Love Jihad - Short Story

Syed and Gayatri didn't mean to fall in love. But love happens when you least expect it. It creeps up suddenly, when someone needs attention, care, conversation, laughter and maybe even intimacy. Love doesn't look at logic, or at backgrounds and least of all, religion.

Gayatri was from a very conservative South Indian family that went to a temple every Saturday. Syed bought goats for his family every Eid. That said it all. Their paths would never have crossed if it hadn't been for that fateful day. That day when he walked into the coffee shop. Gayatri wondered if destiny chose our loved ones for us. Did we have any role to play at all?

She looked at her watch. Syed was late. They met every Thursday at five pm to catch up. Their conversation lasted for hours. Sometimes at the cafe, sometimes in his car, sometimes in places that she could never tell her friends about. They would never understand. And yet Syed made her happy.

Suddenly her phone beeped. He had sent a message. "On my way. Have something important to tell you."

Gayatri stared at it and realised she had knots in her stomach. Thoughts flooded her mind. What did he want to tell her?

Trying to calm herself down, she did let her brain to take her down the memory lane to the first time their eyes had met. Whenever she felt nervous, depressed or a trifle let down by life she had made it a point to remember that one day, for it made her heart feel the pangs of joy every time. She had been sipping coffee in the same café waiting for a colleague who was to provide her an important piece related to the article she was doing and her eyes fell on the man just walking in. That charming smile, the perfectly placed muffler, the confidence in the gait and the rugged manly looks; he had cast a stupor on her curios mind.

I caught you staring at me, Miss Indian Press. He had a coffee in his hand and was muttering under his breath, low enough to not alert the other people sitting around and loud enough to bring Gayatri out of her thoughts. Gayatri had an ID card of an Indian New Channel around her neck which pretty much gave her identity away.

I’m sorry. Did I stare at you? I think you are mistaken. She quickly sat up straight, adjusted her clothes a bit and gave him a totally nonchalant reaction.

These eyes can spot and shoot a man at a mile with deadly precision. How can they miss this charming woman looking through my soul?

Shoot a man at a mile. Are you a special sniper or a trained mercenary?

Whatever you feel like imagining.

Just one line left her so intrigued and flabbergasted that she very quickly forgot the main motive of being in that café and a conversation followed. The rugged guy with eagle eyes and the pretty woman with a curiosity laden voice and questions got along like a tea pot on fire. Her colleague did not show until a good half an hour had passed and she had been very well introduced to the enigma named Syed. The enigma who over the course of next few weeks would take her to treks that she had only imagined in her dreams, who would help her in her quest of being a successful war time journalist at the same time a philanthropist,

Mam, your coffee is here. The words of the server brought her back to the present. She had a quivering smile on her lips as she thanked the server. Being a regular to the café the manager knew how she liked her coffee and had it perfectly brewed as per her taste.

It tastes great, just like every time. She thanked the server politely and he went his way.

Why does the mind always go back to the first meeting with Syed when they have made many better memories ever since? She thought to herself but let it pass with the piping hot coffee numbing her brain for some moments. It had been two months of a whirlwind and emotional connection with him and it showed no sign of waning. She prayed it never ends, she loved it that way. The sense of unpredictability, vulnerability and awesomeness combined at the same time.

Syed had a weird look on him as he entered the café. Gayatri felt as if he was trying to force a smile to hide something. The smile vanished from Gayatri’s face and anxiousness took over.

Hey, is everything all right? She asked him.

Yes, everything is fine. Have a seat. Why do you look worried?

See yourself in the mirror right now and you shall get an answer. I am tensed because you look real worried about something. Spill it out.

Not here. We need to go somewhere quiet.

Where would you find any place quieter than this?

I have a place in mind. Syed was being quick in his replies. Gayatri felt something tugging at her brain cells asking her to not leave this place. But then, the heart wants what the heart wants. She could never say no to him having already lost her heart to his charming ways.

They got in his car and they crossed all the familiar places where they used to spend time with each other. The bridge near the river passed by and Gayatri’s heart began pounding fast.

Where are we going? She thought to herself.

Syed wasn’t that keen on talking as he concentrated on the road allowing Gayatri the chance to observe the roads they were going through. The car screeched through a narrow lane and a few familiar houses passed her vision.

Why are we going through this place again? Have you lost the way?

No, I am just making sure no one is following us.

Following? What the hell is the matter? I thought there is enough peace here to not disturb the privacy of two individuals.

My cover has been blown. I am being followed everywhere.

This is not possible. Who can do that?

Our own people, they don’t keep a fish in water for too many months. They just pluck it out and throw it away.

Did you notice a man sitting near the manager at the coffee shop all the time that you were there. He must not have let you get out of his sight.

No, I did not pay attention. Moreover you are the one being followed. Why would anyone follow me?

Syed gave a discomforted look. Gayatri stared at his eyes and recollected a conversation they had during the initial days of knowing each other. He had mentioned the ever present danger of being seen with him for he spied on the Anti-Indian movement in Srinagar and the other parts in the valley. She had been overwhelmed by the fact that a man in Srinagar could risk his own life to spy on the fundamentalists, who were his own people just because he did not want Kashmir to cease being a part of India. It was all beginning to make sense now.

What are you thinking? Syed asked concerned that Gayatri had stopped talking for a few seconds.

I think I realize the danger we are in. What do we do now?

We go to a secret place. We lay low for a few days and then you can continue doing what you have been.

What about you?

I will disappear. Syed said with an emotionless face and Gayatri’s eyes swelled up.

Isn’t that so easy to say for you? What about me? What about my love for you? What about us? She was crying loud as Syed tried to hold onto his emotions while looking around the road for any followers as well.

Disappear with me then. Can you? Syed sounded cold. It seemed he had lost all his emotions in a single day.

Are you mad? What will happen to my family back there in my town? Think about them.

Do you know what will happen to my family here if we get caught?

No. She sounded scared.

They will be massacred with the label of traitors. I don’t want that to happen to you. I love you.

I love you too. Gayatri smiled for the first time since having met him today. She started to think about them meeting during the last few days. She was trying hard to understand if there had been clear signs that she had missed. Was it just the agony of this one day that was making him behave like that or had it been coming due to some other events as well.

Syed drove through a down slope road and turned right into an alley. He brought the car to a halt a few blocks later. Can you walk?

Yes, off course. Anything for you!

They took off from the car and entered the lanes of downtown Srinagar. The lanes famous for the fundamentalists and the slogan shouting population seemed so quite at this time of the evening.

I am scared. She held his hand and whispered.

So am i. We will see this through together.

As soon as they entered an old looking house after walking for ten minutes, Gayatri did not like the vibes. Syed led her through the door into a set of rooms and opened the door for her.

She walked in and a bright light flashed hard at her eyes. She felt a strong urge to run out of there but something hit her hard on her neck. She tried to stay on her feet for a few seconds before the rod stuck again this time more vigorously knocking her out. She was picked up by someone and tied to a chair. A few hours later when she regained conscious, she felt week. She wanted to call out for help, call for Syed but her voice was too frail. Her body felt limp as she realized she was tied with ropes. Someone threw water at her face and she began to see a little clearly. Standing right in front of her was Syed with an assault rifle on his shoulders. He was smiling like he had caught the biggest prize of his life.

Why Syed? Why me? That was all she could muster with that pain in her head. She wanted to cry but tears did not escape her eyes. The devilish smile on Syed’s face made her lose her breath and cause a blackout in front of her eyes. She lay there unconscious at the mercy of a man she thought was a spy for the country. What he actually was she would never know.