Srinagar, May 14 -- I was born in the old city of Srinagar, in the heart of Khanqah Moulla. The streets there are narrow and alive, lined with shops, voices, prayers, and memory.

My earliest days were wrapped in the scent of fresh bread from local bakeries and the rhythm of footsteps on centuries-old stone.

Our family later moved to Gilan House in Lalbazar, a quieter part of town, where apple and pomegranate trees filled the air with sweetness. The house was my grandfather's dream. He built it not just for shelter, but as a legacy.

Even now, it feels like the center of who we are. Each corner holds a story, a prayer, or a piece of laughter from long ago.

I was a soft-spoken, shy child. Not particularly bright in school. But my family,...