This post is long overdue...
Two weeks back, blasts rocked the city. Today, another blast.
Today, was home. On the 13th, was about 100-200 metres away. Could've been nearer--call it luck, fortune, blessing, or nothing at all.
Left Costa Coffee with three friends and were walking towards the car parked in the parking near Rajeev Chowk metro station. Crossed Central Park.
While friend was taking the car out of the parking, got a call from home. "Bomb blast in Karol Bagh, get home straight!"
Was thirsty. Saw a vendor just before Palika's gate 1, but realised was ice cream, no water. Saw another one, just after the entrance to the parking lot. Parked car to buy a bottle of water. A friend got out to get it.
And then, it was like one of the bombs people pollute the air with at Diwali. Was confused as to what exactly had happened. Friend got back in the car shouting, "Bhagaa gaadi bhagaa, it's a (&^$^*& bomb blast." Went numb, don't remember who said what for the next couple of seconds. And then BOOM! Another one. This one sounded more dangerous, even though was much farther away. Were just before the Kharak Singh Marg exit, so just about missed the chaos and traffic.
Saw people running, smelt the smoke in the air, felt a chill. Started frantically calling friends. Was beginning to get slightly hysterical, coz networks were jammed. Got news about blasts in GK Market. Fear, anger, more calls.
Dropped one friend at Dhaula Kuan. Reached home. Saw relief in faces. More calls, more messages. Sat in front of TV, watching news. Still a little numb.
Was there, was just there. At just the safest distance. Thousands of what ifs started crossing mind. Went crazy with that. Decided that watching the news wasn't the best thing. More calls, more messages.
Slept with the light on.
Darkness usually doesn't scare me. That day it did.
27/9/2008 11:59 PM
© Prasheila
Next post--maybe tomorrow, maybe day after, maybe after a week--what I think of terrorism.
Two weeks back, blasts rocked the city. Today, another blast.
Today, was home. On the 13th, was about 100-200 metres away. Could've been nearer--call it luck, fortune, blessing, or nothing at all.
Left Costa Coffee with three friends and were walking towards the car parked in the parking near Rajeev Chowk metro station. Crossed Central Park.
While friend was taking the car out of the parking, got a call from home. "Bomb blast in Karol Bagh, get home straight!"
Was thirsty. Saw a vendor just before Palika's gate 1, but realised was ice cream, no water. Saw another one, just after the entrance to the parking lot. Parked car to buy a bottle of water. A friend got out to get it.
And then, it was like one of the bombs people pollute the air with at Diwali. Was confused as to what exactly had happened. Friend got back in the car shouting, "Bhagaa gaadi bhagaa, it's a (&^$^*& bomb blast." Went numb, don't remember who said what for the next couple of seconds. And then BOOM! Another one. This one sounded more dangerous, even though was much farther away. Were just before the Kharak Singh Marg exit, so just about missed the chaos and traffic.
Saw people running, smelt the smoke in the air, felt a chill. Started frantically calling friends. Was beginning to get slightly hysterical, coz networks were jammed. Got news about blasts in GK Market. Fear, anger, more calls.
Dropped one friend at Dhaula Kuan. Reached home. Saw relief in faces. More calls, more messages. Sat in front of TV, watching news. Still a little numb.
Was there, was just there. At just the safest distance. Thousands of what ifs started crossing mind. Went crazy with that. Decided that watching the news wasn't the best thing. More calls, more messages.
Slept with the light on.
Darkness usually doesn't scare me. That day it did.
27/9/2008 11:59 PM
© Prasheila
Next post--maybe tomorrow, maybe day after, maybe after a week--what I think of terrorism.
4 comments:
Yup was eagerly waiting for it for sometime :) love u guys... We r still alive.... :)
Love you too Chapak and Chapi :)
-Chapa ;)
I have never been even in a remotely life-threatening situation (unless, of course, you are of the opinion that we live dangerously all the time!), so I can't pretend to know what you went through or are going through.
But I have had my shares of what-ifs and I'm not a big fan of this term. It sucks you into a never-ending loop. It makes you live a false life because you stop appreciating the here-and-now and paint fancy pictures with unreal colours.
So I would ask you to stop going in the what-if direction. Nothing if. You aren't dead. You weren't meant to die at that point. You are alive and with people who love you. It may not be perfect, but your life is good--that's more than a lot of people can claim to have.
Love you.
Boss
:)
manyu
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