12 years ago, today, the maximum city of India was under attack. Thousands of innocent people lost their lives to the violence from 12 coordinated terrorist attacks. 

Mumbai Mirror

As 12 years ago today, the unfortunate series of 26/11 unfolded, Humans Of Bombay has shared the chilling story of a brave young survivor who rewinds 11 years of her life, just to share her traumatic experience. 

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“I was barely 10 years old when a bullet pierced my right leg. It happened at CST station. I was with my father and brother and we had stopped for a while to use the restroom. Before we knew it, chaos had erupted all around us. My instinct told me to run and that’s when I saw the man who shot straight at me. I felt so much pain… I collapsed. The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital the next day. The doctor informed us about what took place on 26/11. I was so angry. Flashbacks of women and children dying at the station came back to me. But the clearest memory I had was of his face. I spent 1.5 months in the hospital being operated for the wound, but I couldn’t get his face out of my mind. As soon as I was better, I moved back to my village with my family. My father was contacted by the police to testify in court. We had to identify the attacker since we were some of the only survivors. I wasn’t scared, I wanted him to be punished. Our extended family stopped talking to us after this decision… they thought they would be attacked by terrorists because we were testifying. I walked to court in crutches. Out of the four men presented to me, I immediately recognised Ajmal Kasab. My heart was filled with anger. I wanted justice right there. That’s also when I made the decision to become an IPS officer. I thought I was being brave, but after this everyone disassociated from us. My father’s dry fruit shop shut down because no one wanted to do business with him. Our landlords hiked the rent because they think we’ve made money out of the publicity. The State Government’s promise of a flat is still unfulfilled. But we’re not giving up because we did what we had to for the country. Even though Ajmal Kasab is no more, my anger will only fully subside once I become an IAS officer and fight all this injustice. ‘Till date, I can’t enjoy Diwali or celebrate India’s win in Cricket because the sound of fireworks traumatizes me — I know I’m not getting all these years back, but there will be an answer someday. They will face the consequence of raising a finger towards India… I will make sure of it.” #superhumansofbombay

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This girl was 10-years-old when she halted in CST to use the restroom on November 26th 2008. Soon after, she saw chaos erupt around her. She was just following her first instinct and started running when a man looked her in the eye and shot her. 

My instinct told me to run and that’s when I saw the man who shot straight at me. I felt so much pain… I collapsed. 
India Today

The bullet pierced through her right leg and the pain made the 10-year-old unconscious. Amidst the chaos of people screaming and running for their lives, she collapsed. 

Facebook– Humans of Bombay

She was fortunate enough to wake up in a hospital bed the next day. When she realised what was happening in the city, she was infuriated and the face of the man who shot her became more and more clear. 

Facebook– Humans of Bombay

As she spent 1.5 months in the hospital recovering, the trauma of that horrid day wouldn’t leave her alone. 

Flashbacks of women and children dying at the station came back to me. But the clearest memory I had was of his face. 
The Hindu

After she was discharged from the hospital and as she was about to settle back into her older life, her father was approached by the police to testify in court and identify the attacker. In this moment, our 10-year-old braveheart survivor wasn’t scared at all: 

 I wasn’t scared, I wanted him to be punished.
Facaebook– Humans Of Bombay

Fighting against all the odds and going against their family’s will to not testify, this father-daughter duo was on a mission to find justice for the country. 

Our extended family stopped talking to us after this decision… they thought they would be attacked by terrorists because we were testifying. 
Live Mint

Putting the nation forward and their family’s safety at stake, the 10-year-old braveheart walked to the court in crutches before she identified the attacker. It was Ajmal Kasab. 

Out of the four men presented to me, I immediately recognised Ajmal Kasab. My heart was filled with anger. I wanted justice right there.
NDTV

This 10-year-olds’ courageous and heroic intention to bring justice to her country wasn’t supported by society. Her family had to suffer the consequences of taking the righteous part. They had to pay a price for serving the nation:  

My father’s dry fruit shop shut down because no one wanted to do business with him. Our landlords hiked the rent because they think we’ve made money out of the publicity. 
Facebook–Humans of Bombay

Even though the State Government hasn’t managed to give this fierce victim the flat that they’d promised, the now 21-year-old survivor aspires to become an IPS officer and fight for justice. She wants to channelise her rage and do something positive with it. 

Facebook– Humans of Bombay

The series of attacks on 26/11 has robbed her of a normal childhood, it has stolen the joy of enjoyment from her life and has given her a lifetime of trauma to deal with. 

 ‘Till date, I can’t enjoy Diwali or celebrate India’s win in Cricket because the sound of fireworks traumatizes me — I know I’m not getting all these years back, but there will be an answer someday. 

But all of this hasn’t stopped her, she still has hope and faith. The lack of ignorance from the State hasn’t affected her will to serve and protect the nation by becoming an IPS officer. 

They will face the consequence of raising a finger towards India… I will make sure of it. 

See the full post here: 

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“I was barely 10 years old when a bullet pierced my right leg. It happened at CST station. I was with my father and brother and we had stopped for a while to use the restroom. Before we knew it, chaos had erupted all around us. My instinct told me to run and that’s when I saw the man who shot straight at me. I felt so much pain… I collapsed. The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital the next day. The doctor informed us about what took place on 26/11. I was so angry. Flashbacks of women and children dying at the station came back to me. But the clearest memory I had was of his face. I spent 1.5 months in the hospital being operated for the wound, but I couldn’t get his face out of my mind. As soon as I was better, I moved back to my village with my family. My father was contacted by the police to testify in court. We had to identify the attacker since we were some of the only survivors. I wasn’t scared, I wanted him to be punished. Our extended family stopped talking to us after this decision… they thought they would be attacked by terrorists because we were testifying. I walked to court in crutches. Out of the four men presented to me, I immediately recognised Ajmal Kasab. My heart was filled with anger. I wanted justice right there. That’s also when I made the decision to become an IPS officer. I thought I was being brave, but after this everyone disassociated from us. My father’s dry fruit shop shut down because no one wanted to do business with him. Our landlords hiked the rent because they think we’ve made money out of the publicity. The State Government’s promise of a flat is still unfulfilled. But we’re not giving up because we did what we had to for the country. Even though Ajmal Kasab is no more, my anger will only fully subside once I become an IAS officer and fight all this injustice. ‘Till date, I can’t enjoy Diwali or celebrate India’s win in Cricket because the sound of fireworks traumatizes me — I know I’m not getting all these years back, but there will be an answer someday. They will face the consequence of raising a finger towards India… I will make sure of it.” #superhumansofbombay

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