Scared? Us?

It's been over a week since 3 blasts claimed 20 lives and injured more than 100 people. Life crawled back to normalcy within a couple of days. No, we aren't indifferent or apathetic to these gruesome incidents but neither are we scared.

Life in this city is more dangerous than anything the ISI or the Lakshar-E-Tayaba can do. On Sunday, a young movie-goer and her infant died because a tree fell on them in Nariman Point! A TREE!! Who do we blame, the ISI, the LeT, the RSS (Ask Digvijay Singh)?

Dying is easy in this city. It could be through a manhole in the monsoons, or by getting hit by a speeding auto rickshaw or bus or truck, while crossing the street. Many people die every year falling off trains. Others die of malaria, dengue and some just because of breathing in the polluted air.

So! Are we scared of the Lakshar-E-Tayaba or Indian Mujahideen or any other terrorist group? Not one bit!

Mumbai Blasts:- The Day After

The heavens opened out this morning almost in grief and most parts of the city were flooded. Since a lot of people had trouble getting home yesterday, many chose to take the day off. The local trains were empty and it was an eerie feeling to see an empty Andheri local at Charni Road at 6:30 pm.

I went to watch a movie in Central Plaza Cinema, in Charni Road and crossed the site of one of the deadly explosions. The place was surrounded by policemen because Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the head of the ruling coalition Sonia Gandhi were expected at the spot. Street-side conversations revolved around yesterday's events but the shock of yesterday seemed to wear off.

There were 6 of us in the entire cinema hall for a 7 pm show. I think it was the rains more than anything that kept the people out. But there was definitely a palpable tension in the air in South Bombay.

How many innocent people will die before our intelligence agencies get their act together?

Terror strikes Mumbai again

17 people woke up in Bombay on July 13 without knowing that this was their last day on earth. They went about their daily routines, rushed to work and went through the motions like it was just another day. Only it wasn't! 17 famillies will never see a loved one again, 17 famillies shattered forever by an evil act. For these people, the pain is permanent, things will never be the same for them again.

I love going to Dadar's Plaza Cinema to watch "masala" Bollywood movies like Dabang. It's more about enjoying the crowd's reaction to the movie than the movie itself. I can't count the number of times I have walked outside Dadar station through that busy area. It just wasn't my time to go. That's the only way I can put it.

This city is so crowded that it is easy for hate-filled monsters to carry out their agenda. Those who do these kinds of things in the name of religion, do their religion a terrible disservice. Frankly, I would sum up these blasts as another intelligence failure. Improvised Explosive Devices were used and not every roadside fanatic has the ability to make these.

I am over the shock of yesterday, as everyone close to me is out of harm's way. I switched off the television after watching the initial reports as the electronic media has made a circus of the incident. They should not be allowed near the site, as crowds form and forensic evidence is destroyed.  I also didn't want to hear the oft-repeated 'Spirit of Mumbai' garbage. Life goes on as normal, because we don't have a choice. A vast majority of people live in this city because it is only here that they can make a decent livelihood. If people don't go about their normal routines after such incidents then they won't be able to feed their families and pay the bills.

I know these blasts aren't the last we'll witness in this city. And I know that when my time is up, I'll go, whether it's on account of bomb blasts or something else.