicycle was arranged by brides family and the Maharaaza was bicycled down from Rainawari to Safakadal and thus tied in nuptial in time Problem again struck as Kakaji was not knowing to paddle so how the bride will be carried on the same bicycle , another was arranged and Babali enjoyed her first cycle ride as marriage gift, thus bicycle made the marriage long lasting.
his father fondly called Bithtooth known for his sobriety was in a restless temper, a man in desperate hurry, ensuring nothing to leave the arrangements to a chance
Who was an ace middleman of his time had a long list of marriages arranged to his credit and discredit, Irony is that he died at an advanced age unmarried, none to shed tears Marriages were at its peak during the month, more or less every Kucha in the Srinagar, one house or the other of ours bore a festive look.
Monotony of silence of the unending dark nights would be disturbed with the singing of folk songs, by the women folk in rhythm with playing of hoombakhnaari, after hectic daily chores Chakaari gathering was all the more merrier Sounds of firing from the raiders guns , and the news of advancement with loot, rape, wanton brute destruction beyond imagination as was till date unheard off were din lost in merry making Muzaffarabad fell, which costs us many serving community elders, mostly from the Srinagar and its vicinity Gloominess was there for all to see in the affected families Baramullah fell too met same fate but this time brute ness was far and wide, widows , along with other escapees started trickling in the summer capital, so were the flees from Badgam in full view of every one, conscious did not stirred, nor gravity of the situation dawned on , despite the fact whole destruction was writ large everywhere.
After all we are smart and intelligent , since centuries as claimed Shaib ji, was confident that Rugah Partap Army , as was called of Maharajas forces, which numbered about 8 battalions of infantry half of which deserted, guarding border from Lakhanpur to Ladhak would take care.
