12/04/2022
The day you are born is somewhat of a consequence. Not only are you welcomed to this beautiful planet we call home but it is also when your time begins.
What was a pleasant Tuesday morning turned out to be quite a daunting day now that I think about it.
There comes a day in every person’s life when they are pulled away from the brink of life as it were. You suddenly realize that it could have easily been you in that position. You begin to thank god that it was not you. You begin to realize your life’s worth. You suddenly feel grateful for everyone in your life. That was Tuesday for me.
I was all set to pay a visit to the Ganesha Temple at Flushing, Queens. I took the R train at the 53rd street and got down at the 36st street to exchange to the N train. The minute I got into the N train standing across the platform, a blaring announcement said, “Everyone get off the N train now and onto the platform” and so all of us rushed out. “Something must be wrong with the train, I thought”. The R train I came in left and in it’s place stood the D train. I decided to get into it.
It had been 2 minuted since I got into the D and it had still not left the station. “Everyone it’s a crime scene. GET OUT OF THE STATION NOW!”. I rushed out. On my way out I saw a man with a nasty big hole in his leg and police officers. It was drizzling outside and I saw ambulances in coming in from every direction and fire engines and police vehicles. I did not know the seriousness of the situation then, but I saw three people taken out in stretchers, all of them shot.
I immediately called my friend and he asked me to wait safely and that he would be there in a cab.
Ganesha Temple,Flushing,Queens ,10:32 AM
After praying , we went down to the canteen to finally relish the South Indian food that we had been craving. “5 shot and 13 injured at the 36th street subway station” the news reporter said. I was shocked but still strangely calm.
I took a cab ride back home as I was scared to get into the subway and finally on the ride back home it all hit me. I fought my urge to cry .
I cancelled all my dinner plans and decided to enjoy a walk to the park. We saw the sunset and the moon rise. Nature does indeed has a way with showing us all how it’s done. It shows us that we are indeed insignificant in it’s eye. Nature has a remarkable sense of timing. To be in the right place at the right time is a funny thing. It seems that I was at the wrong place at the right time.
It took 12 hours for the shock to hit my system. For me to realize that I had perchance just escaped a dreadful fate and another 12 hours for me to accept the reality of what I witnessed. The funny thing was, I was listening to Avicii’s “The Nights” that morning and by God he was right.
One day you’ll leave this world behind, So live a life you will remember.
