When I am by myself with nothing particular on my mind, my eyes close to block out the worldly light in search of the beautiful light within .. time stands still and my thoughts stray to an ideal moment of love and peace all around me .. with a smile in my soul naturally flowing to my lips as I hold a hot cup of tea in my favourite flowery ceramic mug made perfectly light in its substance and having the sweetness that makes my eyes close with pleasure and as I envision the hot liquid going down my throat, my soul takes in the santoor playing in the background ... my beautiful thoughts, lilt me to wake up to the beauty that awaits me in this wonderful wonderful world ... and I see the world anew with love and peace despite whatever ...
I was born in Visakhapatanam and despite being a Punju brahmin by origin and having travelled the country being an armed forces kid; more than 75% of my 43 rains have been spent in this livewire, fast paced, multi culture, multi cuisine, financial capital of India -- Bombay or newly named Mumbai ... and clearly it is only because of this city and the experinces it has offered me that I am what I am today in mind and spirit. In fact it has given so much to all of its inhabitants like a mother does endlessly, patiently and lovingly providing for all her children may they be of whichever land ... they say it is very difficult to die of hunger in this city as it nurtures you to be a survivor despite whatever!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ... I was in deep sleep nursing a bad back having taken my food and a pill and gone to bed early and was in the midst of some complicated now forgotten dream when Nu woke me up abruptly at about 11.00 in the night on the night of 26th ... Priya dekho Taj or Oberoi mein aag lagi hai!! My bleary mind started playing logic "Taj and Oberoi burning? But they are so far apart ... how is there a fire simultaneously in both the hotels?"
As my cornea and lashes adjusted to the sudden awakening I turned on my side to look towards the TV, and to my horrow heard what the news channels were rattling away with unabated breath while the images of the Taj burning from the roof unfolded; bullets being fired from a police van at reporters; abandoned baggage covered in blood pools at the CST; salaskar, karakare and kamte getting ready for the kill only to be ambushed a short while later; and above all to know that a group of youngsters had caused all of this unbelievable carnage ... WHY HOW WHAT OH MY GOD !!!! was all that I could sputter as we watched into the wee hours of the morning ... I wanted to scream and do something so much and felt so inept to do anything to bring back peace, blow out the fires, bring justice to the victims and above all bring back life ... this was my ilaka where I spent my youth ... our officers that we probably even know ... My city, my mother, my home and yeah the hotels that are joined to some of the most amazing memories of my life -- was hostage to these jerks who believe they are doing well to please their lords, their god and their religion by massacaring innocent people!!? When I gathered my senses after the first few minutes I tried calling Ankita thinking that she may be one of the victims being a towny ... there was no response from her phone and my heart missed a beat as I thought of all the others that I know living in town - Baman n Pam, Jaya n Chetan n their kids, Vandana and her family and Pooja being the dearest -- I couldnt get thru to anyones phones ... I collected myself and prayed that all was well as my heart sank and tears rolled down my cheeks watching the events unfold ...
Oh lord of this universe help wisdom dawn upon the likes of these terrorists that they cannot ever win your love by doing what they do and are continuing to do ... I beckon thee to bring them and all such outfits across this world to justice! Oh Lord do give more love to all the people who suffered and survived the recent carnage and make their lives ahead beautiful and above all hold dearly all the souls of the people who have died and look after their loved ones who have been left behind...
And albeit these horribly wrong happenings and worrisome thoughts I closed my eyes this morning seeking the wondorous light of an ideal world ... to seek that special moment of wonder that will make me see the world anew once again ... because I am an emotional fool and love Bombay and its people and its cosmopolitan and cultural bhel puri beauty and above all its undying spirit so much .. because I love this great citys spirit for surviving the politicians, the corruption, the terrorist attacks and natures anger upon her ... because this place is home for me ... Bombay is my motherland. Yeh hai Bombay meri JAAN!!
