Srinagar, Jan 20: When eight-year-old Samma woke up on the chilly morning Thursday she was surprised to see her house at Kohnakhan Dalgate thronged by nears and dears, mostly women. However when they started to weep and hug her, it reminded her of the priceless and irreparable loss she had suffered last year on the same day when her beloved mother Shaheena Wani, 45, was crushed to death by a speeding vehicle driven by a drunk cop on the tourist hub of the Boulevard.
 For some moments, Samma stood speechless and gazed continuously at visiting women— as if waiting for her mother. “I miss Mamma. Will she ever return?” she told her elder sister Sakiba who had no answers.
 But gradually the painful memories of her mother’s loss was palpable on Samma’s innocent face. Tears welled into her eyes and hit the ground. Those who were watching her realized that she was not crying silently to press for purchase of any toys or clothes, as a child of her age usually does. But she was weeping for her mother—who left her and the hapless family never to return.
 Sakiba, who was critically wounded in the accident, said despite passing of a year, the family is yet to come out of the shock.
 “We have lived each moment in mamm’s memory. Her killing snatched away our happiness,” Sakiba said while struggling to hide her tears as her younger sister Sadia consoled her.
 Their father Ghulam Nabi and aged grandmother could only watch the trio with moist eyes. “All that happened to my family should never happen to anybody… the pain of separation of a family member is really unbearable. My wife’s soul must be restless due to separation especially with her daughters,” he said.
 By the evening, as the rush of visitors faded, the Moulvis held Quran Khawani praying for courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss and peace to the departed soul.
 “Death is eternal but we are pained as Shaheena was killed by none other than a police constable who is entrusted to protect life of citizens. The police should have ordered an in-house probe to investigate that how one of its cops on duty consumed liquor and drove a vehicle without a license. Are laws only for civilians? We hope that the lawmakers and enforcers will take measures on priority to prevent accidents on road,” said one of the locals.
 Pertinently Shaheena a teacher at Tyndale Biscoe School, on the fateful day was returning home with her daughter Sakiba when they were hit by the speeding vehicle. While Shaheena succumbed to her injuries on way to hospital, critically wounded Sakiba recovered after undergoing surgery.
 While rest of the family members know the reality of death, little Samma hopes against the hope that her mother will return someday! 

Lastupdate on : Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST