‘Your thoughts and intentions are noble. But there is a big difference between talking and doing. To do, you will have to confront the truth, which can be uncomfortable at times, and you may have to do unpleasant things and see unpleasant things and sacrifice the self. You will have to bury your current existence and build a new one that can choose martyrdom. We want revenge as well. But who will make the sacrifices required for it? Can you and your brothers do that, Imran?’ the Doctor asked Atharv, his eyes boring into the latter’s.

The Doctor’s face was reddening, he was screaming now. ‘Will you take revenge? Or have you come here to waste my time? A decade ago, that L.K. Advani led two lakh kar sewaks who brought down the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The spot is located some 700 kilometres from Kishanganj, a Muslim-dominated district,’ the Doctor said.

‘We kept protecting ourselves, while they destroyed the mosque to build the Ram temple. Our cowardice was so great that even our existence appears to be a favour bestowed by our enemies,’ the Doctor’s voice was heavy with emotion for a moment.

‘And what happened after the mosque was destroyed? The azaan that had resonated from the Babri Masjid since the sixteenth century was silenced, but we kept quiet. Not one Muslim country boycotted India,’ the Doctor shouted.

‘Babri Masjid offered its martyrdom to awaken the drowsy, selfish youth of this community. Till when will you sleep? Take up the sword for jihad and the community,’ he continued.

‘The Jews forcibly captured the Aqsa-e-Masjid while political speeches and deals were being made. In Bosnia, the Christians of Serbia decimated the local faithful. Closer to home, hundreds of Kashmiris have lost their lives in their struggle for independence against the Indian armed forces. Men from our community have been killed and subjected to unspeakable torture in police stations,’ the Doctor claimed, looking agitated.

‘They have spilled so much blood, the Jhelum has turned red. All of this calls for you and I to avenge the murder of your father and the atrocities committed during the Bhagalpur and Bombay riots.’ The Doctor fell silent and looked at Atharv, as if assessing him.

‘Izzat se jiya toh ji lengey ya jam-e-shahadat pee lengey. If I am denied a life of respect, I will have the drink of martyrdom,’ Atharv said. ‘Perhaps, like the Babri Masjid, my father was not killed. He offered his martyrdom to wake me up to avenge the atrocities committed against the community,’ Atharv said.