Part II Roots

My roots were placed in a remote village (Pulwama) of Kashmir erstwhile J&K, life was slow paced but happy and content with small aspirations and even smaller materialism hearts were brimming with happiness and gratitude.
Snow capped mountains lushness of greens complimented with strips of saffron beds was the canvas of this village

We were twins born to M.K Koul
So my Dadi names us Suraj And Prakash
sort of epithet for us to remain inseparable and so we were –
wearing same clothes going to same classes doing same things all the times
and even liking same girl
We both loved cricket and were damn good batsmen We breathed fresh and ate fresh.
Life looked like a dream carved on snow slopes.
And then came January 19 1990 the doomsday when valley reverberated with war cries,the pandits could see the writing on the wall ,vicious jehadi sermons blood curdling shouts and shrieks forced mass exodus.Communal hatred was flowing in veins of the city
We too left our home