Life in a Metro

3 bombs blasted in Mumbai yesterday.

Thankfully it stopped at three. Only 17 people died. It could have been worse. To honestly analyse how I'm feeling about it - it is relief.

Why relief? Obviously because the casualties and the damages have been much smaller than what Mumbai has earlier been subjected to. But is relief the right emotion to feel? Actually, given the circumstances, one can't feel any other way.

Going by Facebook status updates, tweets, blogs and SMSes, there is a lot of anger and resentment that everyone is feeling. People are angry about everyone talking about Mumbai's resilient spirit. News channels are going on stridently about statements from government officials, police, home ministry, etc. urging people to stay calm and not believe in or spread rumours.

What really is the point of feeling resentment and anger? It doesn't last more than 48 hours anyway. Life just goes on. People are struggling with their everyday mundane struggles. No one can afford to even stop and feel sad about the state of the city. The fact remains that no one I know actually got hurt. And the number of people dead is less than people dying every hour on a normal day on the streets of Mumbai.

Terror attacks, just like unanswerable questions are a part and parcel of life in a city like ours. The only way out is to live in denial. Just have faith that when you leave your home every morning, you will return. Every day will end just like the previous day did - with all the unfinished work that has to be done the next day. Keep moving from one day to the next as if you will live for ever. That's the only solution.

I am sure the 17 people who died yesterday and their families would have also felt the same. Here's sparing a moment to convey my respect to those souls. But life must and does go on.