Thursday, September 10, 2009

9/11

Today is 9/11. The whole world knows what happened on 9/11/2001. 19 hijackers took command of 4 commercial airlines and crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. Total of 2,993 people died, of many nationalities.

I was deputed by my company in USA to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at that time. My mom called me from New Jersey; she was living with my brother there at that time. She had some of the harshest words for the hijackers. Two hours after that conversation, I got a call from my brother in New Jersey. My mom passed away. She died in her sleep.

I could not believe what I heard from my brother. Just now she was ferocious about the hijackers. Now she is gone.

Life goes on. I have to arrange for our journey to USA. They were not allowing any planes to land in USA, especially a plane from Saudi Arabia.

I asked my brother to keep the body in the morg until I arrive in New Jersey. With great effort I reserved a British Airways flight from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Heathrow Airport in London.

Heathrow Airport was so crowded that you cannot even stand. More crowded than the Ranganathan Street in T.Nagar in Chennai. We stayed at the airport for 24 hours. Fortunately, I had the death certificate of my mother, which my brother faxed me before I left Riyadh.

The first flight they allowed into USA was a British Airways flight from Heathrow to Newark, New Jersey. I showed the death certificate of my mom to the reservation person. She mistook that as if my mom died on the 9/11 tragedy. I did not say a word and kept quiet. She not only gave me and my wife a confirmed reservation but also upgraded us to business class.

Reached Newark, New Jersey. Attended my mom’s funeral. Then returned to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Return journey was also on a 747 by British Airways. It can carry 355 passengers. There were a total of 6 passengers on board.
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36 comments:

  1. InsigniaSeptember 10, 2009 at 10:05 PM

    So sorry SG. But passing away while asleep; only good souls get that sort of privilege.

    9/11 was the most tragic event in recent history. I always wonder how could people be so insensitive to carry out such an attack

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  2. NehaSeptember 10, 2009 at 11:10 PM

    I am so sorry for ur loss SG...but I second Insignia...

    I had an instinct when i read ur 09/09 post that you would come up with a post on 9/11 too...but after reading this one about what u had to go thru on that day, all I can say is hats off to u for being able to tackle the whole thing in such a state of mind then...

    tc...

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  3. RenuSeptember 10, 2009 at 11:38 PM

    I feel sad for your loss, but as insignia said..she was special soul. I always pray to god for this only..take me whenevr you want to but take me in peace.

    9/11 and 26/11 show the brutality and cruel minds of terrorism. Because of them many people have to face so many unnecessary security checks and all that..even today atLondon, they are very cautious even with people with Indian passports.

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  4. raMmYSeptember 10, 2009 at 11:43 PM

    I am at loss of words SG. Your loss is irreplaceable and i feel sorry for it. I have to however second what Insignia and Neha say. Aligning with the almighty in sleep is the most painless form of leaving the mortal world. Your dear mother was blessed enough to claim her heavenly adobe in a state of pure nirvana. She was lucky to leave the mortal world which has so much pain and suffering without taking any of such pain herself.

    I can only feel for your loss, but it was extremely courageous of you how you handled the entire situation in those gross period. It takes a great deal of courage for a family to get past such a tough period. You and your family have bravely done that.

    Nothing can replenish your loss, but we can surely pray for you Mother's soul to Rest In Peace.

    May the force be with you,
    rammy

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  5. SandhyaSeptember 10, 2009 at 11:47 PM

    I never expected this news with this title. Sorry. I too, agree with Insignia. Your mother must be a special person.

    I went through a very embarassing security check, when I visited Disneyland, wearing a punjabi dress. I had kumkum on my forehead, still...

    I feel bad for the normal muslim people also. Every muslim name is looked at, with doubt nowadays.

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  6. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 6:01 AM

    Thanks for your comments Insignia.

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  7. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 6:02 AM

    Thanks for your comments Neha.

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  8. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 6:03 AM

    Thanks for your comments. Security checks at the airports are a necessary nuisance.

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  9. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 6:04 AM

    Thanks for your comments RaMmY. I really appreciate your kind words.

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  10. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 6:06 AM

    Thanks for your comments Sandhya. Hope you enjoyed dinnyland (slang for Disneyland).

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  11. lostworldSeptember 11, 2009 at 6:19 AM

    9/11 must have left such an indelible mark on your life. My condolences :(
    I can't even sit down to imagine how you pulled yourself through and managed it all!

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  12. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 6:47 AM

    Thanks for your comments lostworld.

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  13. shilpaSeptember 11, 2009 at 7:28 AM

    i am sorry to hear for your loss.Its definately the most touching thing written in any blog .The way you have carried the sentiments in your blog is astonishing and brave .

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  14. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 8:07 AM

    Thanks for your comments and complements Shilpa. I appreciate it.

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  15. R. RameshSeptember 11, 2009 at 8:50 AM

    wrote a comment..wondering whether saved..anyway..sorry to read this post SG..in life, v r forced to face many challenges...

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  16. Shadee001@gmail.comSeptember 11, 2009 at 9:07 AM

    So sorry to hear abt your Mom. May her soul rest in peace.

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  17. NehaSeptember 11, 2009 at 9:14 AM

    SG, he was my husband's great grandfather...how do you know him? as a politician or some personal connection?

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  18. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 9:52 AM

    Thanks for your comments Ramesh. Yes, we are forced to face many challenges in life.

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  19. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 9:53 AM

    Thanks for your comments Disha. I appreciate your gesture.

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  20. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 10:04 AM

    Thanks for your reply Neha. I am not from a political family. I have no personal connection. I am a history junkie and a news junkie. I read a lot and remember names. When I saw your last name, I immediately remembered (reading somewhere) your husband’s great grandfather was the first Lt.Governor of Pondicherry from 1963 to 1968.

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  21. NehaSeptember 11, 2009 at 10:18 AM

    wow...commendable memory...your info is also correct...he was the first speaker of Maharashtra, and one of the Mumbai flyovers was also named after him - i am saying this only because u like history..:) my family people will be very happy today...

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  22. TitaxySeptember 11, 2009 at 10:19 AM

    ohhh so sorry to hear about this, SG...it must have been so hard.

    i'm at loss of words here..

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  23. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 11:09 AM

    Thanks for your comments Titaxy.

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  24. NRSeptember 11, 2009 at 12:24 PM

    Really so sorry to hear about your mother. Its sad to see all these things happening. U handled the situation in a very calm way!!

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  25. PSeptember 11, 2009 at 12:39 PM

    sorry for ur loss.

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  26. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 2:11 PM

    Thanks for your comments and complements Nazish.

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  27. SGSeptember 11, 2009 at 2:12 PM

    Thanks Poorva.

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  28. Varsha ShroteSeptember 11, 2009 at 10:17 PM

    Very sorry about your loss SG:(
    I too feel that your Mom must be a very special person who would have done good KARMA to meet death in sleep.
    It feels really frustrating when you are not able to reach to your parent's funeral. Same thing happened to my Dad 3 yrs back, he too passed away in sleep...and we had to go to Jabalpur(MP) from Bangalore via Nagpur, and Goddamned idiots cancelled the last flight from Bangalore. We fought to the authorities and told our situation and then they sent us in an Outbound Air-India flight to Bombay. It was so frustrating.

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  29. SGSeptember 12, 2009 at 5:21 AM

    Thanks for your comments Varsha. I am sorry about your dad. May his soul Rest in Peace.

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  30. smSeptember 12, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    i feel sad for your loss

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  31. SGSeptember 12, 2009 at 4:38 PM

    Thanks SM.

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  32. ApurvaSeptember 12, 2009 at 5:32 PM

    SG- sorry for your loss and the challenge you faced to be with your family during that trying time

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  33. SGSeptember 12, 2009 at 6:24 PM

    Thanks for your comments Apurva. And, welcome to my blog.

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  34. ShruthiSeptember 13, 2009 at 12:07 AM

    The most important thing was to make it to her funeral and you did it. Must have been a difficult phase in your life.
    Anything I say now will be inadequate :(
    May the strength you posses guide you through your life.

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  35. SGSeptember 13, 2009 at 7:47 AM

    Thanks for your comments Shruthi.

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  36. AnonymousSeptember 21, 2009 at 1:34 PM

    I was deeply moved by this post SG. I cannot imagine the trauma that you went through. The air seems so still around me and I feel as though time stopped for a couple of minutes. I then hear me typing on the keyboard very consciously feeling the stillness around me.

    I also am admiring the fact that you maintained so much composure. I felt every bit of the post and am very sorry for your loss.

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