Unpredicted

December 31, 2004.

Another page from my diary, December 31, 2004.

Today's Journal is very special. You say "Why?" Hey this is my last
journal of the year 2004. I love to put together my thoughts into words
and keep them as my "Journal Entry". I love my memoirs, I enjoy going
down my Memory Lane and be there for sometime. Do you know why? Because
it is my own land where I can go whenever I want, for others it is
"Access Denied" till such time I have jotted down my thoughts and
presented it before you. My journals are a mixture of the past and the
present. Some readers like them while some make a sour face. Anyway I
don't mind, it is not a must that you have to like my piece of writing.
Anyway for those who read this, it is time to Ring out the Old and Ring
in the New.

"Tsunami" is the word making its round throughout the world. A seven
letter word but the power behind its action is petrifying. This little
word did not have so much importance in everyday writing. But see how
this word has made a place for itself in the world ? everyone talking,
thinking, and plunging into action. A scare is running in the minds of
the people who have come face to face with Tsunami. Trauma, terror,
shock, devastation, has housed in the minds of so many people that it
will take (maybe) days or even years to get rid of it.

It was in the early hours of the 26th I was back home after a long
time. I had boarded the Madras Mail from Howrah station on the 25th.
The night train left the station at 9 p.m. It was a seven and a half
hours journey for me. At 4.30 a.m. I got down and the train moved out
of the platform heading towards Madras. Back home by 5 in the morning,
I crept into my bed and under the quilt I felt comfortable. It was cold
and my body needed rest. I don't know when I fell into deep sleep. By
the time I got up it was quite late. I had no reason to hurry as it was
a Sunday. When I switched on the T.V. the news channels were flooded
with news and pictures of the havoc of the Tsunami waves in the Indian
Ocean. Later on I came to know my city had felt tremors in the early
hours of the morning around 6.28 in the morning. People from high rise
buildings came out of their apartments, fear looming in their minds.
Though my city falls on the coast line, thank God we were saved from
the ravage. Our neighbouring state Andhra Pradesh has been affected,
and Madras ? the pictures and the stories of the Tsunami disaster is
spine chilling. Sri Lanka, Andaman &; Nicobar Islands, Thailand and
Indonesia are the worst hit. But what can humans do when Nature becomes
furious.

I know what it is to face a natural calamity. I have seen the Super
Cyclone at my doorstep on 29 October, 1999. Food, water, shelter, is
the need of the hour of the marooned people. My thought ? pray for the
people faced and challenged by Tsunami. Preliminary aid should be
supply of safe drinking water, food packets and clothes collected from
door to door to be sent for distribution. Single handedly I can't do
anything, it has to be a consorted effort, and that's the way we are
trying.

Aid is pouring in but it will take time to repair the damage that has
been caused.

Science has made advancement. People are thinking of going to the Moon.
But why is it that the extent of Natures Fury can't be predicted and
controlled? For India, tourism has got a jolt. People will remember 26
December, 2004 as a black day in those parts of the world hit by
Tsunami. The scar will remain for years to come. Tsunami has taken toll
of so many lives, made hundreds and thousands homeless, swallowed up so
much that can't be measured in words.

After reading this journal you will say, "Enough of Tsunami. We have
seen the pictures and read about it". All that I can tell you is the
thinking space in my mind is stuffed with this at the moment. Soon this
will be replaced by new thoughts and you will find this silly head
writing on a different topic. It is so easy to forget and overcome
something when you are not a victim to it. Isn't it?

Time and Tide waits for no man. Adieu, 2004. 2005 is marching forward
and in no time will be at the doorstep.

Time now to wish my readers: "A HAPPY NEW YEAR".

With this note I put a stop to this Journal. See you soon in 2005.