My Morning Scare

I have a reputation of being an extremely cautious person be it with things or with anything else. I am the last one to ever lose anything, so much so that friends and family would rather leave things in my safekeeping than with themselves.

I was readying for work this morning and dug into my handbag for my wallet and to my utter horror couldnt find it. Being such a meticulous person I knew without a doubt that if it wasnt where it should have been, then there was no point looking for it elsewhere. And my search confirmed that I had lost it.

By now I was frantic with worry as I had just last night withdrawn a substantial amount of money from the ATM for my expenses. Over that my wallet contained 3 gold credit cards, 1 silver credit card, 3 bank ATM cards and my other important identity cards. I froze with panic imagining all sorts of horrible things. My mom who couldnt believe that I had lost it asked me to check again. By now I had grown so tense that it was as though a thick band had begun to wrap itself tight around my head.

I tried to recall where I had last removed my wallet. I had left late from work last night and my colleague had dropped me home in his car. On the way I had removed money to pay at the Aarey toll naka. So I knew it may have fallen on my lap when I had thought I was putting it in my handbag. Either it should have fallen in the car when I got out of the car or on the road. I prayed hard that it should be the car.

I frantically dialled my colleagues number, who was on his way to work. He searched the car while I was talking to him and said that he didnt find the wallet. I requested him to do a thorough search again once he reached office. By now I was on the verge of tears. I hurriedly began to take down all my credit and ATM card numbers to block the cards and got ready to go back to where I had got off last night to check if the wallet could still be there. Though I knew the possibility of retrieving it there was remote. And then if it had fallen in the car, the possibility of the person who washes the car in the morning pocketing it was high.

While I was at this my colleague called back and asked me if I had credit cards in my wallet. I said yes. He then jokingly asked me if they had a substantial credit limit to spend. The tone of his voice told me he had found it. He then gave me the good news that he had indeed found the wallet. My relief at that is difficult to express.

The fright I had this morning was one of the worst I have had in a long time. I dont know if someone else would be able to relate to it, I guess one has to experience it to know what one can go through in that instant. I have yet to collect my wallet from my colleague, but atleast I know it's in safe hands. Thank God for small mercies.

It just happened to be a 2000-step process

A candidate for a news broadcasters post was rejected by officials since his voice was not fit for a news broadcaster. He was also told that with his obnoxiously long name, he would never be famous.


He is Amitabh Bachchan.
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A small boy - the fifth amongst seven siblings of a poor father, was selling newspapers in a small village to earn his living. He was not exceptionally smart at school but was fascinated by religion and rockets. The first rocket he built crashed. A missile that he built crashed multiple times and he was made a butt of ridicule. He is the person to have scripted the Space Odyssey of India single-handedly


Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
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In 1962, four nervous young musicians played their first record audition for the executives of the Decca recording Company. The executives were not impressed. While turning down this group of musicians, one executive said, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out."


The group was called The Beatles.
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In 1944, Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modelling Agency told modelling hopeful Norma Jean Baker, "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married.


She went on and became Marilyn Monroe.
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In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired a singer after one performance. He told him, "You ain't goin'nowhere....son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck."


He went on to become Elvis Presley.
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When he invented the telephone in 1876, it did not ring off the hook with calls from potential backers. After making a demonstration call, President Rutherford Hayes said, "That's an amazing invention, but who would ever want to see one of them?"


He Was Alexander Graham Bell
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When he invented the light bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work. A young reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times. He said, "I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2000-step process."


He Was Thomas Edison
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In the 1940s, another young inventor named Chester Carlson took his idea to 20 corporations, including some of the biggest in the country. They all turned him down. In 1947 after seven long years of rejections! He finally got a tiny company in Rochester, New York, the Haloid Company, to purchase the rights to his invention -- an electrostatic paper-copying process.
Haloid became Xerox Corporation.
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A little girl - the 20th of 22 children, was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4 years old, she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralysed left leg. At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it. By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little girl -


Wilma Rudolph, went on to win three Olympic gold medals.
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A school teacher scolded a boy for not paying attention to his mathematics and for not being able to solve simple problems. She told him that you would not become anybody in life.


The boy went on to become Albert Einstein.
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By the Seaside

Post a Training session at "The Resort", we went for a walk on the Beach located behind the hotel. It was such a beautiful evening, that I couldnt resist capturing the scene on my mobile camera.

Railway tracks completely submerged. 

Bandra Kurla Complex - a Commercial HUB having many offices, completely submerged. 

A Helping hand 

Scenes of the Mumbai rainfall 

Spirit of Mumbai

This is a mail from a friend explaining the spirit of Indians.

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"Yesterday (Wednesday) my heart cried. I work for a call centre and due to the rains on Tuesday I had to stay back in office in Malad. I opted to work the whole night so that on Wednesday I could take the day off and go home. After having some 2 hrs of sleep and working for 2 continuous shifts of 18 hrs my company managed to let us go by the Company bus right up to Bandra. I stay near Crawford Market. By 1.00 pm two company buses were rolled out towards Bandra.

We had to move through west as we were informed that the whole highway along the east was blocked. We were not prepared for the gory sight we were about to see. There were dead animals like rats, dogs, cows, buffaloes strewn about the road like diversion boards. There were people in ground floor apartments and buildings just clearing their house, their clothes already filthy. All we could see for about 2 hrs were people walking home. That’s it. I have never seen so many people just walk. By the time we reached Vile Parle through the link road we were traffic struck. It was 2.45pm. That’s when it happened. That’s when I saw the miracle.

The traffic was stuck. We moved only about 10 meters in about 45 minutes. There were residents along the whole SV road who came on the road offering us biscuits. They gave us whole packets of biscuits to eat whoever was walking by. There were people offering us bottles of water to drink. There were people giving us Wada Pav. Bananas were given to all those in the bus and cars. Khichdi rice was served in plates to all those weary. Khakdas and other snacks made it a variety. I just couldn’t stop thanking them. As I write this I still have tears in my eyes for them. I walked from Vile Parle to Dadar. It took me 5 hours. But I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t because of them.

There are many of us who owe them our thanks. As the whole of Mumbai walked wearily these residents came running after us, asking us if we wanted medicines - crocins etc. I just looked at them. I didn’t have the heart to tell them no I am ok. There must be over 200 volunteers as I made my journey. All the way I saw volunteers directing people, managing traffic and helping people with what ever they can do by sacrificing their luxuries at homes. All the way I saw young and old, ladies and teenagers facing the onslaught with courage and a smile. I salute all Mumbaikars, who have rightly made Mumbai proud. Today I am safe in my house. But as I look at these people no coverage has ever been given to these silent angels. At least a coverage where all we want to tell them is -- Thank You."

Mumbai Update

1st Aug 2005. Well I am stranded at home today as the rains didn’t let up and it’s been pouring continuously through the night. The scene is a little better today compared to the 26th as the state officials have geared up and BMC (our civic authorities) are posted around in all those areas which are susceptible to flooding and landslides. The police officials have been monitoring the situation since Friday and so far the situation seems under control.

There has been water logging/flooding in several places and mumbaites have been advised not to venture out unless it’s an emergency. Its 11am and the rain mercifully has turned to a drizzle in my locality and I can see some light outside. It was gloomy and dark since morning. The cable network has gone on the blink again and I have been keeping track of the news via good ol radio 92.5 FM. Mercifully the land line is still on so I am able to access the Internet and get some work done online.

It’s been a week since 26th and if this continues I shudder to imagine the ramifications of the situation. Debris collected everywhere. I have seen entire walls collapsed on the road. Trees fallen on the road. Most roads have been damaged. In some cases entire localities have gone under water or affected by a landside and officials unable to initiate rescue operations even today in those areas. Chances of a widespread epidemic run rife.

Hopefully things will lighten up. Hopefully I should be back to work by tomorrow. Well this is Mumbai. A city with a never say die attitude. It won’t be long before the city bounces back. Amen.

The day the Rains threw Mumbai into turmoil

26th July 2005. A day most mumbaites will never forget. I was at work while the rain was raging outside and as usual we looked out as the sky darkened and the roads began to flood. Our HR sent out an email asking us to leave by 4pm. Most of us still stayed behind trying to complete that last report or work before leaving. By the time I decided to move out it was 5.30 pm.

It was only when I reached our building entrance did I realize how bad the rains had really got. It was flooded outside and we waded through water to get to the main road. No public transport was available and the few buses plying the roads were jam-packed. I decided to walk a lil distance in the hope of getting an auto somewhere down the road. Unfortunately I was alone as there was no colleague who lived in the same locality as I.

As I kept going forward I realized how bad the situation had gotten as the road was dotted with vehicles that had broken down, areas flooded knee high with water. I still kept walking hoping against hope something would come along. I had an umbrella but it was as good as useless as I was soaked to the skin. I just about managed to keep my head dry.

I then reached the toll naka to Aarey. The start of the road was flooded. Within minutes it would get dark, I hesitated at the naka debating whether to go ahead or take the flyover. The flyover would be too long a distance and I was already exhausted. I had already walked for an hour. I decided to take a chance and moved into Aarey. However a couple of minutes down the road I began to get dismayed. The water canals ahead had begun to overflow and the road was not only flooded but the water was moving across the road with such force that it took all my strength to keep balance. Seeing people ahead of me I took courage and moved on.

Aarey in normal circumstances is still a road by which one is advised not to traverse post 8pm. There are instances of looting, murder and stories of ghosts walking through the roads at night. I had already walked quite a distance through the water and it would be madness walking back again. I couldn’t see a single woman ahead and began to get more and more worried for my safety. I began to pray desperately as I plodded on ahead.

The going got tougher as I noticed the entire stretch of road was flooded. The world began to swirl around and it was a miracle I didn’t faint. I saw two boys ahead who seemed reliable and I joined them. Feeling a lil reassured we decided to see if we could hitch rides. The few vehicles that stopped agreed to take me on board but refused to take my new friends along. As the men offering me the lift seemed of dubious character I decided not to risk it. My wrist watch was still on and I realized it was 7.30pm. It was 2 hours that I had been on my feet. By then darkness had fallen.

Thanks to my 2 bodyguards Laxman and Derrick I managed to get through a landslide, was saved from getting pulled into the undercurrents of the water and drowning somewhere in the bleak darkness. They continuously berated me for having ventured into Aarey on my own and taking such a huge risk. However it was my knowledge of Aarey that helped us get through in the blinding darkness.

We had covered 3/4th of the journey when we had to split as they were heading towards Powai and me towards Marol. Fear gripped my heart when I saw a group of men who were going in the opposite direction turn around and head towards me seeing I was alone. The water by now was knee high and I could barely walk. I saw 2 young girls and a boy ahead, but they were still a distance away. By now the men were closing in on me.

If not for my regular gym-ing I don’t think I would have made it to them. By then the men had already reached me. It turned out that the 3 ahead were college going kids and were as glad to see me as I was to see them. The men followed us a little way ahead making comments but slunk away when we saw some stranded vehicles up ahead with people in it.

Barely had we heaved a sigh of relief when the people ahead said the water had risen from under the bridge ahead and it would be impossible to move to the other-side. The water was chest high and none of us knew how to swim. Either we spend the night in the stranded BEST bus there or try wading through the water. We clasped our arms around each other and went into the water and nearly got swept by the undercurrent into the pool below the bridge if not for 2 good Samaritans who came to our rescue and hauled us across to the other side of the bridge. The little ladies in unison said “There is a God”! And indeed it was nothing short of a miracle that we stood there alive. By now I was drenched from head to toe as I had had to close the umbrella to maneuver through the waters.

We plodded on ahead praising and thanking God for pulling us through. By then my home drew near. As the kids still had a long way to go I took them home so that they could call their parents to inform them they were safe. When I got into my colony it was pitch dark and when we got home we realized that there was no power, the phone lines were dead. It was pathetic. We tried our mobile phones but they too were on the blink.

I gave them a torch to get them through the darkness, gave my shoes to one of my now new found friends who had lost her pair in the flood and accompanied them to the main road and set them on their way. As I limped my way back home, I decided never to attempt again what I had done. Next time I stay back in office! Thankfully my brother and sis-in-law too had got back safe. We passed the entire night with no power and the phone lines dead.

The next day my limbs were sore and my mom to take up from where my friends had left off last night continually berated me for having come through Aarey. My bro n s-i-l had a Orange and Reliance mobile which were kaput and useless. My Airtel phone however had come on and sms’ started pouring in. I called and messaged family, friends and acquaintances communicating we were safe and not to worry, at the same time checking out how our dear ones were.

We were totally cut off from the world. The rain pouring outside, cable not functional, landlines dead and no internet. Bits and pieces of information trickled through our neighbors. 9 children and 2 parents had perished when the school wall collapsed on them. This was the same school which I passed out from. The following 2 days were declared a holiday. I did try on the 28th to get to work but there was no transport and my legs hurt from walking so I came back home. The cable was still on the blink, landlines still dead, there were power cuts and also shortage of water!

It was only on Friday that life limped back to normal and I went in to work. However this time I had to take a longer route as Aarey was sealed. I was astonished on the way to see the destruction the deluge had caused around. Fear was still in my heart and I left work apprehensive of reaching home safe.

I still count my blessings as I know that many didn’t make it through the night. Some were swept away, some died in their vehicles, some drowned and most others were stranded for hours. The 26th and the 27th were two heart wrenching days as people frantically tried to trace their loved ones. I at least had a home to come back too, there were many whose homes were washed out and are currently living in conditions that are unhygienic, having lost all that they had owned.

Even today as I write this post, the rain is furiously pounding outside. Tomorrow has been declared an off for schools and colleges. I shudder to think what the journey to and fro work will be like. I pray to God that the 26th may not repeat itself.