Jabbar Khan - my eleder brother
Small Regrets
Tayib Jan
When I was young one day my elder brother Jabbar Khan went to Shatobar glacier just for sightseeing or just to have a look at our bull which was supposed to be in the nearby pasture, without informing anybody at home. It was a panic in the house we looked everywhere in and around the town asking people if they have seen him. After hours of search, we finally got the information that he has gone to the pasture. We all prayed for his safe return home. When you panic you the words of prayers also keep skipping. We were told that the road is dangerous and long. He wore a red jacket or something like that which I don't exactly remember and it was considered a bad omen and believed it might antagonize fairies living there (I believed the story then).
Now when the incident has passed more than 35 years, I regret that why I did not the same mistake because I still do not have an idea how this glacier looks like, especially, when you see it from a nearby pasture. I can see it from distance but do not have enough courage to go there or maybe need company.
A view of Gulmit Glacier in the background
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