Bone splinters & drops of blood... now forgotten

Most mumbaikars would agree that we, as a city have seen a whole lot of terrorist activities; probably more than any other city in India. Each incident leaves it ugly scar on the city and more so a deep, eternally burning one in the lives of the citizens. It pains me to see how justice is never meted out, cases pile up one on top of the other and the city waits silently for the next act of violence...

The media glorifies the city as being ultimately tough/ cold hearted (as you may want to interpret). They say we go on with our lives as though nothing ever happened. I ask them, do we have a choice; for many people everyday's work would mean a hot meal for the family - no work, no daily wage, no food. So is that person supposed to sit at home twiddling his thumbs or take a chance, go to work and earn so that his family can get that day's meal ???

26/11 was probably one of the worst attacks on Mumbai city; the city has never been held at ransom for almost 60 hours. So many people massacred, families torn apart, security officials killed, property destroyed; its effects can still be felt. The lone terrorist to be caught alive- Kasab; caught on CCTV footage spraying bullets at CST and then responsible for the death of a police officer who held on to him tightly even after being shot. We saw the whole ordeal of trials, read about all the questioning and his confession and we rejoiced at the verdict.

I picked up the paper today and one news item catches my eye - Kasab appeals against death sentence... WHYYYY ... who gave him the right to even appeal and the reason he states; police provided insufficient evidence and eyewitnesses accuse him bcoz they saw his photograph on TV. Why wouldn't they identify you, they have seen you kill their kith and kin !!! I don't understand why we spend so much money on keeping a person like him alive even after the verdict has been declared; it is unfair to waste tax payers' money on a terrorist. He slaughtered mercilessly and deserves no mercy in return.

Slightly hard hitting comments, one might think but it upsets me that after so blatantly attacking the city, being caught on CCTV, questioning being done & verdict being given, this person still has the audacity to state a reason as flimsy as 'insufficient evidence'. We are showing ourselves as weak by not executing the death sentence immediately. We need to send out a strong message to those who think they can bring us down that we can fight back when the need arises...

However do I see this happening in the near future; it pains me to say "NO"....

Good morning !!!

It's very strange how we go about our every day life like mechanized beings; each thing is a routine and there is nothing we look forward to... I began my day in the same fashion.

It was a usual battle of rejection as it is every morning - rejection by every rickshaw guy who i ask 'oh-so-kindly' to take me to office. But then as i was thinking of how this had become a daily occurence, along came a rickshaw with a smiling face showing on the windscreen. He agreed and very sweetly asked me to get in. As i began to dig my bag for my MP3 player to take my mind off everything else, he began a conversation. I usually hate having conversations, coz they usually only involve them complaining about the traffic, or arguing against my selection of route or fare.. But he says " so how are you today ?" ...

How are you today... How are you today .... oh my godddd !!! since when did a stranger ask you something like this with a warm smile on his face and timed it oh so correctly when my day had just begun sooooo badly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, i silently held on to MP3 and my bag, waiting to see how the conversation progresses... My mind starts thinking ' crazy, psycho man; unnecessary talk, blabbering away' but slowly i get reeled into the conversation and my MP3 slowly slides back into my bag...

I dont think i have heard someone speak such impeccable english in a long time, no no i am not talking about myself, my rickshaw guy was like a global traveller. My 20 minute ride to office was filled with stories of France, Switzerland and USA.. He tells me the story of his post retirement life, how what he planned failed for him and then inspite of having children livng in Switzerland and USA; he decided to begin working again as an entrepreneur. His financial status didn't let him employ anyone so he rides the rickshaw himself... The best is the way he leaves you, a sweet greeting ' have a nice day' and ' god bless you' ....

My God !! would i do that ... I dont mean to be prejudiced or biased in any way but no.. i dont think i would... I see the happiness in his eyes in simply serving the passenger and no quarms of having to work at this age... Wow; really Wow !!!!

Kudos to Mr A.N Fernandez !!!