10 Years of the Mumbai Attacks – A Story of Hysteria, Optimism & Gratitude

A Taj Story – Nina Mathur

Mumbai Attacks story hysteria optimism gratitude

I love the coffee and club sandwiches served at the Sea Lounge. I love its rustic interiors, I love the quiet ambience it radiates, and I love that beyond 8 it’s nearly empty.

And for precisely that reason, my husband and I were in the Taj that night. We entered by 8 and were ready to leave by 9:40. We took the lift and 2 minutes later it opened into the lobby. My ankle was sprained so I stayed inside till our driver could fetch us. That’s when we heard the first sound of commotion. At the same time, I also heard the sound of gunshots.

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10 Years of the Mumbai Attacks – A Story of Survival

A Taj Story – Muncher Wadia 
Mumbai Attacks story survival
A Taj Story

It was my 14th wedding anniversary and I was given a complimentary Garden Suite on the 6th floor of the Old Wing of the Taj for a night. That night.

My wife and I checked in at about 3 in the afternoon, and after spending a lazy day we wanted to surprise our friends – the owners of Leopold Café – for dinner. As fate would have it, they weren’t there. Not at their house and not even – by God’s grace – at their restaurant.

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10 Years of the Mumbai Attacks – The Story of A Family

A Taj Story – Manish and Ipsuta Mody
10 Years of the Mumbai Attacks - The Story of a Family -Mumbai Attacks story family
A Taj Story

Manish Mody: It was our anniversary dinner at the Golden Dragon and we had reservations for the 3 of us for 8:15, that night. Me, my wife, Ipsuta and our daughter, Trisha.

We were a little late so they seated us at the Apollo Bar till they could give us a table. Ipsuta and I were enjoying our drinks, but Trisha was hungry so she returned to the restaurant. After resolving a billing problem, we caught up with her 15 minutes later.

We were just skimming through the starters menu when we heard a loud BANG!

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Thoughts on Autumn

Thoughts on Autumn
A vase of wilted flowers by my bedside.

There’s a vase of wilted flowers by my bedside that I refuse to throw away. Outside my window, there’s a tree the colour of the setting sun; its leaves are hanging so loose like they’re about to fall. After a minute or so, a light breeze sweeps one of those leaves right past me. It takes a mid air twirl before gently falling to the ground.

A butterfly is fluttering around the potted plants; there’s a jingle in its flight, but its wings are mellow.

Autumn is at its prime; I say it out loud.

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A Slice of the Good Life – An Excerpt about Daily Choices

A slice of the the good - an excerpt of daily choices
How many times in a day, in a week or a month do you do things for pleasure?

I’m sitting in the NSCI library – one of my favorite places in the city. It is still early in the day, the library is so quiet and my chair is so comfortable. People around me are engrossed into their laptop screens.

My laptop too, is switched on, staring at the keyboard, I’m thinking ‘what should I write?’

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