Mumbai - the Aftermath...

I ventured out to see if I could go and see the damage that the terrorists had done to my Mumbai. On entering the cab and stating my destination, my cab driver turned around and looked at me as if I was mad, and reconfirmed, "Madam, Regal hi jaana hai ? Sab band hoga!" I replied by telling him to try his luck and sure enough traffic was not allowed beyond Regal cinema.

I got off and started walking towards the Taj hoping to be allowed through the now visilbe barracades. Unfortunately I was not allowed beyond a point, so I stood and took some pictures after which I walked to Leopold Cafe and took a couple of pictures from my mobile.

Mumbai - The Aftermath....

The deserted Colaba Causeway Road...

A glimpse of the Victorious Taj

An Army truck at Bade Miya's

Media outside the Taj

A glimpse of the Taj

The Leopold Cafe.. where it all started...

The Leopold Cafe.. notice the broken glass...


Metro Cinema - back to business


Though things are moving on, the Subway still remains closed at Metro..

Mumbai - Safe once again!!

“Forgiving a Terrorist should be left to GOD…
But fixing their appointment with GOD is entirely our Responsibility!”
- Indian Army

“Hamare liye kuch bhi mushkil nahi hai” this was the reply given to one of the journalists by our NSG Commandos after they had finished Operation Cyclone at the Taj hotel today morning. This one sentence is the one that makes the difference and makes my heart swell with pride for our defense personnel. As I write this post today, it is with a very heavy heart as this is one post I wish I never had to write… I stay in South Mumbai, very much near the terrible terrorist attacks – in fact the shooting at Metro Cinema was just outside my building… it has been a nerve wrecking 3 days.

The number 1 question in my and everyone’s minds is “WHY?” but I know there is no answer to this, as who can understand the twisted and warped minds of terrorists?

Being a South Mumbai resident from birth, the recent happenings have hit nearer to my heart….. I used to go to the Oberoi’s for a late night cup of coffee with my girl friends, a place completely safe and beautiful which will now be linked to terrorist attacks. The Taj – one of THE monuments of not only South Mumbai but of whole Mumbai started going up in flames. As the fires engulfed the corridors of the Taj, tears welled up in my mother’s eyes as she saw a heritage building that she has seen all her life, visited all her life, lived near all her life be damaged by senseless terrorists. The attacks at Leopold Cafe, Nariman building, VT station, Cama hospital, GT hospital, Vile Parle have been as scary and have captured my attention for the past 3 days. I don’t remember being glued to the TV set for so long waiting for news that all is fine.

The murdered Rabbi’s son turns 2 today but has none of his parents to hold him as he cuts the cake, the Taj’s GM’s two young sons and wife were charred to death, the shaken and disturbed looks of worried relatives as they wait for news, our defense personnel who lost their lives, the fact that the terrorists had beautifully planned this “military like” operation for over 6 months – these and other incidents have shaken me. The number of deaths of innocent people for no reason at all makes me want to personally torture these terrorists – will I get my wish??

I would like to end by saying that I am proud of our NSG Commandos, our police force, our Marines who have fought for the last (almost) 60 hours to bring normalcy back to Mumbai so that I am alive today to say I am proud to be an Indian, proud to be a South Mumbai “townie”!!