DON’T EVER TAKE ANYONE FOR GRANTED.. 26/11.. a life lesson!

 26/11.. just reading the date sends chills down my spine today.. even though it’s 15 years after it happened! I’m talking about the ghastly and gory terror attack in Mumbai on 26^th November 2008.. The night when so many were mercilessly shot dead and ruthlessly killed.. it brought home to me the fact that human life is so fragile and easily destroyed.. gone in the blink of an eye!

A number of you know the story so am not going to repeat it here.. but I will make a few important references.. We talk about the cycle of birth and rebirth.. 26/11 was in a sense, a rebirth for me! At the ripe old age of 45 years, I was unsuspectingly trapped in an (almost hostage) situation not at all of my making! No complaints here.. but a great deal of learning and some major realizations were my takeaway from the most frightening experience of my life..

Looking back, I truly marvel at..

the presence of mind.. of my oldest friend Varsha who amidst a barrage of bullets remembered to grab her mobile and mine along with our handbags..

the kindness of strangers.. the man who took us into his office and kept us there for the first hour of the shooting..

the two young men.. Saif and Brian who ran the PCO ISD STD store who literally picked us up and dragged us to the safety of their little room upstairs to shelter us..

their thoughtfulness at bringing us bottled water and soft drinks (on a very limited budget) and sincere attempt to bring us some food (although nothing was available)..

the care and concern of friends and family.. who texted and called all night to check up on where I was and whether I was safe or in some kind of danger..

the unconditional love and bravery of my father.. who at the age of 76 called and insisted on coming to fetch us with little or no regard as to the accompanying danger.. (and was subsequently dissuaded with great difficulty)

the incredible kindness and daring.. of my friend Senu and his wife Shami who came to pick us up very early in the morning and drop us home.. luckily just before the curfew was clamped on Colaba..

the unexpected thoughtfulness.. of Saif and Brian who took my number and asked me to please call and let them know we were home and safe..

the grace of the owner of Café Leopold.. who picked up and kept my car keys safely until I could pick them up..

and last but definitely not the least.. my trusty super dependable Nokia N73 (affectionately referred to as the “hathoda phone”) whose amazing battery survived calls and texts all through that night of terror!

Hearing gunshots and grenades going off at the Taj (we were right behind it).. seeing a terrorist running through the lane towards the Taj.. being glued to the TV news for 48 hours straight once I got home safely.. thanking God that I wasn’t just another number in the dead or missing list.. and going through immense “survivor guilt” brought home to me just HOW important it is NEVER to take anything or anyone for granted IN LIFE! As my grandmother (wise woman) used to say “Koi divas ek chapti dhool ni pan garaj padi shake” (some day you may just need even a pinch of dust)..

Since that fateful day and forevermore I try my best to hold that lesson and realization true and abide by what I have written.. There is gratitude from the minute I wake up which filters through the day for all my blessings.. be they people places or things!

A number of people have asked me why I go out of my way and am (by their standards perhaps) excessively generous kind and helpful.. well.. now you KNOW!! The answer in three simple little words is “because I can” and it is always a good thing to “pay it forward” as we go through life!

Thank you so much for reading.. and do please remember to post your name if you write a comment!

Be safe.. thankful and blessed.. today and always!!