26/11

One year back the whole nation was stunned by what happened in Bombay. I was speechless and didn't know how to react... for a very long time. I was upset about everything. The day, the night, my life, people, the shootings, the films, the laughs and the smiles, the news channels, the regular channels, the cars, the religions.....EVERYTHING. I didn't know how to be, and what would be the right way to be. Where to be and what to do. To be outraged, or to be calm.

I didn't want to be stuck to the television and live off the news, but I didn't want to shut it either. I felt so far away from the incident even after living in the same city. My entire physical being started working on the healing process as soon as I found out that people are dying. I refused to be terrorized by these few people and I didn't want to let all the killings kill my insides. I couldn't breathe.... I couldn't breathe.....

Prayer meetings were being thought of before Bombay came back to it's 'normal' self. (whatever that is) The whole city was outraged. Everyone had an opinion to share, a point to make. Tempers' were flying for many days. And all I was thinking then that, if only people had reacted to the 11th July train blasts, maybe just maybe 26/11 could have been avoided. If only debates and marches had been as prominent then. If only the Government was smarter. If only our intelligence was 'intelligent'. If only those brave police men had proper resources. If only.... there are so many if's.

Bombay has a way of wiping off the dust and straightening up as soon as it falls. The people have always been resilient. Anyone who lives or moves to this city, learns to become a fighter. Bombay makes you strong. I know it did me. I think of last year and it gets hard for me to breathe again. I think many people feel the same... Many people who had been a part of last year's debacle are reliving the same moments again.

But the healing has begun and breathing is getting back to regular. We are moving on. We are moving on because that's what you do, that's how you live, that's what Bombay is.

I salute all the martyr's and pray for their families. And hope our Administration makes it safer to live in the wonderful city.