December 20, 2008

A City Awakens Again...

I felt a drop fall on me, as I walked out of the house. I looked up, and saw more. The heavens had opened up.

Mumbai, the business capital of India, a city that is bustling with crowds and vehicles, even a cow sometimes in the middle. When it rains heavily, the city sometimes goes under havoc. But today’s rain was just a light shower. It was just a few week back that this city was the centre of attention, of not just the country but the world. It was the day a blatant terror attack took place. A cruel and cowardly attack that claimed many an innocent life and brought the city to a standstill…


After three days of fighting the terrorists, we won. A handful of terrorists against many of our best soldiers from the special task force, and it took us three days. It showed a lack of preparedness but also helped ring alarms of security in the top level of the government. We won, but sacrificing their lives for our safety, were great men. Today they are no longer with us in body, but they always will be there by us in spirit. They will encourage us to fight during the toughest of times. I pray their souls rest in peace.

Today, the city is slowly getting back to its normal ways. As I walk in this evening rain, I can see people coming back from work. A cafĂ© that was attacked that day is slowly but surely coming back into business. I can still see crowds in the streets, and that odd cow. I can still see some anxiety on people’s faces but I can also see a smile. I can see people who used to hate each other before, now helping each other out. I can see the people fighting for entering a bus, for even an inch on the footboard. Yes, slowly and surely, Mumbai is coming back to the way it was before.

It makes me think of a message I got back then. “Terrorists have managed to unite the country, something that the politicians did not succeed in”. Sad but true. It did unite the country. The rain, I feel, is the tears of the martyrs, who lost their lives defending us. But are they crying with joy or with sadness? It is something I have no answer to.




Vinay(aka Leo) 398 words. Pic: Google Pictures.
PS: I am not from Mumbai, so this is just imaginative. Not sure if it is good or not.

7 comments:

  1. Beautiful.
    :)
    An entry to reckon with
    :)
    Good job, leo
    :)

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  2. I'm from Mumbai and its is not imaginative. It is truth though it didnt rain when it happened.It did rain yday!

    I liked the reality of the entire post! It was very realistic. Just day before, I walked by Cafe Leopold and the Causeway where all this happened. Though a lot hasnt changed, something has changed definately.

    Here's to change and here is to all those who had to lose their lives for us to realise something has to change

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  3. A lovely piece of writting no doubt in it . Idea was very nice
    I am not from mumbai but i ve visited ... a great place . Do keep writting LEO!

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  4. very symbolic !!! i liked this :)

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  5. The last paragraph's superbly written....

    The incident has united us for sure. But a city coming back to normal is inevitable. And it is no gesture to anything..!!

    Nice post buddy..

    Cheers..!!
    Arjun

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  6. yeah last para, i will second.

    not exactly terrorist here in pakistan, but when the earthquake hit us in oct 2005, i witnessed everything staying here at Islamabad.

    people were like totally one, although the major area effected was Azad Kashmir, pakistani people just stood as one :) i can relate to this post as well!


    and not a mumbaiker in real sense, but a mumbaiker when it comes to consoling the people who're hurt, when it comes to telling everyone that we're the victim of similar terrorism as well (remember marriot Hotel attack?) so we can understand, and we're with you all in prayers :)

    ReplyDelete

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