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This may well sound like one of the many forwarded mails spamming our inbox. But at times, one just has to pause and look, stop and stare and realize what each and every word means, what the feelings emote and how the mind and more importantly our heart react.

This is with reference to a recent terror attack on the 13th of February, at the infamous German Bakery eatery on the North Main road at Koregaon Park, next to the Osho International Meditation Centre. It’s no use stating the facts and the numbers.

I am writing this as a selfish soul, as I’ve never thought about similar atrocious attacks with such provocation. I haven’t seen death so closely, until now, and hence maybe these words. Putting it very simply, one of them could have been me, easily; it was just a matter of minutes and some really good deeds accumulating to fate working to our favor. Now many will frown at this attribution to luck, etc, understandably. But honestly its times like these one starts believing in destiny, fate, the ‘luck factor’ and all which completes the ‘gyaan’ circle which we so effortlessly ignore and push aside. The five who died at the table, with the bomb, could quite easily have been me with four friends, who were looking for a place at the packed Bakery just minutes before and deciding not to sit after one big table became empty at the rear end of the place.

German Bakery: at the corner of Lane A, the lane where we reside. A literal second home for us, the vibrant hangout/joint, which also by the way provided us with our daily meals, at breakfast, lunch [on weekends] and dinners. It was always the familiar faces munching on the burger, chewing on the salad or sipping on the many shakes and juices on offer. The Nepalese crew with the loveliest of smiles and always ‘Happy to Help’ attitude.

For one of us, it was The Home who also used to at times stay at his second home/place in the one room flat of his. He was riding on some magical guidance for sure which took him to a rock concert nearby, or else, one would have never liked to guess the consequences. For another, who called from the bakery to another, and then deciding to push off to his place rather than waiting, heard the shudder and shiver as soon as he took off on his bike. For the three of us, who entered our flat and heard this loud thud, as if a building had just gone down. Basically, a few minutes here and there, the faces could have been different, the result the same: Death.

We could not believe what we were hearing, or we were trying not to. We were trying not to accept what we saw, but we had to, when we saw our neighbor in blood, walking up the steps. Watching the live coverage on the news, and realizing it was the same place we had spent the maximum time at, the spot at the end of the lane, where a few minutes back, things were as lively and joyous as ever and now smeared in blood and distorted bodies, sent a chill for sure. We were and are feeling sick and pathetic and more importantly helpless, certain that these feelings would not fade quickly. One of us, voiced that if anything had happened to his friends, he might as well have taken the violent route ahead himself. It does not matter whether the victims are young or old, nationals or foreigners, Christian or Muslims, what is common amongst them is that they were innocent individuals, sure of returning home to their bed that night…almost sure…

One cannot be sure of the future, take one day at a time, thank God for it, every single day, enjoy those moments, treasure each one of them and be the NOW…Do what you got to do now, if you have to say things to someone, if you have to complete something left for the future, live NOW!!!...[I apologize for the pessimistic undercurrent in the note, but that’s how reality shapes up things for us, whether we like it or not, the faster we accept and realize it, the better for us.

You realize you cannot take anything for granted, not even time, forget about people. You realize that life is not in your control at all times, as much as you would disagree with that. You realize the hate around you, and how at times, it beats peace and love to the finishing line. You realize the power of fear and to what extent it drives people. You realize that, at times good is beaten and evil prevails.

As one of my friends said, correctly so, ‘Please, Please, Spread the Love people…just Spread the LOVE….and hope.