The story was covered for weekly NK in the latter half of March, 2017.
By Sheikh Saqib
For Fahad the years of childhood is a painful memory of being confined to four walls of his room. Since the last 6 years he is a serious patient of depression. Now a student of MBA, he is in his early 20’s and wears a golden colour medium sized beard. Due to his parents scuffle on a daily bases and his father’s strictness’ towards him haunt him to this day: the humiliation of everyday beating, frequent fights between parents, of being not allowed to go out, play sports, meet friends, and that unbearable pain every time he used to become the target of one of the parent.
Originally hailing from Syria, Fahad was a little kid when his family decided to move here. As he grew up and started his school, he got a chance to set his feet out from a vile atmosphere. Now free to do things, he made friends and started playing different sport with them. This gave way to good days. At home the trend continued while as he started emphasizing on studies. His sister of having of the same age, he had a tough competition at home as well as in school.
In his ruffle filled childhood, Fahad made a special friend, in the shape of a girl. Sana, who lived next door and went to the same school would wake up early, waited for Fahad on the main road to go school hand in hand. Fahad and Sana had a great affection for each other. Sana used to be his companion in long walks and mischievous things. They would laugh on jokes together, do funny things and also visit each other on special occasions. On holidays, they would call each other and discuss homework and other family matters. She used to listen his problems like a mother listens to her child's. Fahad was so attached to her that he used to cry like baby on her shoulder and tell her about his parents rudeness towards him.
Fahad also remembers her running after him with a charming smile on her face, desperate to hit him on the back, just for fun. “ She had a scar on her neck and i used to mock her on that,” says Fahad with a slight smile on his serious face. As the good days had only knocked the door, happiness was abduct by god. Sana who loved to be around Fahad suddenly disappeared. This was when Fahad had just passed away his 12th class exam. It was a sunny day and sun was at its zenith when Fahad tried to call sana but couldn’t get any answer. He tried and tried and came to know she has left the place. Fahad was unable to express his grief over loosing the most important person in his life. Parents used to remain busy in heated arguments. Sister used to remain silent. He went mad. Loosing his temper over small issues. He used to rumble in his room and then cling to an old cushion in his room and cry like a baby, as if put aflame.
The boy has not seen the girl ever since. Making every effort to contact her, he has always faced peoples wrath on the issue.
The 21 year old I meet at a play field in Srinagar is serious faced. He rarely smiles. We sit on the frontier of the ground. In front of us are hundreds of boys playing different sport. He makes a peculiar look at the players and says, “ I want Sana back and want her listen my issues like she used to in childhood.” The words of him made me think of hundreds of youth in the valley who are suffering with the same tragedy. His story hangs over us like a cloud on a head. When he reaches the end of the story, we are both transported to the road that shows us the way to home. Sana’s face may have faded away from his memory but his anger has endured. He is one of those guys in the world who would sit alone and talk less. Having so depressed life since childhood, he was detected as a serious patient of depression in last July.
“I used to hear voices all around, that used to irritate me a lot,” says Fahad while regretting on his life. He confesses that he once even tried to kill his father due to these unwanted voices.
People in their 20’s are in search of a dream but Fahad’s story is different. The only thing he has been able to hold on is because he is still in search of sana. The hope of getting her back works as a balm on his wounds.
As I glance through his laptop bag, I find different types of medicines, I am struck by how this young guy swallows all these medicines. “ everyday, I wake up I have to swallow these first and be ready for a long day.”
Around us the people hurry to reach their houses as the light hours descends into darker hours and Fahad wants a goodbye. As we make our goodbye, he says, “ don’t worry about me, I am used to it now,”
By Sheikh Saqib
For Fahad the years of childhood is a painful memory of being confined to four walls of his room. Since the last 6 years he is a serious patient of depression. Now a student of MBA, he is in his early 20’s and wears a golden colour medium sized beard. Due to his parents scuffle on a daily bases and his father’s strictness’ towards him haunt him to this day: the humiliation of everyday beating, frequent fights between parents, of being not allowed to go out, play sports, meet friends, and that unbearable pain every time he used to become the target of one of the parent.
Originally hailing from Syria, Fahad was a little kid when his family decided to move here. As he grew up and started his school, he got a chance to set his feet out from a vile atmosphere. Now free to do things, he made friends and started playing different sport with them. This gave way to good days. At home the trend continued while as he started emphasizing on studies. His sister of having of the same age, he had a tough competition at home as well as in school.
In his ruffle filled childhood, Fahad made a special friend, in the shape of a girl. Sana, who lived next door and went to the same school would wake up early, waited for Fahad on the main road to go school hand in hand. Fahad and Sana had a great affection for each other. Sana used to be his companion in long walks and mischievous things. They would laugh on jokes together, do funny things and also visit each other on special occasions. On holidays, they would call each other and discuss homework and other family matters. She used to listen his problems like a mother listens to her child's. Fahad was so attached to her that he used to cry like baby on her shoulder and tell her about his parents rudeness towards him.
Fahad also remembers her running after him with a charming smile on her face, desperate to hit him on the back, just for fun. “ She had a scar on her neck and i used to mock her on that,” says Fahad with a slight smile on his serious face. As the good days had only knocked the door, happiness was abduct by god. Sana who loved to be around Fahad suddenly disappeared. This was when Fahad had just passed away his 12th class exam. It was a sunny day and sun was at its zenith when Fahad tried to call sana but couldn’t get any answer. He tried and tried and came to know she has left the place. Fahad was unable to express his grief over loosing the most important person in his life. Parents used to remain busy in heated arguments. Sister used to remain silent. He went mad. Loosing his temper over small issues. He used to rumble in his room and then cling to an old cushion in his room and cry like a baby, as if put aflame.
The boy has not seen the girl ever since. Making every effort to contact her, he has always faced peoples wrath on the issue.
The 21 year old I meet at a play field in Srinagar is serious faced. He rarely smiles. We sit on the frontier of the ground. In front of us are hundreds of boys playing different sport. He makes a peculiar look at the players and says, “ I want Sana back and want her listen my issues like she used to in childhood.” The words of him made me think of hundreds of youth in the valley who are suffering with the same tragedy. His story hangs over us like a cloud on a head. When he reaches the end of the story, we are both transported to the road that shows us the way to home. Sana’s face may have faded away from his memory but his anger has endured. He is one of those guys in the world who would sit alone and talk less. Having so depressed life since childhood, he was detected as a serious patient of depression in last July.
“I used to hear voices all around, that used to irritate me a lot,” says Fahad while regretting on his life. He confesses that he once even tried to kill his father due to these unwanted voices.
People in their 20’s are in search of a dream but Fahad’s story is different. The only thing he has been able to hold on is because he is still in search of sana. The hope of getting her back works as a balm on his wounds.
As I glance through his laptop bag, I find different types of medicines, I am struck by how this young guy swallows all these medicines. “ everyday, I wake up I have to swallow these first and be ready for a long day.”
Around us the people hurry to reach their houses as the light hours descends into darker hours and Fahad wants a goodbye. As we make our goodbye, he says, “ don’t worry about me, I am used to it now,”
