"Did you see the pictures on TV?" Raza was referring to the blasts in Baghdad the night before. Suicide bombers had entered the market place and killed 25 people.
"No, I don't have a TV. Thanks for reminding me again." Azim was referring to his TV which had been stolen the night before. Living in a shack 2 blocks from the police station offered no protection whatsoever. The shack was built on sweat and hard earned money by Azim's father who was a construction worker. A resilient and honest worker, he had made enough money to build a shack and send his two kids to school.
"Hahaha, sorry for that ..again! But don't you worry man, come over to my place. My mother is making rotis and dal today. It's going to be a feast. We can watch something on TV. Raaj told me that Cartoon Network is now in Hindi. Sahi naa?" Raza's english was not too good. He could understand what Porky Pig was doing to Bugs Bunny, and he could laugh his head off. But with hindi it was going to be a blast.
"Whassap Doc? Whassap Doc? Haha, it's great. Yeah, I might come over Raza. But I have to finish my homework first. You know how my sister pretends to help me and then puts me in more trouble. So I have decided to do it on my own, no matter how much time it takes."
"Ok, ok whenever you want to. Now watch this.", saying this Raza walked towards the pipeline. He jumped over it and landed on some yellowish squishy semi-liquid stuff. Raza slipped and fell on his back. The stench of human feces made him squirm his nose for a second. But he was used to it. They all were. Azim couldn't disguise his laughter and Raza joined in too.
"Cmon, lets go. I am sure you have another shirt". Azim was pointing to Raza's wet shirt.
After walking for five minutes next to the main road, they took the right near the bus stop and walked towards the sweet shop. " You know Azim, my teacher tells me that Hindu's and Muslim's should not fight. We are all the same."
" Yeah I think the same. Raaj is a good guy. I don't know why I would want to kill him. Why do people kill? I don't know. The lunch he brings is always the best. I mean, his mother cooks so well. I would never want to kill him", said Azim.
"Haha, yeah, we are all the same. You know, once my father entered a house of some wealthy Muslims. He did not know that they were muslims. But once he found out, he immediately withdrew. I don't know why he did that. He told me never to hurt a fellow Muslim." Raza's father was a thief. He stole enough so that his kid could go to school and not become a thief like him. It was a risky business, but Raza's father was good at what he did and was as slippery as an eel.
"Hey guys, wait up" Raaj came running up the street and stopped before Azim and Raza. " Why didn't you wait for me, guys? I was only 10 minutes late."
"Raaj, Raaj it doen't matter man. Let's buy the sweets. 3 eclairs Ramu chacha"
After carefully checking for any disparities in the size of the three eclairs and satisfied that they had equal shares, they placed the elixir of life in their mouths and chewed to glory. All three smiled and looked at each.
"Eclairs.Eclairs....What is this life if full of care, we have no eclairs to eat and share?? I forgot who wrote that, I never pay attention in class anyway", said Raaj, clearly satisfied with himself and his Eclairs. Laughter, laughter and resignation when they finished with their eclairs.
" Raaj, what do you think about Hindus and Muslims man?" asked Azim.
"Well, I am standing here with two Muslim friends. Haha, cmon man, we are all friends. I dont really care if my friends are Sikh or Hindus or Muslims. As long as the person is nice to me and likes Eclairs, I am their friend."
"Hmm...I was watching the news yesterday. You know, all these fights everywhere. America attacking Iraq, Israel- Palestine, it's everywhere. We hate each other. I felt really sad", said Raza in a rather maudlin tone.
" I agree Raza, it hurts me too. But do we really care? I am more concerned about my tests coming up next week. If I don't pass, I will be thrown out of my house yaar! What then? We are friends, some people want to fight. Let them. It's not our business" observed Raaj. Raaj was the wiser of the two, atleast thats what he thought. He was older by a couple of years. But he had failed twice. Sixth grade was difficult, but he had promised himself he would do it this time.
" Hmm,..good good. Yeah, what do we really care about? We have better things to worry about. I need a another Eclairs. Want one guys?" At the same time, unnoticed to the three boys, a van screeched itself to a halt on the other side of the road. Seven hooded men got out. They had swords in their hands and a couple of grenades. No one noticed them in the market. After all, this was the busy time of the day. And in Mumbai, no one really cares about what the other person is doing. The city that never sleeps.
" Charge. Kill anyone who comes in your way. Bloodshed. Kill them all. Make this the biggest of them all!!!", the hooded man who seemed like the leader bellowed.
The seven hooded men, ran in different directions. At the same time, BOOOM!! blasts everywhere. People thrown up in the air, everywhere. Silence...and then pandemodium. People running everywhere. Women holding whatever grocery they had bought ran helter skelter. A man holding his cut arm ran past the sweet shop. No one noticed the three boys lying on the road. One of them was still breathing. Azim lay on the ground. Motionless. He had heard about heaven and hell. This was nothing like it. He slowly tried to get up, but couldnt. He raised his head and saw that his leg was caught under the aluminium roof. Nearby lay Raza and Raaj. He shouted out to them, but they did not respond. He half smiled, realising that the eclairs they ate were the last ever by Raaj and Raza. Azim felt a sharp pain in his hand, something was inside his arm. It looked like some sharp object...he fainted.
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The Next Day...
"Good Morning everyone. 13/7. The day Mumbai was once again stopped in its tracks by a series of bomb blasts. Initial reports claimed that there were 10 blasts throught the city, but was later brought down to 8. 205 people are already dead and 500 hundered are injured. The most severely hit area has been the Lowranji Market area where an estimated 50 people are dead and many more injured. People are stunned and are blaming the government for doing nothing. Chief Minister Rajnath Mungekar has strenously denied any lethargy on part of the government and has promised complete compensation to all family members of the dead and injured. But what we, the people want to ask you Mr. Mungekar is what was the Government doing before the blasts? Latest reports say that the government had indeed received threats from the terrorist gangs but had not done anything about it. Clearly, the results are for all to see. The opposition leader Mr. Gopinath Thakur has once again come out with a bold statement challenging the current government and warned of anarchy and riots if things are not controlled.
But, what about the people? Has anyone thought of the people? The most depressing image of two boys found dead lying outside a once existing sweet shop have been printed on the front pages everywhere. The common man once again suffers. Where are we going? Is this the Mumbai we envisioned? .......
....And finally, in a salute to the people of Mumbai we present a 2 minute video showing the strength, resilience, and spirit of the Mumbaikar. The city that never sleeps. We respect you and feel for you in such trying times. This is Anurag Shastri for CBCD news. Goodnight."
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Azim stared at the TV screen in front of his bed. He was lucky to be alive. Two broken bones, and some stiches on his left arm. Amputation was required for his left leg. Right now, he was in his hospital bed looking at the news. Anurag Shastri had just concluded his news bulletin. He looked sombre. Don't know if he really meant that look on his face. Azim kept thinking. Maybe, Mr. Shastri stays in Delhi or Calcutta, dont know where this is broadcast from. Maybe, he has a family, a happy family with two cars, a lawn etc. Maybe, someone like him would come and lend some money to Azim's parents for hospital bills. Oh sorry, just one parent, his mother. Azim's father was not to be seen anywhere after the blasts. His mother had no idea where he had dissapeared. Maybe he is dead,..maybe..he was..one of the masked ...no. No. Azim's father would never do that. Why would anyone kill? Azim had just lost two best friends. Why would his father endanger his own son? Not possible no. Raaj's father was missing too. Could he....no..Azim didn't think so.
His mother was now asleep on the chair. There was a lot of noise in the corridoor outside, many more people were being brought in. There was some kind of smell in the room. Don't know what.
Dont care really. Why do people fight? Politics, Religion, Borders, Faith, Race, ...do I really care? It doesn't affect me. I live a normal life. Other people do the same. Let them fight it out. I don't really care. It
never affects me! Or
does it?
Is it already affecting me and I have no idea? Why is this world so confusing? Azim finally dozed off at 2 in the morning. Outside,..sirens and people shouting. Maybe, it's the start of another riots. Mumbai..the city that never sleeps....
