"You've returned to the village after 2 years, Shekhar." "I can't keep myself from telling you about what have happened here." " Can't you just shut up?" " But listen to me..." "You know Godu, the wrestler...?" "He looks like a regular bull." " He used to be all brawns earlier..." " Are you crazy?" "And the sweetmeat vendor's wife has eloped with a neighbor!" " They met at the movies..." " l could slap you for that!" "The washerman's wife has delivered a baby-girl again; their sixth one." "But he's still as virile as ever!" "You can never say." "We had a good monsoon last year." "Our crops were saved, but otherwise..." "You swore never to step in this house and went away to Bombay." "But you have come back." " l could leave this instant." " Sit down." " You still have a temper." " l've got that trait from you." "I mean..." "I've inherited that aspect from you." "Have you at least been studying well all those miles away from home?" "He has passed with a First Class." "So you've passed, all right." "What do you intend to do now?" "What do you intend to do after your education?" "He has found a job in Bombay." "He will work, and pursue studies in journalism." "You hear that, don't you?" "What's that "ism" you're going to study?" "Whatever it be, you will need money for the fees." "Who will pay that?" "Money doesn't grow on trees." "I've got a job as a proof-reader." "I will use my salary for my studies." "Which means you don't need your old man's help, isn't it?" "You want to stay in Bombay and never return here!" "Isn't it?" "You don't plan to marry a girl from Bombay, do you?" " That will never be." " Good." "We are a widely respected and cultured family." "I won't tolerate it, if you bring home a bride from another community." "Better remember that." "And go ahead and eat now." "Have I come home only to escort you to weddings and functions?" " ls it that much of a bother?" " Welcome, dear..." "This is Narayan Mishra's son." "Didn't Dad say that a sister is a brother's responsibility?" "What can he do, except talk?" " Hasn't your father come?" " He's away in town." "Remember me, Shekhar?" "I used to teach you Hindi?" "Why, of course!" "DrGDrGDrGDrG" "This isn't right, Shekhar..." "Listen to me!" "They won't spare you, if you go ogling around in their locality." " But we're just standing here." " Exactly!" "And that's wrong!" "Here comes Chitti Miyan!" " Hold on..." " Why are you guys standing here?" " Greeting, sir." " Greetings." "He went away." "But they'd behead us, if they knew we're here for a girl!" " Let them do it." " Why must I lose my head for you?" "There she comes!" "We've had it!" "We will now have to face the Village Council!" " Which one of them is her?" " How would I know?" "There's still time!" "Let's scram!" " Could you recognize her?" " No." "And you still take all the trouble?" "!" "Let's get out of here!" "A veil has flown off the face of one of those women, Shekhar!" " The red bag!" " What?" "!" " He's trying to woo you." " Shut up." "Don't pretend. I know everything." "What's your name?" "Why are you standing by the door?" " There's so much to do, Shaila." " l'll join you in a moment." "Well, lady?" "Are you crazy?" "You're mad!" "My father will never sign this progress report." "I won't be coming to school from tomorrow." " Give me your bag." "And take mine." " What for?" "Don't argue." "Just do it!" "Why did you give me your bag?" " Listen...!" " Who's that?" "It's you... with the red bag!" "Now I know why!" "Here he is!" "One moment, please..." "I don't know how to tell you what I feel." "But I'll tell you, for sure." "Hey!" "Don't cry..." "why are you crying?" "!" "I've said nothing to you!" "Who are you?" "This red bag!" "I thought it was her..." "Come in." "I want the Chemistry notes." "Wait a minute." "Laxmi has gone inside." "Here you are, Bano." "Don't forget to bring it to class tomorrow..." "They'll cut off your hand if you're caught, Shekhar!" "Why are you getting into trouble?" "I'll find you a nice girl!" " You can marry her yourself." " l'm not talking about myself!" "I beg of you, Shekhar..." "Please don't!" "Zeenat?" "Hurry up!" " ls that Zeenat?" " Who else?" "It's her of course." "Look at her swaying her hips!" "Watch your step!" "The earth might split!" "Why say that?" "She's not the only one in town, is she?" "Careful..." "I hope the boat doesn't sink." "This is the limit!" "Zeenat is not so bad." "Didn't you say you wouldn't be coming today?" "Has your father signed the report?" "Why aren't you carrying your bag?" "How will you study without the books?" "What's up, Bano?" "Have you seen a snake?" " Hold her firmly, Zeenat." " lt's okay..." " Hold her, I say." " Yes." "Or she'll fall in the water." "Go ahead... hold her!" "I could give up everything for you." "Could you do that for me?" "I could die for you." "I'll wait for you at the old fort." "Do come over, if you love me." " l've brought the kerosene, mom." " You're late." "There was a big queue at the provision store." "Look at the winds..." "I think it's going to rain." "Help me with the stuff we're drying in the courtyard, Bano." "Zeenat's looking for you, Bano." "DrGDrGDrGDrG" "My name is Shekhar." "I'm Mr. Mishra's youngest son." "I know that." "Please sit down." "Ask someone to fetch some tea, Shamim." "It's okay." "Don't bother." "How can that be, son?" "You've come visiting us." "I work for a newspaper in Bombay." "I'm also doing a course in journalism." "I'm a small-town man. I wouldn't know of all those things." "I..." "Your daughter Shaila Bano and I want to get married." "Get out!" "D'you realize whom you are talking to, you swine?" "!" "I've just said my prayers!" "Or I'd have hacked you to pieces right now!" "Do you hear him?" "He's asking for our daughter's hand in marriage!" "I haven't come to ask for it..." "We just wanted to inform our elders." " Father!" " Leave me alone!" " Father...!" " Go inside!" "Provoke me anymore and you will be a bundle of pieces!" "How dare you?" "!" "Who are you?" "And who are we?" "Even our blood is different!" "They can never be one!" "Show me your hand." "We will certainly be one!" " Where's the young master?" " He's inside." "How did you suffer this injury on your palm?" "It's nothing." "Just bandage it." "Shivram of Palanpur has asked for Shekhar's horoscope to match it with that of his daughter's." "Just tell him that." "Hear that?" "It's Shivram's daughter for you." " Why isn't he speaking up?" " Tell them we're not interested." "Your father's coming in." "For how long will you live on the food of restaurants in Bombay?" "Tell him that they're a good family and the girl is nice, too." "She'll soon be a graduate." "Ask him to go and take a look at her." "I don't want to." " Why not?" " l know when and how I'll marry." "This is a new one..." "but what is it all about?" " l've found the girl I wanted." " l see." "Wonderful... but where is she?" "In Bombay?" "Does she belong to another community?" "This is precisely why I didn't want him to go to Bombay!" "She's from our village." "Really?" "Who is she?" "Tell me who she is!" " You'll kick up a fuss, if I..." " Tell me who she is!" "It's Shaila Bano." "Bashir Ahmed's daughter." "is it Bashir... who owns the brick-kiln?" "Hari... where are you, son?" " What is it, dad?" " Let's go." "Call Bashir... tell him Narayan Mishra is here to see him." "There will be bloodshed if your daughter meets my son again, Bashir!" "I'm a poor man, but I have my self-respect, mind you!" "If anyone plays foul, both our families will be wiped out!" "You thought you can ensnare a rich and educated man, did you?" "Who wants your wealth or him?" " l'm satisfied with my respect..." " Am I not respected then?" " Don't put words in my mouth." " You can't handle your girl and you dare back-answer me!" "I send the girl to school and you guys follow her like hungry dogs!" " Whom did you call a dog?" " You're lucky I let your son walk away without a scratch!" "I'll see who harms whom!" "Give me that sickle..." "I'll hack this guy today!" "If you guys start a riot, the matter will go the Village Council and both families will have to leave the village!" "Let's see how anyone throws us out of the village!" "Give us the nod, sir!" "We'll chop these guys to pieces!" "Try touching us, if you dare!" "And see what I'll do to you!" "Stop it!" "What are you guys doing?" "!" "Stop it, I say!" "Stop it, I say!" "What are you up to?" "This is between the two of us!" "And why are you crying murder?" "Go away!" "Please go away." "This isn't right, Bashir..." "It's simply not done!" "Don't do this to me." "Are you satisfied now?" "My respect has been brought to dust!" "Are you happy?" " What's wrong, father?" " What could be worse?" "Has there been a day when we have not visited the temple?" "Tell me." "I have been a trustee of the temple for 20 years." "The management dare not take a decision without consulting me." "That's the kind of respect I command." "It's our house the deity is brought to first, during any festival." "But how and why will the deity be brought here anymore?" "My son falls in love with a Muslim girl and her father goes around threatening to slaughter us!" "What the hell is all this?" "I give up!" "I surrender to the educated young man!" "Shaila Bano is a good girl." "She studies in the same school..." "Shut up!" "If he marries her, who will accept you for a bride?" "We can find a Muslim for her, too." "I could knock your teeth out with a slap!" "I let you go, because you have grown up." " lmpudent rascal!" " ls it wrong to love a Muslim?" "Are the Muslims our enemies?" "All right!" "Marry her..." "after I'm dead." "I can't wait for you to die." "What did you say?" "What is this chap saying?" "!" "You are the son I begot after a lot of prayers." "You will take my advise, if you have any love for me." "If you must marry that Muslim girl you might as well mourn my death first!" "How can you say such things?" "Shekhar!" "Seek your father's forgiveness." "I'm going away to Bombay, father." "I will never return." "How are you, grandma?" " Where's Bano?" " There she is." "Bano!" "Where are you?" "is what your mother saying true?" "Speak up!" "Has Narayan Mishra's son been writing to you from Bombay?" "Answer me... !" "Do you want me in a position where l can't face anyone out of shame?" "I'll hack you to pieces!" "And you women!" "Can't you take care of a single girl?" "Don't you cry!" "Shut up!" "You were born, when I returned from a pilgrimage of the Holy Mecca." "Whom am I slogging and working hard for?" "It's for you, isn't it?" "Haven't you ruined everything by doing all this?" "Promise me... that you will never make such a mistake again." "I'm going to get you married in less than 10 days!" "I will have my way!" "How about going and getting married?" " Listen..." " What is it?" "Are you scared?" "Why is my heart beating so fast?" "But I won't cry." "I won't cry, will I?" "Please hold my hand." "Sit down." " ls your name Shekhar?" " Yes." "Shekhar Mishra." " Have you got the certificates?" " Sure." "I got our names registered a month in advance." "Do you have the witnesses?" "Yes." "There they are." " Who are they?" " My colleagues at the press." " Aren't you from Bombay?" " Not at all!" "We're both from Malanpur;" "it's on the coast." "Actually, my forefathers are from Hyderabad." "We're both from the same village;" "but he's been here for 2 years now." "I've arrived only this morning." "It's your turn next." " Did I say something wrong?" " No." "Then why did you stop me?" "The sooner you stop talking, the sooner he'd have left." "And the sooner he had left, the sooner we'd get married." "And the sooner we are married, I'd be able to give you a kiss." " Your name?" " Shekhar..." " Your father's name?" " Narayan Mishra." " And what is your name?" " Tell him your name." "Shaila Bano." "Well, Shekhar?" "!" "Who's that girl with you?" "You've ditched me, haven't you?" "!" "You've ditched me and married her, haven't you, darling?" "I couldn't help it!" "Her father held a knife to my throat and threatened to kill me if I didn't marry his daughter." " So I married her." " Please don't believe him." "...like a true maiden!" "But you mustn't let him loose!" "Hold him tightly or the guy will flee!" " Who's that?" " lt's me.." "Shekhar." "Mr. Malgaonkar..." "This is my wife; we got married today." " Greetings!" " Greetings." "Congratulations!" "Do you hear?" " He has got married." " You didn't even tell us." " And what is your name?" " Bano." " Yes, I'm a Muslim." " Have you already married?" " Just keep quiet!" " Why?" "Shouldn't he have told us?" "How can we say our prayers with the girl around?" "Just come with me..." "Come on." "They have guests from Solapur, whose kids will stay in our room for 3 days." "is that all?" "We're having a great nuptial night, aren't we?" "It's not just tonight... it's going to be like this for a few more days." " What did she say?" " Shut up and go to sleep." "There he is..." "let's go." "The groom is back at work!" " How's everything, Shekhar?" " His eyes are red!" "What's wrong?" "Aren't you feeling well?" "How did it go?" "It was fun, wasn't it?" "Didn't you sleep all of last night?" "This is no time for jokes!" "Please leave him to his work." "Your eyes are red, Shekhar..." "You look tired." "You mustn't have slept all night, I guess!" ""Dear Mother, I have got married..."" ""...without an engagement or any other ceremony..."" ""l have got married, even though my parents were not present here"" ""l have eloped to get married..."" ""...please forgive me for that"" ""Do find the right time to talk to father"" ""Despite the anger he has against me..."" ""no one can deny that I'm his daughter"" ""l'm very happy here, Mother"" "What is it?" "Didn't you say you wouldn't arrive before 10 tonight?" "I have yet to embrace my bride even once and how how can I study journalism in this state of mind?" "You used to earlier; you must continue in the same manner." " l wasn't married then!" " So what if you're married now?" "Let me go!" "What if someone sees us?" "So what?" "!" "We got married just yesterday!" "Wait till we get to our room!" " lt's full of brats!" " You should be patient!" "How can I?" "Thousands must have been married after us!" "And by now, they must have... lt's for you." "Madam!" "I'm extremely sorry!" "Please forgive me!" "There's a letter for you." "There's a letter from your folks." "Yes." "Dad has written to me." " Won't you read it?" " l'll read it later." "I won't be able to concentrate on what I'm cooking." "I'll keep trying to figure out what he has written to you." "And we'll have a fight if I read it right now." "No way!" "That will never happen." " He has sent some money." " That hasn't made me angry!" "In the name of Shiva..." ""l've given you up for dead, but your mother cannot forget you"" ""Your brother took your mother to the doctor."" ""She has High Blood Pressure;" "you know why"" " What kind of a girl is she..." " Go on." ""She's a shameless girl to desert her family and run away with a stranger"" ""Her parents are no better who have forgotten their daughter and..."" "My parents are not so bad!" "Which is why I didn't want to read it." "They can call me what they wish!" "Why bad-mouth my parents?" "Have I ever said anything against your folks?" "It's what they have written." "How can I help it?" "Read what else is written." " l know she's a good girl, but..." " Don't fabricate things!" "Read what he has written!" "I'll return his money right now!" ""l can understand why you were in a hurry to marry her"" ""l'm sending you a thousand rupees with this letter"" ""Take her to a good hospital and abort the bundle of your sins..."" ""...and send her away to her parents"" "Tell her that I'm sorry." " Tell her that he's sorry." " Say sorry to her." " Say sorry to her..." " Say sorry to her..." "Tell him it's okay." "Ask her if I must change my religion." " Pardon me?" " Must I embrace her religion?" "Must he change his religion?" "Must he change his religion?" " No." "He shouldn't." " He shouldn't." "You shouldn't, she says." "Say "l love you" to her." ""l love you", he says!" "You promised to marry me and ditched me, didn't you?" "No way!" "I will marry you the next time I am born." " How about me?" " l'll marry you, too." "Looks like an old involvement." "Know what?" "He says "l love you" !" "Shut up, fatso!" "The landlady approves of you." "She has sent the relatives away." "What are you up to out here?" "This is no railway platform!" "Go to your room!" "DrGDrGDrGDrG" " You ?" "!" " Who else could it be?" "I forgot where l was." "I was startled." "What's this?" "I had a daughter who is now dead." "I don't want people coming here as her relatives." "Never in this birth will I come here for that relationship." "I've come here for bricks." "Ask him if they're available." "We need a truck-load in U.P." "Why come to me for bricks in Uttar Pradesh?" "He's talking nonsense." "What will it cost and when will he deliver them?" "Tell him that a truck-load will cost him 2,000 Rupees." "This is the advance." "I want the name of Lord Rama inscribed on every brick." " What did you say?" "!" " l want the bricks for Rama's temple in Ayodhya!" "I am sponsoring the bricks from this village!" " Not more than 3 Rupees for this." " No, madam. I can't afford it." "Pay him 3 Rupees." "You fleece people the moment you see someone gullible!" "Can I take my wife away for a moment, please?" "I've been promoted!" "I'm a reporter now!" "I'll get a salary of 2,000 Rupees!" "You have brought me luck!" "I know it all!" "I know how you have left me pining!" " Not at all..." " You're a wicked man!" "I'm not a wicked man, Maniben!" "Later..." " May I tell you something?" " Not now." "What could I do, if the cooker went off?" "It fell down, because I panicked." "It's you who always has me running scared." "I only asked for a minute." "I had to tell you something important." "By now, I'd have told you everything." "It's difficult to keep such a secret... it's a burden." "What is it?" "What did you want to tell me?" "How will we manage?" "Allah will..." "Our children will have two Gods;" "They'll manage it for us." "My master is here to see you." "Your daughter has written a letter to me." " She is not my daughter." " That's what I thought, too!" "We don't mean anything to them." "They ran away and got married." "And they're now having a baby." "A baby?" "Thank You, Almighty!" "She wrote to convey that, without telling my son." "Don't use this excuse to forge a relation with me, okay?" "Who'd want you for a relative?" "!" "Just don't drag the baby into our enmity!" "I'm leaving now." "And just remember; the child will follow my religion." "Why will he follow your religion?" "It's the father's religion that the children follow!" "No way!" "It's the mother's religion the children must follow." "The child will be a Hindu!" "Not a Muslim!" "He will follow our religion!" "He will be a Muslim!" "Try as you may, he will pray at the temple, not in the mosques!" "I'll make him a devout Muslim in the mosques!" "I'll teach him the Texts in the wee hours of the morning!" "Let's see how you do it!" "As if I'd let him touch the boy!" "He's always bragging." "Wait there..." "Whom did you ask before bringing all that here?" "This is a custom the bride's parents must perform before their daughter delivers the baby." "No thank you!" "You'll kick up a storm!" "Please go away." "is it okay to send them away, when they've come to perform a ritual?" " l thought you wouldn't..." " They aren't doing it for us." "It's for the baby." "Take them inside." "Excuse me... ls your Dad in?" " Someone's at the door, Papa." " l'll see who it is." "We're from the Shakti Samaj." "We're helping build a temple at Lord Rama's birthplace in Ayodhya." "We're collecting donations from all Hindu families." "You must help us build the temple and gain Lord Rama's blessings." "Please step aside... please." " lt's for the temple, sir..." " l know." "Just come with me." "Ayodhya:" "December 6, 1992." "Go away... clear the place!" "Kill them!" "Have you seen my children around?" "We're worried about our own lives!" "Where would we see your kids?" "Shoot!" "Get them!" "Mother!" "What are your names?" "Tell us!" "Speak up!" "Are you Muslims or Hindus?" "Tell us!" "Who are you?" "Hindus or Muslims?" "I'll handle the cops!" "Quickly set them on fire!" "What happened, son?" "Kamal!" "Answer me..." "What's wrong?" "What's happened, son?" "It must've been a nightmare." "Go to sleep... it's okay." "My body's on fire!" "No... it's not, son!" "It burns, Papa..." "They're burning us!" "You're okay... and look at Kamal." "He's fast asleep." "And look there." "Your mother is here too." "I'm here, too. lt'll be okay." "It's all over." "Then why do I see them the moment I shut my eyes?" "No one will come here." "Who am I?" "A Muslim or a Hindu?" "That's the question they ask me again and again!" "Tell them not to ask me such questions!" "It's all over, son..." "They won't ask you such questions now." " ls it really over?" " Yes." " Not anymore of that, Papa..." " No, son." " We've had enough..." " Yes." "We've had enough." "Look who's here!" "... Come on!" "Father?" "!" "What harm have we done to you, except that we are your parents?" " What are you saying?" " Bombay is on fire!" "Was it not necessary to inform your parents of your well-being?" " Couldn't you write a letter?" " But I... I am your father!" "I might scold you in a fit of anger." "I might even give you up for dead, in one of my crazy letters." " But will that sever our ties?" " Come inside." "How can you..." "No thank you. I am not here to amuse myself." "I only came to make sure that my youngest son is alive." "I rushed here, for l was afraid of some disaster before I die." "Father!" "I was terribly scared." "Do you know who this old man is?" "You're our grandfather." " What is your name?" " Kabir Narayan." " And what is yours?" " Kamal Bashir." " l have a few questions..." " We're already through." " ls the figure of those dead 227 ?" " lt's 56 !" " The post-mortem report says 227." " 57 people have died in the riots." "Are the reports from the hospital misleading then?" "70 per cent of those killed were innocent." "Does our police force hate the innocent?" "The riots were triggered of in response to what happened in Ayodhya." "And who else will die in riots if not those who participate in it?" "The police should have fired at them below the waist." "Not to kill." " Did you see it yourself?" " Yes, I did." "Who are the police?" "Damn it!" "They're people like you and me!" "Do you expect them to remain silent when they are attacked by mobs?" "How many people have you killed under that pretext?" "So many innocents have been killed!" "Have you heard the cries of agony from the families of those dead?" "Or is the police force insensitive to it all?" "You accuse the police of murder when they open fire!" "And accuse them of being silent spectators, when they don't act!" " 227 lives have been lost, sir." " lt's only 56 !" "Do you have no sympathies whatsoever for the police?" "I do." "That my kids are alive today is thanks to a police officer like you." "I don't know how to ask you this question." "I can't ask my husband either." "I think I'll ask you." "My word!" "I hear by daughter-in-law speak after 6 years!" "Your son and I..." "Go on." "I hope you will not misunderstand." "Even if you don't, you have arrived all of a sudden after 6 years." "But my life revolves around my husband and my kids." "Please do not do anything to separate us." "Never, dear. I swear upon my grandchildren can I break up this family, even if I wish to?" "I'm hungry, dear." "Go and prepare something for me." "Go on." "We were quietly getting on with our work." "But the police arrived and rained bullets on our men." "I had saved a lot of dowry for my daughter's wedding." "They've robbed me of everything, sir!" "Everything!" "The Muslims and Hindus have always lived like brothers, sir." "We had never heard of such hatred." "They got into my house and killed my husband!" "Use this." "That one is wet." "There's someone at the door to see you." "There's someone at the door." "What is it, grandpa?" " Come along, Kamal!" " But I'm Kabir." "There's someone at the door." "Mother!" "I thought you had forgotten me." "I have wept, every day in the last six years." "Why did you do this, Mother?" "I could have done without my daughter; but not your father." " My child!" " Father!" "Come in." "How did you land here?" "I have come, just what you have arrived for." "And already up to your mischief, eh?" "Does that mark look good on the kids' forehead?" "Do you want me to twiddle my thumbs till you make them wear caps?" " Now don't start..." " Tea or coffee?" "Mom wants to know." "Anything will do." "Use very little sugar." "Bashir is now an old man." "Half the blood in the kids' veins is mine!" "The other half is mine!" "And pure blood, at that!" " Allah!" " Oh, Shiva!" "Nothing seems to be right in this city." "Which is why I'm here to take them back to the village." "How will you?" "Why do you think I arrived here before you?" " Are you both fighting?" " No fights, son." "We're from the same village." "We're just having a chat." "They're having a chat, Mom." "They're not fighting." "Now look;" "let's come to a compromise." "Let's take them back to the village." "But the kids will grow up in my family." "Sure, why not?" "!" "I know what grass (vegetables) Hindu kids grow up on!" "As if I don't know how Muslim kids grow up!" "Papa's here!" "We have another grandpa here!" "They're always fighting when they're alone." "So what are our fathers-in-law saying?" "Both want to raise the kids in their families." "Really?" "Ask them to take away the kids then." "How can you say that?" "Let them face it." "Really?" "And what happens of us?" " Let's have another baby." " My God!" "You'll have to find another woman for that." "Just another baby..." "a lovable daughter." "What's this new obsession?" "It's ages since I helped you steady your waist." "Isn't it ages since you went around with a huge tummy?" " Oh, shut up!" " Now look, lady..." "Let's have a baby-girl quick!" "In fact, deliver one tomorrow." "What say?" "We can't tolerate the fights those grandpa's are getting into!" " Take care of your old man, Papa." " And handle your old man, Mom." "Ask your Mom to give us a little doll." "Tell him that I will not give him a little doll." "DrGDrGDrGDrG" "January 5, 1993;" "Dongri, Bombay." ""lt is reported that two workers were murdered in Dongri, Bombay"." ""According to the police, the murderers have not been identified"" ""Sporadic violence has broken out in the city, following the incident"" ""ln order to ensure peace and prevent occurrence of such incidents..."" "When will these riots between Hindus and Muslims end?" "Why are you putting this question to me?" "Ask those Hindus who are targeting the Muslims!" "When will these riots between Hindus and Muslims end?" "We are not responsible for the riots." "I want the Hindus and Muslims to co-exist in peace." "But who hurled the first stone?" "We will not remain silent!" "Who sparked off this destruction?" "Who brought the Babri Mosque down in a rubble?" "I'm proud, if my boys have indeed demolished the Babri mosque." "I'm proud of them!" "There is no one who can protect the Muslims today!" "We will have to protect ourselves!" "They have wrought atrocities on Muslims!" "We will have to take to arms, if we intend to live in this atmosphere!" "Let's not talk of anything else." "Just tell me this much." "Where do these guys get their arms from?" "It's from that source, isn't it?" "80%/% of those dead in the riots were Muslims." "They destroyed our mosque and all the police did was to watch!" "In fact, the police took sides with the mobs and opened fire on Muslims!" "Why did they do that?" "is it because 75%/% of the policemen belong to the Shakti Samaj?" "This nation belongs to Hindus!" "Those who don't agree may leave!" "It's the ordinary masses who are dying in the clash between you." "The masses are being killed;" "when will the carnage end?" "It's the innocent who are being killed in your conflict." "Bombay burns... when will all this end?" "The demon then grew to diabolic heights." "Out of the fear, the soldiers sought refuge in Lord Rama and Laxman." "And they..." "have you gone to sleep?" "Where are you coming from?" "is it from those street prayers?" "Why did you come here, old man?" "What is your name?" "Hold it, gentlemen...!" "What's going on over here?" "What are you doing?" "He's one of us." "Don't you hear me?" "He's one of us." "Go away..." "Please go away." " Let's get out of here." " Would they have stabbed me?" " Come along..." " Why did they threaten an old man and the kids?" "Don't worry." "Nothing has happened." "Really?" "I wonder what would have happened, had you not arrived." "They'd have killed us." " What did you say to them?" " Nothing." " What did you tell them?" " l said you're my brother." "Father!" "Mother!" "Move aside!" "Get me some water!" "Quick!" "Give that to me!" "Call them all outside!" "Forget all that!" "Let's go!" "Mother!" "Leave that thing alone." "Let's go, father!" "Father!" " My father!" "Where is he?" " l'll go and check." "Let's get out of here, Bashir!" " Let's go, Bashir!" " The Holy Quran!" "I'll get it!" "Go on!" "Hurry up and go out!" "Where are my children!" "Take a right turn..." "My kids are lost, driver..." "My sons..." "I'm looking for them." "No thank you!" "I can't get into that hell!" "I can't!" "I'm a family man." "Mister!" "How do we go to Jogeshwari?" "Where are you coming from?" "Get out of that cab, you swine!" "Where do we get bus No. 503, mister?" "I don't know." "Just get lost!" " We want to go home, mister." " Oh, get lost!" "I wonder where they are..." "My kids have just disappeared." " Did you look around well?" " They're twins... that's right." " How old are they, Shekhar?" " 6 years." " How are they dressed?" " Kabir is in white kurta pyjama..." "What is Kamal wearing, Bano?" "It's a blue T-shirt." "Stop crying, dear." "Your kids will be back." "They'll be all right." "Yes, I know that. I know it." "DrGDrGDrGDrG" "Where haven't I looked for you?" "!" "Don't you know what's happening out there?" "And here you are!" "I wonder where my kids have gone." "How must they be managing?" "Your kids are not here!" "... let's get out of here." "It's this place my children will come to." "They'll come here, looking for me." "They can't go anywhere without me." "If we don't leave, we will not live to see the children." "I want Kamal and Kabir!" "I want my children!" "My sons!" "Nothing will happen to your sons." "That's my mother's dress!" "This belongs to my father!" "My father!" "Where is my father?" "!" "Stop screaming!" "Brother!" "Swine!" "Does anyone treat a child like that?" "!" "Come on, son..." "Listen, all of you!" "You will be responsible for your death, should you step out!" "What the hell are you doing here?" "Where is your house?" "Go away..." "Go on!" "Wait here. I'll go and take a look." "No way. I've got to see if my children are here." " Listen to me..." " My sons are twins." "Six of the kids are dead." "Many of them are critical." "Go and check if your sons are among them." "No." "My sons are not here." "But there are so many children..." "why did this have to happen?" "What fire of hatred is this that has...." "They didn't spare even the innocent little children!" "Will my own children too...?" "Rafiq!" "It's Rafiq!" "Don't let them escape!" "No one must get away!" "What's gotten into you?" "!" "Have you gone mad?" "!" "Do you know what you're doing?" "!" " He's a Hindu!" " Kill me then!" "I'm Hindu too!" "They've been targeting our shops and houses and setting them on fire!" "They're bent on driving us out of the country!" " What do you have against me?" " Cut the hypocrisy of brotherhood!" " This fire can't be put out now!" " What is he saying?" "This chap belongs to the Shakti Samaj." "Didn't he kill the Muslims?" "Ask him!" " Sure, I did..." " Aren't you ashamed?" "And why not?" "!" "Why don't the laws of our country apply to them?" "They've scared us enough!" "It's the politicians who appease them!" "The Govt. gives them concessions for being minorities." "But this is India!" " l'll show you..." " Stop it, I say!" " No Muslim will keep quiet!" " Neither will the Hindu!" "Sure!" "It won't be only the Hindus and Muslims who die in the riots!" "Take a look at the destruction!" "Take a good look!" "Why must we perish in the destruction madmen like you wreak?" " For what fault of ours?" " You're a Hindu; don't forget." " No!" "I'm not a Hindu!" " Your children are half Muslim." "My kids and I are not Muslims either!" "We don't belong to either community!" "We're only Indians!" "Does the Quran advocate the slaying of Hindus?" "Tell me!" "Or does the Gita tell you to kill Muslims?" "What is all this for?" "I've been separated from my kids, thanks to people like you!" "Should something happen to them, people like you will be responsible!" "Go away!" "Why are the Hindus and Muslims fighting each other?" "I don't know, son." "They've lived together like brothers, for centuries." "But they have now been driven apart." " Which community is to blame?" " Neither is to blame." "It's the politicians who light the fire of hatred and it's the common man who dies in the crossfire." "Here you are." "Eat it." "Who is a Muslim?" "And what does Hindu mean?" "That's a difficult question, son." "Why ask someone like me?" "I don't know this thing about Hindus and Muslims." "Go ahead and eat." "Religion... is the means to reach God." "The Hindus and the Muslims have their own ways... of reaching God." "Then why must they fight each other?" "That's one thing I have never been able to understand." "I want to go to my Mom." "Excuse me... eat this." " What's your name?" " Shaila Bano." "What's wrong?" "What happened?" " What is it?" " Nothing." "Are you asking me to look for my sons among the dead?" "Calm down and take a look;" "Let's make sure they're not in there." "Wait here;" "I'll go and see." " Get a hold on yourself!" " l can't..." "My God!" "Stop it... not anymore!" "We can't take it anymore!" "No, Shekhar!" "Don't go there!" "Stop there!" "Stop them!" "Stop it, I say!" "How many more people will you kill?" "!" "We've had enough!" "There has been too much of destruction!" "Allah would never approve of this!" "Spare them!" "For God's sake!" "I beg of you!" "Please let them go!" "You can't escape, you swine!" "Stop there!" "I won't spare you today!" "I'm gonna kill you!" "Stop there!" "Stop, I say!" "Stop it!" "Stop this nonsense!" "I beg of you!" "Spare them!" "Please leave us alone!" "Stop it!" "Stop this bloodshed, for God's sake!" "We've borne enough!" "Stop it now!" "You have killed enough!" " You've burnt the whole city!" " We'll burn you, too!" "Sure!" "Come on!" "Set me on fire, too!" "Wait!" "Stop it!" "No!" "We won't let him get away!" "You're fools to be provoked into killing each other!" "Politicians are taking advantage of you for their seats of power!" "They've been robbing and killing people, in your name!" "They have been provoking you!" "Kill those villains before you kill these innocents!" "Drop these weapons!" "Drop them, I say!" "Drop the weapons!" "You're a Muslim, too!" "Kill them!" "Go on!" " No, I can't!" " Kill them, I say!" " First set this fool on fire." " Sure!" "Go ahead!" " Give me that can!" "Set me on fire!" " No!" "Come on!" "Set me aflame!" "Come on..." "Why don't you burn me alive?" "!" "Kill me, if you wish!" "But spare them!" "Go away!" " Come on... set be ablaze!" " No!" "Please don't!" "You won't do it, will you?" "!" "He is like my own child!" "Do you understand?" "!" "This woman is my sister!" "Set me on fire!" "Set me aflame!" "What madness was that?" "!"