The Tale Of Dead...

Chapter -3

I asked Arun to wait at the little tea stall which was nearly 5 minutes away from given address I have to walk from there as car cannot reach the hilly area . I walk down to a narrow street, which some where in corner of my heart felt familiar at the end of the street there was an old trodden house which almost swayed at a point . " how can anyone live here?" I said out loud with my hands resting on my waist, but anyway my job is not to look at the infrastructure of the house. I looked for someone through the window, I can't actually see anything as the dust on the window blurred my vision. I felt someone behind me , my hair on the back of my spine become straight in fear , I turned around to find a lady in her thirties staring at me. Her brown eyes staring at me, she was wearing a beautiful chiffon blue dress, her necklace was glittering like her eyes, she looked some what familiar.....

There was an awkward silence a few seconds.

"um..... I am Ashley from 'The times' , I am looking for miss Talwar ."

" Then you have reached your destination" she said with a smile . "And its Mrs Talwar".

" Oh..... I am sorry . The information I got on it its written miss, well anyways can we just sit somewhere and talk"

"sure". She pointed to the chairs in front of the house, we settled there but my eyes still on the house though it was not in good condition but it was huge.

Back to earth Ashley.....ahh

"So you are here to interview me ?". She asked, and I was like no I am here to stare at your dress and necklace which was very unnecessary to wear now . I set up the handicam on its stand facing us , I like to take interview this way without any camera men .

"yes obviously". I said and rolled my eyes . " I know it must be hard to live a normal life after such an experience." I said tried to show sympathy.

" I actually never lived a life after that". ..... She told me with head straight.

" I understand".

" That's why you are here".

" So I think we should start from situation. Can you describe the hour before the attack happened, I mean probably you were having a normal day ... Having no idea of that in few moments later your life is gonna be upside down". I asked her the words fell out of my mouth straight.... As a reporter I wanted her to feel more emotional ...... Good for my TRPs you know.

"No". She said .

"No?".

" I mean it was not a normal day for me. I was very happy ..... My husband and kids were in the puddle of joy , it was my younger daughter Zia's birthday she turned 13 that day and my older daughter was fifteen years old we decided to celebrate it over dinner in Taj..... It was a beautiful day, my both daughters Zia and Sarah were looking amazing in matching floral print frocks , I was wearing this evening gown and necklace".

" Was there anything suspicious you felt on arriving at the hotel?". I asked

" No ....... My focus was just at my family and the happy moment I was in".

" okay... So now , can you tell me the first appearance of the terrorist or the first gunshot you heard?".

" We were in dining room, we were over with our dinner... And my little princess ordered some ice cream" she said coming up with her emotions.

"Then".

" We heard some screaming down the lobby and gunshot , I thought it was a wedding salute... But it was pure horror when two man wearing all black chanting or I should say shouting some Arabic words which I didn't understood burst into hall , they started shooting at every thing that moved. I pulled my husband and daughters under the table.... I can hear my daughters whimpering I have to cover their mouth . When the terrorists were not in sight, we silently moved to the kitchen door and slid in."

She looked at me.... And continued" there were already some people hiding, I pulled my kids closed to me". " there were some people of staff too. They suggested that we should use the next corridor to escape , but we were not sure it was safe or not".

" I took my little daughter in my arms and slowly moved towards the exit then... I stopped feeling something suspicious , a ball rolled over the exit door and I didn't understood how my grip over my daughter loosened and she ran towards it". She was feeling a lump in her throat now.

I tried to reach for her hand but I thought it would be awkward.

" She was shot in her chest. He-Her blood splashed on the door".

" My little princess...... I could still hear her singing in my ears ...... Her scout work which was arranged for kids. They used to volunteer for jobs so they can arrange the money for charity..... My daughter use to take bundles of flowers and with mine help we would ask people to buy them to raise money for charity.... She was so nice why god did that to her?". Her eyes almost tearing.

" This whys have no answers Mrs.Talwar and I am sorry to hear that" I said.

She continued to say...... Mostly at this month moment people would say they couldn't go any further.

" My husband covered my mouth from preventing me to scream",

" We can hear gunshots and blasts . We know if we don't run , we all will be killed soon".

" So we decided , to run with other hostages ....... We took the exit and ran towards the stair we could see the soldier down there exchanging gun shot my husband was caring mu older daughter..... But terrorist spotted us they started firing at us . I got shot in the head".

I froze at my place thinking what to say"you are lucky to survive after being shot in the head . I mean most of the people don't make it".

She stayed silence for few moments.... Then looked up at me she said" My older daughter and husband made it out alive and safe ... What I have been thinking about these few hours of my life . I mean we were hostage for 8 hours , is that it baffles me still is the youth element in this attack. True , they were manipulated but how could they do this?!!. I have no sympathy for them after or before"

With that my interview ended with the lady I put down my handicam in my purse ..... I could see the sky was in the shades of red now . I thanked her for her time... And asked her to attaint the memorial held tonight in memory of 26/11.

She replied" I remember it every day".

I moved back to the car passing through the narrow street I could see there were pieces of broken glasses.

I found Arun sleeping in the driving seat. I woke him up and we moved back to my house...

On reaching home I gave Arun my handicam and asked him to deliver it to the studio .

I took a shower , the hot water was relaxing my aching muscles . I got ready and reached where memorial was held.

Next chapter will contain what happened at the memorial.