26/11/2008....the Biggest Nightmare in the history of our country. The terror attacks in Mumbai were actually beyond the word 'Nightmare'. It was one of the darkest nights for the city and the entire country.
Today its been 2 years but the loss, pain, agitation and rememberance is still the same.
I wanted to write this blog to share my terrible memories of 26/11....
That time I was working on a medical event in Pune of about 1000 doctors. Out of them, we had a faculty of 120 International doctors who were especially coming down to India for this conference. Our event was scheduled from 26 Nov-2 Dec 2008.
So ideally it was my first day on my Event for which I had put in a years hardwork and sleepless nights. I reached home at about 11pm after completion of the first day. Thoroughly tired and exhausted...I simply crashed into bed unaware of what had happened in Mumbai and least bothered to watch TV. It was only around 2:30am when my cell rang and I had a representative of Hotel Sun N Sand on the line. I blasted at him very badly for calling up at this time as I was totally unaware of the reason. I was also looking at the travel and accomodation part of the International Faculty. It was then when this person told me that one of the Doctor was stuck at the Airport and was getting very restless due to the TERROR ATTACKS IN MUMBAI. Now this literally made me jump from my bed and switch on the TV. Whatever I saw and went through for that one hour at midnite....still cannot be expressed in words. I was thoroughly shaken and shattered. My Mumbai City was in pain and blood...this was actually happening. I couldnt believe it. The very next thought that flashed into my mind was...what about all my faculty and their travelling from Mumbai-Pune on that very night. I almost went into a trance. Fortunatly, Taj and Airport Road had no direct connection so there wasnt much problem.
Somehow I managed to compose myself and reach the venue next morning. Here I got another shocking news....2 of the American Doctors who were also our leading speakers had checked in TAJ MUMBAI ON 26th EVENING. For a moment I felt...its my own imagination coming out of all the scary thoughts of previous night but No...I was wrong. This was a news and I had to face it .My constant calls to N-number of people, police stations, CBI and what not. But I still couldnt trace my guests. And moreover, I was getting endless calls from the families of all the doctors. Oh God...!!! What a scary situation it was. By the grace of almighty, we got the news after a week's time that our doctors were hostages but managed to reach back to USA safe and sound.
This was 26/11 for me....surely nothing in comparison to all those who actually faced the attacks but still a Nightmare in its own way which was unfortunately a REALITY. I never ever in my life wana witness such a situation again.
Today even after 2 years...the mere thought of this day brings goose-bumps and increases my heart-beat at a double rate.My heart still beats and bleeds for Mumbai and the night of 26/11
This blog is a SALUTE TO ALL OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS WHO FOUGHT FOR US AND LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES. We are extremely proud of them.
Jai Hind Jai Bharat!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment