| For Aishanya, the bedroom has become a way of holding time still. The things she keeps are not, at first glance, remarkable. But nothing has been moved. The bed, the cupboard, the mirror Shubham bought, have all been preserved exactly as they were. "That side of the bed is Shubham's," she said, pointing at the bed. "I don't sit or lie down there. Even in sleep, I avoid it. I keep pillows on that side."
For Aishanya, speaking [about Shubham] has given grief a kind of structure. But for others, it is held in place by what is left unsaid. Rajesh Narwal's son, Vinay Narwal, was also among those killed. In his house, Vinay's belongings still remain packed and unopened. Many family members refuse to say his name, or talk about what happened to him. |