India's worst ever terror attack

They've been calling it India's worst ever terror attack. And it is. Much much worse than anything I've ever sen.

It's been 16-17 hours since the attack began. But there hasn't been much headway yet. Hostage situations at three places. Countless people dead. Property destroyed. People terrified.

They're young, well dressed boys. Somebody you would expect would know better. These aren't amateur terrorists. They're sophisticated, well-trained attackers who know what they're doing. They've carried out their plans with military precision and left India and Mumbai reeling.

They came in by speedboat and the Indian Navy has just stopped a Karachi bound boat which refused to stop despite repeated calls. They came in to bring us to our knees.

Hemant Karkare and Vijay Salaskar. Two of Mumbai's seniormost and valuable police officials gone for ever. Havaldars and army men.

Security forces have been pouring in. The NSG, the RAF and the Marine Commandos.Flown down from Delhi. And now I'd like to ask Raj Thackeray, what he has to say about this, Why isn't he making a noise now about north Indian's pouring into the city?

And to top it all of, I had a conversation with a friend, about the whole situation and he spoke of how the police seemed to be doing nothing in particular, just running around and I completely lost it. I told him to shut the f*** up and put the phone down.

In such trying times, how can people think like this? Do they think it's a joke for them to go in. Knowing that there's a very good chance that they'll lose their lives. They should at least have a fighting chance to get in there and get back out. 14 policemen have already lost their lives.

I for one, have full faith in our security forces. The NSG is there and I think they're one of the best outfits in India. If anyone can bring this situation under control, it's them. And they're the ones leading the operation.

This is exactly why I never criticise my police officials, despite my moments of anger. Knowing that they always do the best they can. And why I don't really mind if they take a bribe. Because when situations like this happen, it's their lives on the line and most of us are safely at home.

The official line now is refusing to negotiate. And I completely agree. They shouldn't be let off in the slightest and should be completely punished for what they've done.

This is a cowardly, dastardly attack and the lowest of the low.

But I'm proud. Of my politicians. We haven't seen any finger pointing, the blame game hasn't been played. Politicians haven't poured into the city and made matters worse. They've let the security forces deal with the problem without the complications of politics. For that, I'm grateful.

And I'm completely with Chandni on this one.

F&%k you.

Bombay under seige

Bombay has been reeling under terror attacks in the last couple of hours. The Oberoi and Taj hotels, Cafe Leopold's in Colaba, Cama and GT hospitals, VT station, Vile Parle and Santacruz.

Men have stormed in with AK 47's and hand grenades and have been gunning people down.

And this has affected me like nothing has in a while. Cafe Leopold's, VT are all places you'll find me at most often. When I was in college, Colaba was my hangout of choice and Leopold's a favourite place to be at with some beer and their famous beef chilly. The minute I would walk in, I would run into at least 5 people I know. And any Xavierite or Wilsonian will agree with me.

It's just simply heartbroken and I'm finding it hard to comprehend. The hardest part though was when the camera panned around Leopold's to show a pool of blood in a corner. Why do people have to do this? How cold-blooded and devoid of feeling can a human being be to stand in front of a roomful of people and shoot them down.

Edited to Add: TV reporters seem to sink lower and lower. An NDTV 24X7 correspondent asked a man who's escaped from the Taj whether he's scared. Sigh

The last two hours since I've found out have passed in calling and returning calls and watching the news. Looking at the police going about their jobs.

But what's infuriating me now is thinking of people like Raj Thackeray who occupy our police with usual issues like who's Bihari and who's Maharashtrian. As I've said before, we have 1 policeman for every 700 people, and it's time we let them do their jobs.

In the latest news, a plane load of commandos and an NSG team has departed from Delhi to Mumbai. I hope this is solved and normalcy restored and we can go back to living our lives without fear.

Edited to Add: TV reporters seem to sink lower everytime. An NDTV correspondent asked a man who escaped from the Taj whether he's scared. *Sigh*

The JW Mariott in Juhu is under attack as well. When will this stop?

Cheater cheater pumpkin eater

I cheated today.

Not on a boyfriend or anything of that sort, before you let your imagination run away with you.

But at a stupid little game of volleyball. Played entirely for the purpose of fun and a miserly bottle of Pepsi.

Well, anyway the score was tied, the other team was serving. One of the boys on the opposite team smashed the ball over to our side. We thought it was out and left it, only to have it bounce on the sideline.

The other team starts celebrating and my team minus me, starts screaming about how the ball was out, and then everybody started arguing.

One of my team mates comes up to me and says, 'It was out. You don't say anything, we'll handle it.'

And I didn't. Because I was the only girl in the team and I didn't want to have all the boys shout at me. I now see that for the miserable excuse it is. That I, who's always prided myself on my courage and honesty and fearlessness could be scared of incurring the wrath of five boys.

And when the other team turned to me, because of the fact that I've never lied before. I said it was out. All because it seemed oh so important to my team that we win.

To put it simply I LIED.

We went on to win. And the Pepsi was drunk and all of that.

But all evening and all of today morning, I've been feeling dreadful. I can't believe that I cheated. I walked home from the game with a heavy heart. Unable to believe that I could sink so low.

I may be making a bigger deal out of this than I should. It was just one inconsequential game of volleyball. But I can't help it. If I can lie for something as inane as whether the ball was in or out. What else can I possibly lie about?

I solemnly swear though, that I shall never do something like this again.

Now, if only this feeling of having done a great wrong would go away.

Remembering Avanti

Day before yesterday, on the 8th of November 2008, Avanti Desai would have turned 21. Instead 15 days before her birthday, as she hurried home to celebrate her grandmother's birthday, Avanti met with a train accident at Jogeshwari station.

Just like that. Gone from our lives forever. Leaving behind a huge void and the world a lot more gloomier.

And when I got the call first thing in the morning, I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a cruel sadistic joke, but as the calls kept coming in, I realised it was true. Even at the cemetary, looking at her body, it still hadn't sunk in that Avanti was no longer here. The worst moment though was when they slid her body into the electric crematorium, it was horrible and I couldn't believe we were leaving her there, and through the next couple of hours all I could think of was of her body burning while we stood there in the bright sunshine.

It seemed incomprehensible at first, to think of Avanti as dead, to talk about her in the past tense, to get used to the idea that I wouldn't see her smile again or hear her laugh, to hear her obsess over Shah Rukh Khan and talk nonstop about her hair, never experience that typical Avanti sarcasm and wit. To not have random late night conversations on MSN Messenger with her again, or send her stupid smses.

Avanti was one of the most brilliant classmates I've ever had. Well-read, well-informed, her intelligence and knowledge of politics never failed to astound me. But what was best about Avanti was despite the fact that she was intelligent, unlike a lot of other people from class, she was never anal about it and was one of the most unaffected, unassuming people in class, who despite knowing so much was never snooty and always ready to have some fun.

And even though we honestly only became friends in third year, Avanti was someone I always held in highest regard and someone I was sure would do exceedingly well for herself. She, for me, was the one who would be the most famous of us all, the one I would say, 'I went to college with that girl.'

And now all of that is no more. Gone.

And while I feel so terrible, I can't even begin to imagine what her parents might be going through and for the rest of my life, the image of her bereft father at the funeral will stay with me. No parent should ever have to go through something like that.

My deepest regret however is that I spoke to her a couple of days before her death, and as she was traveling in the train and she couldn't hear me too clearly, I said I would call her back and then I didn't because I forgot.

And that is something I will never be able to forgive myself for. Not calling her back.

RIP Avanti. You are loved and missed.

Hogwash

Headlines Today has been telecasting nonstop for the past hour, the news of Dr Akhilesh Prasad Singh, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and PD, assaulting and abusing a staff member of Kingfisher Airlines. To read about it, go here.

The minister was on Headlines Today, where he said that he arrived at the Patna Airport at 8:15 pm, for an 8:30 flight. On questioning by the anchor, he said that the security formalities were completed by his staff.

How ridiculous is that? 15 mins before a flight takes off, the man dares to turn up and on being told he can't board the flight, assaults the manager. All because he has behind him the weight of the ministry. When the plane has already begun take off procedures, he demands to be allowed to board the flight.

Ordinary mortals like us on the other hand, turn up an hour earlier for flights, even with conveniences like online check-ins. We board the flight 30 mins in advance, follow all the rules, go through our security checks dutifully and do everything we're supposed to do.

What are we? Idiots?

His defence is that he has been part of the Bihar Assembly for the last five years and the Lok Sabha for four and half years and the very idea of him abusing someone is unthinkable. The best part however, is this, the Minister claims he's the 'victim'.

Next I'm sure we'll hear him saying how this is a plot by other political parties to besmirch his name.

Anyway, to read the minister's official statement, check out the press information bureau of the government. It explains in detail, his view/position/version/lie of what really happened.