Every passenger disembarking from the bus from Lahore at the Ambedkar bus terminal seems to be fighting a constant battle between these two emotions. So far, hope seems to be winning.

Says Professor Abdul Aziz Khan, who teaches at the Aligarh Muslim University: "I stay on the side of the border, but the rest of my family stays in Pakistan. For people like us, home is on both sides. We really don't want a war. We also know that despite all that is said on Pakistan TV, this was started by the Pakistan Army. After all, it is the army which is the de facto government there. However, we believe that all this will end soon because even they do not want a war."

However, Mohammed Zakir, a businessman from Daryaganj says: "Actually, everything between our two countries isdone for political gain. And as usual, the difference between the people's perception and that of the leaders is at variance with each other. We want peace and better relations, they want votes. So one can't really be sure how far the two leaders are willing to go. In fact, on Pakistani TV, they kept saying that war might break out but we did not really believe that."

However, he did fear that as a spin-off of the Kargil situation, the bus service between the two nations might be terminated. "In Karachi, where I spent the last month, everyone said that the bus service had been stopped. They said that I would have to make other arrangements for going back. However, when I checked with my cousin in Lahore, he dismissed these rumours and also got our reservation done," said Zakir, and hoped the bus service would continue.

Ghazala, who came to India seven years ago, says: "The bus service should continue, it is really very comfortable. My parents stay in Lahore, but I moved here after marriage. I usually goto my parents' home every summer and spend three months there. This time, however, I cut my vacation short and came back after a month. We were all scared that the tension might escalate and the two countries might go to war. Actually, there it did not seem that bad, it was only when my husband would call or we would hear the news on Zee TV that we would feel that the situation was serious."