26/11: Lest We Forget

I do not want to forget 26/11.

I do not want to forget hearing about the news while attending an advertising event at the Mahalakshmi Race Course.

I do not want to forget praying for my family, back home at Colaba.

I do not want to forget my girlfriend — now wife — wondering when and how she’d get home.

I do not want to forget how my best friends cheated death by changing their plans from Leopold’s to Mondy’s.

I do not want to forget three days and three nights of terror, anger, fear and hope.

I do not want to forget those who fell to terrorist bullets and bombs.

I do not want to forget Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Kamte, Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Tukaram Omble and others like them.

I do not want to forget Kasab’s blank face as he sprayed bullets from his gun.

Most of all…

I do not want to forget “Bade bade sheheron mein yeh chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hain.”

I do not want to forget the Chief Minister touring the Taj, accompanied by a film director.

I do not want to forget how it took over two years to create Force One.

I do not want to forget how Force One’s mission is now to protect the politicians who created it.

I do not want to forget the promise to improve coastal security.

I do not want to forget that the only things securing our coasts are red tape and prayer.

I do not want to forget bulletproof vests that did not work.

I do not want to forget a Bomb Disposal Squad whose lives are not insured by the state government.

I do not want to forget how lax our city’s security is even now.

I do not want to forget feeling like the true value of a human life in India is zero.

I do not want to forget the complete lack of a proportionate response by our government against those responsible.

I do not want to forget wishing our leaders had balls. Or hearts.

I pray, come the election, you won’t either.