Under siege

Yesterday all of Mumbai watched in horror as our major landmarks were targeted by terrorists who came out of nowhere and had the audacity to walk into our city and spread absolute terror. 24 hours later, Mumbai is still under siege, held hostage by terrorists who seemingly have no specific agenda nor seem to be making any demands. When i went to bed last night, even though i was shaken, i never believed that it could last so long. It's the sheer randomness and apparently careful planning that frightens me the most. First, our offices were unsafe, then our buses, then our trains, now major luxury hotels and landmark sites. We live in a country, though traditionally viewed by the western nations as third world, which has a fairly stable economy, bright prospects, our moon mission was just successfully executed....but of what use? If in one of the most busy cities in the country, a common person cannot walk down the street without wondering when a terrorist's bomb or bullet is going to get him?Every day i board a bus to get to college. Thousands like me do. Even more take the trains to get to work, including most of my friends. How terrible it is that every day, the average mumbaikar leaves home with an impending sense of doom, praying that he gets home safely?
The media, the politicians the people on the street are all trying to theorise what these fiends could probably want. One of the theories is that they are targetting foreigners, since landmarks like Leopold's were hit. of what use are these theories?Even if they were targetting the foreigners, it is happening on Indian soil, in Mumbai's hotels, spreading fear among the Indian people. For the 16 foreigners reported dead, 105 Indians were killed. 14 of our cops, including 3 top cops were gunned down.2 of our jawans were butchered. Does it matter what their agenda is?The fact is, Mumbai is being held at gunpoint by these terrorists and that's that!
What disturbes me the most however, is the equipment used by the Mumbai police. Even on T.V., even to the untrained eye, the guns looked inadequate, the bulletproof vests seemed practically just something for the sake of being there. It almost feels like we sent those 14 policemen to their deaths by failing to provide them with the latest in combat equipment. In contrast, the terrorists seemed armed to the hilt, ever inch of them covered with every imaginable weapon. Can't we do more for the men who stay vigilant so we feel safe at all times?
Tomorrow, most of us will head out to work or college. It has always been like that. "The spirit of Mumbai"they say, watching with pride as citizens flood the streets as always tomorrow. But honestly, you think we enjoy this? The fact that every time we are hit by some calamity , we pick up the pieces and carry on , refusing to accept defeat?We don't do it because it is how we are, it's because if we didn't, Mumbai would cease to exist. It hurts that our city has been the victim so many times, all we can do is move on. When will this end? When will our outrage at what is happening to us be transferred into definitive action?When can we stop worrying every second that our life may just end before the day is out?
I hope that today is that day. When news channels stop spouting the words "Spirit of Mumbai". When we can walk freely into any place in the city. When we don't switch on our television sets to see our city burning again. When the city stops resembling a war zone. When I can sleep again.