Terror: The terrible word of modern day living

With everybody writing something or the other about the current situation where we are almost everyday faced with the terrible six-letter word of modern day, TERROR, I feel tempted to write about it myself and let known what I feel about it.

This weekend we dined out. While seated and zeroing on the order, we were confronted with desperate calls from the manager of the fancy restaurant asking the gatherings whether anyone has forgotten a big black ladies bag in the waiting area. Every ear shot up and people stared at each other’s faces. After a few repetitions, it turned out one stupid looking woman, who happened to be just too be busy with her food, had failed to listen and respond the manager’s call. She suddenly rose up exclaiming, “Haan… Haan…” when her kid pointed out, “Mumma, where’s your bag?” Thanks to the kid, as the rest of us in the outlet were by now already prepared to gather our belongings and rush out. So etched in the minds of the common man is the terror of the word TERROR.

Anyway, that was on a lighter note. But seriously, the situation is bleak. People have stopped going to crowded areas, travel in the Metro or even venture out on weekends. Now, with the festive season coming up, the businesses are likely to go down rather than shooting up. This morning news poured in of a stampede at a famous temple when rumours about a bomb erupted. Somewhere around 200 people died, I heard. Even more than the toll of the Mehrauli Bomb Blast in Delhi last Saturday. Should we keep away from religious places too?

That day someone asked me, “Oh! You must be afraid of venturing out nowadays. Aren’t you?” A bit confused, I asked “Why exactly should I be?” and pat came the reply, “Arre, because of the bombings, you know. Everybody nowadays is scared of going out of their houses.” I smiled but didn’t answer. Later, I thought about it. I don’t think I am scared. No, I am definitely not scared of death because when it does strike probably I wouldn’t even have the time to realise the terror of it. But, still I would not risk my life just for adventure sake. For, after a person is gone, although it is for him/her that general people may think about or cry or miss, but in reality, the loss is of the family he/she leaves behind. They have to bear the constant reminder of the person gone every day, every moment. This is made worse when they tackle the knowledge that the death was not natural and that the person did not really deserve to die. It was simply some fanatic trying to prove some point, all in the name of religion, but which no religion propagates. Ask them, did death ask the dying man’s religion before sweeping him along?

The day after the first blasts on September 13, 2008, when life returned to normality, the media and the radio jockeys were all gung-ho about the spirit of Delhi, not to let these acts affect the Delhiites. The second blast, two weeks later, did not dampen the spirit as well. We, for example, were about to go out when news pored in. We did not stay back – went ahead about our plan, only avoided the Metro as a precaution. The Media again applauded the undying spirit of Delhi while pointing out the security services’ failure. I wished I could ask these Cheerleaders, did the Delhiites (or may be any other Metro’s people) have a choice. Life in a Metro is so dependent on people having to move out of their houses, travel in public or self-owned vehicles, how long did you expect them to sit at home and watch the stupid politicians express regret and comment on the increased security measures, or listen to the media covering stories on the dead and their families, confronting them with constant reminders of their loss when all they want is to be left alone with close family and friends in their time of grief.

No, we move on. We move on more so because all our near and dear ones, by God’s grace, have been spared of the horror. We move on because we feel that God is on our side and this cannot happen to us. We move on because we think we are safe – we only carry on with our monotonous life between home and work and we are away from all this chaos. We move on because we forget that those who are dead or injured were probably also God’s children carrying out their usual daily chores. We move on because we forget that we are just as vulnerable as the unlucky people who have lost their lives. We move on because we forget that our vigilance and cooperation with the state security is just as important in tackling this situation as the increased security measures. How many people get their tenants and house-helps verified by the police fearing it will spoil our image or question our trust in them? How many of us see a strange looking person and inform the police wondering how embarrassing would it be if he’s just an innocent passer-by? How many of us look around and under our seats while travelling in public transports, more concerned about grabbing a place to sit rather than being vigilant of our surroundings. How many of us actually go to the police and discuss anything strange we might have observed fearing unnecessary harassment by the police and the media? True, the Police and Media should work and improve their reputations of harassers but even before pointing this out to them, we the citizens, should improve our image as on-lookers and rather be known as knowledgeable, aware and enlightened persons.

The woman in your life...

Just one of those forward e-mails…. But, how true….

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Tomorrow you may get a working woman, but you should marry her with these facts as well.

Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are; who is earning or may earn almost as much as you do;

One, who has dreams and aspirations just as you have because she is as human as you are;

One, who has never entered the kitchen in her life just like you or your Sister haven't, as she was busy in studies and competing in a system that gives no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements

One, who has lived and loved her parents & brothers & sisters, almost as much as you do for 20-25 years of her life;

One, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that, her home, people who love her, to adopt your home, your family, your ways and even your family, name

One, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1, while you sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances, environment and that kitchen

One, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning and cook food at the end of the day, even if she is as tired as you are, maybe more, and yet never ever expected to complain; to be a servant, a cook, a mother, a wife, even if she doesn't want to; and is learning just like you are as to what you want from her; and is clumsy and sloppy at times and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding, or if she learns faster than you;

One, who has her own set of friends, and that includes boys and even men at her workplace too, those, who she knows from school days and yet is willing to put all that on the back-burners to avoid your irrational jealousy, unnecessary competition and your inherent insecurities;

Yes, she can drink and dance just as well as you can, but won't, simply because you won't like it, even though you say otherwise

One, who can be late from work once in a while when deadlines, just like yours, are to be met;

One, who is doing her level best and wants to make this most important, relationship in her entire life a grand success, if you just help her some and trust her;

One, who just wants one thing from you, as you are the only one she knows in your entire house - your unstinted support, your sensitivities and most importantly - your understanding, or love, if you may call it.

But not many guys understand this.....