I WITNESS
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2:09
A code review and a presentation allowed me the luxury of a 13 minute lunch. The television channels screaming about the chopper made me look at the TV only to look away some minutes later. 9.35 am was the last anyone heard from the ill fated carrier. There were people following the news, others trying to look away, a few looking at the news as a chance to break their monotony, yet a majority carried on as if nothing had happened.
5:00
As the day was winding down, it became apparent that all is not well. The fact that the PM was keeping tabs and that Soniyaji was in telephonic conversation with Hyderabad gave little reason for cheer. Something was amiss and Ameerpet - the heart of the Congress offices in the city was being touted as a no-go zone, a full 18 hours before the realization of the tragedy.
7:00
Ganesh Chaurthi had held the roads hostage to their festivities. Serpentine queues followed me as I went to check on my friend who was diagnosed with suspected Swine Flu a few hours ago. Public Transport was normal and their was no cause for panic. Just festivities and advisories being issued on how not to venture out the following day (Ganesh Idol immersion).
9:30
No great upheavals. Promises of a nightlong search and still no news. I was back in the office from the hospital and dealing with the more inane problems of life. Bug fixes, follow up mails and an occasional mention about why the A/C had been turned off with people still inside.
11:00
Leaving for the day, normal cab service and still no news.
3/9
8.00
Situation looks on the boil. No news, no closure, prayers, gatherings outside the party office and the residence. No advisories about work and no information makes me wonder if this day deserved a mention in the calendar. Autos work fine though, and make me reach in time for my meeting
8.45
News filtered in about the wreckage. News filtered in about the crash. No mention of bodies
10.00
He is no more. Silence and tears on the streets.
Frantic calls. Offices declared closed by 11. Arrangements are made for transport. Never has there been an evacuation of this scale. The next day is declared a holiday.
11.00
The journey really started when the end was confirmed. Violence and carnage were expected to be rolled out. Explicit instructions were given to not venture out of the house, once you get into the house that is. No word on how the streets have taken to the news.
Within the next hour, every single shop closed down. Armies of people descended onto the streets and mourned. Black smoke enveloped most of the junctions, tyres were burnt. White was the color of choice. Black scarves and handkerchiefs, the mark of a mourner. Clinics and dispensaries stayed open, and people flocked. Even ATMs were shut down. Police made their presence felt, attacking each artery that could potentially clot the ecosystem of the cyber city. Most of the offices declared a holiday and advised the employees to stay in. Others demanded Work From Home.
Yet the media outdid itself, a channel which has been featured on strat.in recently had this sensationalist piece for all of us when the reporter had the galle to ask:
"We are outside YSR's residence, I have with me a lady who has been crying since we got the news, how are you feeling? Feelings cheppundi"
And so did apathy,
I caught a 4 day weekend being muttered, some plans for Goa and a complaint about pending work.
No riots and no bloodshed. No feelings, no anguish. Just a state in mourning hoping it will all get better in the Morning.
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