26/11

I heard some crackers bursting and thought that the naughty kids of the colony have gotten back to their business and got back to my movie. Soon after, it was in news, “Mumbai on War”. 10 kids (Kids they were, all aged 20-25 yrs) came by sea and set Mumbai on fire. I knew that this could be solved in few hours and Mumbai will be back to its routine soon after. But I knew very little. My hostel being so close to the attacked areas, I could hear fire shots and Grenades blasting all day and night which continued for 56 hrs. Now even a spoon falling shivers me. I have seen such scenarios on TV and movies but never saw or experienced it in person. It was very different. Where on one hand people who were trapped inside the Hotels were terrified and being killed, on the other hand people residing in the neighboring areas were all excited and enthu about the bullets being fired. Some of them would just call up their friends to make them hear the noises of Bullet shots, Blasts, people Dying, Ambulances, Taj on fire…. In spite of repeated pleas from the security forces to the public to stay in their houses, they all were on street crowding the area much more than any other usual day. I wonder if they thought a movie was being shot. When a spectator got shot on his arm, people around him started clicking his pictures instead of giving him a helping hand. Another spectator who got shot on his finger went about showing it in the camera rather than shout for help. I really amused me how people in India are so television savvy. They would go to any extent to be on television.

Media was annoying (There were mixed reactions though). Where it was providing us a service by telecasting everything live, It was also providing a service to the master planners behind these attacks by revealing our plan of actions. Considering the part where it was a hindrance in carrying out the entire operation, I wonder what they want. Do they want to get every news before even the people in action get it? Or do they want to cover every incidence before it has actually taken place?

Another question that was running in my mind was “Where was the so efficient Mumbai Police?” Just a couple of days back I had been to a function organized by Bollywood to salute Mumbai Police as they are the most efficient police after Scotland’s. At that moment I wondered if these “civilians” have ever conducted such shows for the Army? Have these civilians ever been to J&K and seen how everything is being managed by the Army? Have they ever known a person who has been posted in the Border and stays away from family for years? Have they ever known a person who has killed people(which is not easy) so that they don’t kill you? Have they realized that the only force that is efficient and non corrupt and disciplined is the Indian Army? The only force that comes to rescue when our nation is in danger is the Indian Army. So why aren’t such shows conducted for us? Well, my point was proven right. Now the entire nation agrees with me that Indian Army rocks. When Police of Mumbai couldn’t do anything (not even prevent these terrorists from entering the Mumbai border), they called on the Army to protect them. When we heard army helicopters above our building, we knew that we are gonna be safe now. Then I was proud to be an Army officer’s daughter.