STRANGE…….BUT TRUE

A strange incident happened in my life the one unforgettable incident. It was during my graduation. The common hangout for us was the gokul chat bhandar near our college Osmania University College for Women. One could sight the gang of girls from our college near the place often. My group of friends was among the many groups who loved to hangout near the chat bhandar. We were the disappointed lot when the chat was closed stating the hygienic conditions. One fine day it reopened and then we decided to visit the place the same day. But because of some reasons couldn’t visit. One fine day the moment was too perfect for a chat. That evening it was raining heavily and what a better moment than a rainy day to enjoy the hot and spicy chat and that too from gokul chat bhandar yummy mouth starts watering even imagining that situation. It was too perfect for a chat. But that day we wanted it to stop raining as it got very difficult for us even to move about in the rain. We for that day were very sad as the rain played the spoil sport spoiling our happiness and the fun we wanted to have. Returned home unhappy for we always tried to find happiness for ourselves in such small occasions and had lost one occasion. Some time later we got to know about the bomb blasts that had occurred at the lumbini park and the gokul chat bhandar. That shocked me personally a lot as I had been around that place about an half an hour ago and with such short duration such a great incident happened ruining many families, snatching away a father from a daughter, the only brother from a sister, a wife from her husband. So many relations lay ruied in those remains of the chat bhandar that remained. I didn’t understand whether to feel lucky for the rain has saved my life or cry for so many people though not related to me who lost their lives there. May be that was the moment when I felt the presence of a super power. May be a moment to thank my stars. May be a moment to thank my destiny. We were the lucky lot who survived the or rather missed death in just a few seconds. If we had been there only to satisfy our taste buds may I would not have been here narrating the incident. A strange happening but very true. Some times when I just imagine what if I had been there and a cold shiver runs down my spine. May be it was a game god played with me but I have many complaints though he had saved my life that day. Why did he have to take so many lives for no mistake of theirs? Why do innocents have to die in any of the terrorist attacks? Why? When will he answer my questions? Not very sure whether I will find any answer but still……

This incident occurred almost a year ago. The chat bhandar now runs happily might have earned all the profits it had lost during those days but what about the families who lost the bread winner-the one who nourished the family?

Many incidents as the one I had experienced were written in the news paper. Some who had been to lumbini park escaped the blast there only to loose their lives in the gokul chat bhandar……..the most sad but true experience. I thank god for he saved mine and my friend’s lives. This statement is my selfish side may be I am happy that nothing has happened to the people I know, but feels very bad when the thought of others comes up. What if I had been there? Why did god have to kill so many innocents????

--SNEHA NAIK