Combining the strength to collectively hold the position of their brother in the family, the sisters of a Kashmiri youth still wait for their brother to return and get them married. The dreams seem to be shattered due to their brother’s detention.
Last year on December 31, Mehraj-ud-din Shergujree of Hajin Bandipora was arrested in Bhopal. “He was falsely implicated there. He had gone to Bhopal for an orientation as he had a lot of interest in learning religion. Unfortunately he became the victim of cruelty there and was made a prisoner”, says his sister, Shaista Qadir.
Mehraj has nine sisters and seven of them are unmarried. The sisters say they are waiting for their Zuu to come. “We have never thought of happiness without Baijan. In fact, happiness went away the day he was taken away from our eyes”, says Shaista.
Writing his final year examinations, Mehraj is presently detained at Srinagar’s Central Jail. Away from home, his sister says, Mehraj is living life of a caged bird. “He would walk freely in his home; would go to college and handle our father’s shop very well”, says Shaista.
The family says Mehraj was once brought to local police station Hajin but detained again, later. “They once brought him here and told us he will soon be released. We were anticipating his homecoming but our dreams shattered when they detained him again,” says his father, Ghulam Qadir.
Even a local court, according to Ghulam Qadir, had granted bail to Mehraj but never to be released. “They played with our sentiments. At the time when I need my son very much, he is languishing in jail”, he says.
Mehraj-ud-din is the only son of Ghulam Qadir Sheergujree. He used to run the shop besides going to college. “He worked very hard. On one hand he was studying and on the other hand, like an awlaad-e-saleha (faithful son) helped our father in maintaining the shop”, says Shaista.
After passing 2nd year exams Mehraj had started his own shop selling Kiryana items. “He worked hard in his shop after he would come from college. Besides he helped me in early hours of morning in collecting milk”, his father says.
The family is waiting for their son to come home and bring them happiness. His shop is running in loss. They wait for him to come, shoulder the burden of the family, and get his sisters married. Two of his engaged sisters will not marry until he comes.
Mehraj’s 10-year-old niece says her Mamu will bring her lots of toys. “Mamu gaya hai hajas, woh bohat saare khiloonay layenge wahan se (Mamu has gone to Hajj, he will bring me lots of toys),” she says.
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