Wednesday isn’t a day when you would like to
attend a party .It sits right in the middle of the week and for people
like me ,more often than not passes off uneventfully .It almost never is a
party day in Jaipur –a city which has a magnificent social and party circuit
and I was a bit surprised when my dear friend Ashok phoned me and invited me
and Sangeeta for dinner and drinks at one of Jaipurs most happening restaurants
.It was a rooftop restaurant and very popular with the youngsters because it
has a dance floor as well .
“Whats the occasion Ashok?” I asked
“Kuch nahin –just a “bahaanaa for having drinks and food” he
laughed !
“But why on Wednesday?” I persisted .
“ Yaar ye Principal
wale questions mat poochoh” he said .Ashok was a senior bureaucrat and a very
well known one at that .He and his lovely wife Aradhana had become very close
friends over the years .
To be very honest –I was reluctant to attend the party .I
was on a comeback trail as far as my health was
concerned and was on a very disciplined and restricted diet. I had almost given up drinking .Only the
previous year I had barely managed to survive after being in the ICU for 15 days .But I just did not have the heart to refuse .
Ashok is a great host and we landed at his party .The dress
code very specifically had been spelt out by his wife Aradhana . “Dress as you used to when you
were in the University” she had said .I ignored the dress code and went to the
party in a coat and a tie .
“Oh my God Kullu.Dont tell me you dressed so formally when
you were in Delhi University” cooed the ever effervescent Jaishree .Before I could respond my good friend Ajit made a entry – with a “jholaah”(bag) ,a
crumpled kurta ,Kolhapuri chappals ,Jeans and a cigarette dangling from his
mouth –a la Marlon Brando in the movie “On the Waterfront”.!!He was a alumnus
of the JNU !! It was about 9.30 pm and the drinks and the snacks had started to
circulate quickly .Very soon the dance floor came to life with songs of the
byegone era. “ Mai Chali mai chali dekho pyaar ki gali, Koi rokeh na mujhe ,mai
chali mai chali” and songs like that .
The cream of Jaipur was present .Very soon the DGP walked in .And so did page 3 crowd -everyone who is someone in Jaipur !! We soon
realized it was Aradhanas Birthday !! The party was celebrating the day she
came into the world .
I still remember the date .It was 26/11 .
In Mumbai ,while we partied ,Ajmal Kasab and his gang of 10 terrorists
had slipped into India At about 9.30 pm ,two of them had gone on a rampage at the Leopold Cafe ,killing 10 people and injuring several ,while Ajmal Kasab and Ismail went beserk at Chattrapati Railway Station killing 52 and injuring 109 people .They were finally intercepted at Girgaum Chowpatty .
At Girgaum Chowpatty one of the great sacrifices in contemporary history, was taking place .Policeman Tukaram Omble was an ASI with the Mumbai Police. His team was under-equipped for the attack, but he managed to kill one terrorist and arrest the only terrorist taken alive - Ajmal Kasab. Unarmed, Omble with only a laathi as his weapon rushed to hold onto the rifle butt of Ajmal Kasab, enabling other officers to apprehend him.With the barrel of the gun held by his hand and against his stomach ,Omble must have known it was a one sided affair . Ajmal pulled the trigger and fired several shots,piercing his intestines , killing him .A brave son of India passed into history
The other cowardly terrorists had entered the Taj Hotel and the
Trident Hotel .
We were unaware of anything .I floated around and stopped to
exchange pleasantries with the DGP –Mr Bains .He was a very kind and sage
looking man and very modest .I moved on to the other guests .Very soon we were
on the dance floor –trying to shake a leg or two .
Ashok was next to me .And so was Ajit .Someone came and
tapped Ashok on his shoulders .He excused himself .I saw him make his way
towards Mr Bains the DGP .They both appeared serious .Ashok was bent with his
ear close to Mr Bains lips –the music was loud and apparently he was finding it
difficult to hear what the DGP was saying .He then escorted him towards the
door and disappeared .
Someone was serving prawns along with the drinks .I was
enjoying them and the great whiskey .Ashok reappeared after 15 minutes or so .I
asked him whether everything was fine .His words froze me
“There has been a terrorist attack in Mumbai .And its not a
ordinary one .All the states have been alerted .Mr Bains has gone to take stock
of the situation in Jaipur and Rajasthan”.
By now everyones cell phones started to ring .My son Pratique rang
up and said
“Dad –the terrorists have attacked Mumbai “
“How serious does it appear” I asked him .
“Very bad Dad .It looks it’s a big attack .And its taking
place at different places .Its live on TV .My God ……… “ and his voice trailed
off .
“What happened” I asked ?
“They say they are at the TAJ Hotel .”
It was then that I realized that it was a highly motivated
and planned attack .By now we were all talking about it .The party hung up .We
all rushed home .Pratique opened the door and we all rushed to the television
set .The Taj was on fire and gunshots were being heard .!! And yelling with excitement
and anger were the journalists who have become a part of our daily lives –Arnab
,Rajdeep ,Barkha and many more .It seemed we were at war .And it showed how 10
terrorists could hold a big country like ours to ransom .We were witnessing the
making of history .!!
