The Twelfth Black Hole - Invitees ONLY - Page 71

Originally posted by: AllThingsNice

Sorry guys...I had logged in because it had been an easy day. Thought I could spend some time here. But suddenly, a senior colleague suffered a cardiac arrest. Was rushed to the nearest hospital and from there, was moved to the Kokilaben Ambani hospital which is closer to her house. She was moved from one ICU to another between yesterday and today. I hope she makes it.

Was a tense time to say the least! She's in her 50s and not 'senior' age wise, but has a lot of experience in the field and had actually had an unremarkable morning. Nothing seemed wrong. She was exiting her room to go to the washroom when she suddenly collapsed.

Originally posted by: AllThingsNice

Somehow! I was in Andheri for meetings. By the morning of the part-deluge, it had already been raining three days in a row. Nonstop. Still, we had the fantastic sense to not reschedule meetings. Because life cannot come to a standstill and everyone was working anyway. So I was in MIDC, which is a low-lying part of Bombay anyway. Parked my gaadi in the office complex. Finished meetings, coffee and came down two hours later to find that water levels were just beloe waist level. My car was submerged till above the tyres. If I had managed to get to the car and unlock it, water would have rushed into the car along with me. So I gave up the idea and went back to the client's office. They graciously arranged a desk for me to log in and work from. By evening, the situation was worse. The office lost power and everyone who had left to get to the station or to their respective homes, started coming back. Things were quite bad. In several places, cars were swept away and people died. Apparently, in one place, the Ganesha idol from one of the mandals was swept away by the rain!

Meanwhile, back home, my mother was alone for the most part. My father walked back two hours from Sion where his office is. He waded in knee deep water. The water inside the building had touched almost the ground floor steps and the circuit board started sparking. So the power in the building had to be shut down and was restored only the next day.

Despite all this, Bombay is simply the best. The office peon who had gone to fetch biscuits etc from wherever he could, said that the Hanuman temple down the road and Holy Spirit church had opened their gates to public that was stuck. A common kitchen had been set up and dal and rice was being cooked and given to people who were stranded. Shelter for the night for people who came from back-of-beyond places like Ambernath and Khoparkhairne.

I spent the night at the client's office 😲 By morning, it seemed as though nothing had happened the previous day!

I wish they had retained the mangroves of the city. Every bit of development comes at the cost of the environment. Bombay will one day just be eaten up by the sea if this recklessness continues. What happened was not only because of the rain. It was also because of sea water rushing it at high tide with no trees to block it.

Long post na? Haven't written so much in ages!

Originally posted by: AllThingsNice

Bangalore has Ganesha pandals? On the roads? I did not know that. I thought people only do puja at home. I thought sarvajanik Ganesha is exclusive to Maharashtra.

Festival in our house is usually a busy affair. People who we may not meet during the entire year, drop in during Ganesh Chaturthi. Plus the rains contributed their bit this time.

The day after visarjan, common citizens (volunteers) landed up at the beach and undertook a cleaning drive. Huge Ganesha idols that are not immersed properly are washed ashore by the sea. Makes a very sad sight. Revere and worship him for ten days and then find crows and stray animals using the remains of the idols as they please after the festival.

On a positive note, several people turned to eco-friendly idols too. Many more than last year. So that's good.

Originally posted by: AllThingsNice

Please continue praying. That is what all of us are doing. Sadly, we have not had very good news about her.

The cardiac arrest has led to multiple organ failure. Her BP is very low. Her heart is functioning at 15% of normal capacity. Dialysis is on. They are hoping it will help to make her stable.

That's all I know as of today. Hope she fights this. Her kids are young.

Originally posted by: AllThingsNice

Have to log off now. Hope all of you are doing well.

Heema, is Irma in your way? Come round and drop in a line please. Do not need to reply to anything if you don't have time. But peep in and leave a line to show you're okay.

Shwetha, fit as a fiddle now? Or does the commuting and work still make you feel weak?

Pari. Hope you are both doing good too.

See you all soon 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤗