And on one fine day..13th Sept '08

Saturday evening, 13th September, Central Park, Connaught Place (CP), Delhi-
There was a blast and a wisp of smoke, people shouting, utter chaos. Me and my friend, we were leaning on the railing in Central Park overlooking that area in CP where the blasts took place simultaneously.
The first blast, I thought, we all thought, it was some power failure, something to do with electricity. There was this certain apprehension though in the faces that I could see around me. The second blast, fire, people shouting, chaos, confusion, fear, more people shouting, people running, panic, heart thumping, not knowing what to do, not knowing where to run, not knowing where the next blast would take place, not knowing anything, numb, watching people running and shouting.
It was then that my friend suggested we make a move, he, specifically suggesting that a safe distance be kept from the dustbins placed all around the park. People were moving fast towards the park exit gates. Thinking it was best not to move with the crowd we sidetracked and moved towards the open green grass by jumping over the tall hedge. Police were soon all over the place, urging people to move out from the park. Once outside, there was more confusion. I saw faces etched with fear probably mirroring what were there on mine. Cars were making a beeline to move out quickly from the area, people were calling out for auto rickshaws and taxis, people were running. We too were moving quickly, and in all this, I was wondering, this is how people feel when faced with a threat to their lives, confusion and fear, apprehension, a sinking feeling of fearing what’s next.
Hearts still thumping we entered a restaurant on the first floor, thinking it was the safest place at the moment. From the restaurant window we observed, how in a few minutes the crowded area gave a deserted look when the shops put its shutters down and the parking lot which was normally crowded with people fighting for spaces gave a blank look.
It was then, that calls started pouring in from family and friends. Reassuring all was fine, though not particularly stressing my location to some at that moment, I put their fears to rest. Funny, never for a moment did the thought of checking up with my cousins and friends in the city occur in my mind. I guess I was too involved worrying about myself, wondering how I would reach home with all means of conveyance practically impossible, of course, besides the Delhi Metro. And that was my last option, infact, I hadn’t considered it as an option until I realised that all other means of conveyance was unavailable. At last, fearing the worst, we boarded the Metro train and thankfully reached home safely. Happy ending for me, at least. Me, me, me…what about all the others affected? I see it in the papers and cringe at the thought, thinking that could have been me.