A rose, a prayer and hope for Mumbai…

November 26, 2008. Terror has struck in Mumbai again. More than 24 hours has passed since it all began. And, the situation looks far from over. My company’s Mumbai office remains closed. Updates on the number of hostages, innocents killed and injured are continuously being aired on National Television channels in India. A small portion of the news telecast of the Canadian channels is also focused on the Mumbai mayhem. Hotlines are being setup for Canadians to call and enquire about their family’s safety in Mumbai. It is Thanksgiving in U.S today. When people are celebrating family and togetherness in U.S, hundreds of innocents have lost their lives and families in Mumbai within a single day’s time.

The Toronto office here is very quite today. It is a much awaited and normal working day for many of the employees. Especially since it is Thanksgiving and the U.S offices are shut down, there are no phones ringing. No one is talking and there is a continuous eerie silence all around. The Indians at work have being getting updates on their families and loved ones’ safety in Mumbai. Most of them wore a painful expression.

And, then there are some noble fearless men, whose life ended on this very day. These men are the real bravehearts. Constables to even assistant police commissioner. Officers, who fought till their death for the release of hostages. The deaths of ATS Chief, Hemant Karkare, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar, ACP Ashok Kamte and the other officers will be mourned by Indians around the world.

Here is a rose for these bravehearts, a silent prayer for those who lost their lives and loved ones and finally, a poignant hope for Mumbai’s safety.