They are the lay people of Jammu & Kashmir. Living under the shadow of militancy and ever present violence, they try to go on with their quiet lives against fierce odds. Majid, the tailor, prays for nothing but peace and happiness for his wife and family, Salma belongs to the high Padri, Gopal falls deeply in love with Gauri in a remote valley, Mushtaq and Sajjad see what's not to be seen, ever smiling Saifullah loses an eye, Shabina, the bride to be, gets surprised, Faizaan, the young boy, has a heart of gold, Dharmu goes for a hunt in the snow with his friends, Saleema, the young girl, loves the smell of wood and the old Pir with miraculous powers lives in a dark forest. It is a book about myth, faith, love and above all, about the courage and hopes of ordinary people when faced with extraordinary situations.