I met Shakeel while on assignment in Srinagar.
Walking along Dal Lake in troubled times is, oddly, one of the best times to experience its beauty. For, on a good day, you would be hard-pressed to feel its allure through the throng of tourists and shikaras that dot the lake by the hundreds.
The lake was quiet that day, and sadly still.
Shakeel seemed comfortable in my presence right from the beginning. The lines on his face belied his professed age of 27. An air of thoughtfulness hung around him; and as he spoke, he seemed to gaze beyond the superficial.
Shakeel inherited his house boat and the business from his father. But the tourists, whom his livelihood depended upon, never came. Autumn had almost set in and winter was around the corner. His immediate future seemed bleak and he dared not anticipate any further.
As I prepared to take my leave, typical of Kashmiri hospitality, he said, “Do stay for dinner, Mother has cooked chicken.”
I obliged.
Location: Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
