Mr Irshad Ahmad opens the shop punctually at 10 am. He arranges the things in his shop into usual order. He hangs lumps of meat on iron hangings. He is very much disturbed by the murder of Kashmiri student in Bangalore. He believes that the present time is the time of decision, ‘’ ‘’
Mr Muhammad Yousuf , doesn’t share the same sentiment. A middle aged man with graying hair and conspicuous yellow teeth bellows near is cart, “if we talk about 1980’s people were passionate about freedom (Aazadi) from Indian occupation, people warmly used to help each other I these tough times , in addition to this the prices of commodities have risen considerably. Back in 1980’s the commodities were cheap and available readily. These days you can’t even get water during a government crackdown”.
“Strikes will get us no where’’, concurs Mr Ghulam Nabi, a handicapped timber merchant. Sitting sides the vegetable cart of Muhammad Yousuf, Ghulam Nabi further adds, “ for some past years we have been engaging in irregular protests with thousand aims under thousand flags. This notion is going to harm us in future ”. Pointing his handicapped crooked fingers to his temples he adds, “for me freedom means state of mind.I wish everyone lives a independent life economically and with proper health”.
A neighboring book vendor Sheikh Mushtaq, a well dressed man in his mid thirties echoes a common sentiment, “when the schools are closed the authorities demand full dues which is very injustice for less privileged people like us, how can our children study (sighing), how can the future of Kashmir be bright when its children can’t afford education as their fathers are workless during strike”