[Originally posted on October 08 2005, when a massive earthquake struck Delhi and the North of India. I have written the below turn of events in such a manner that it could be used for a short skit or a humorous act, so incase you plan to use it , drop me a note, that would make me really happy.]

Date: 8/10/2005
Time: 09:25 AM

The initial tremors which were very feeble were felt by me. Sitting on my bed I quickly jumped up and ran to the kitchen to ask my mom if she felt the same.
Me: Mom! Did you just feel the tremors of an earthquake?
Mom: No I didn’t, I guess you are not feeling well today because you slept late thats why, your head must be spinning!
Me: [Thinking to myself]..But I did feel something..oh well maybe my head was spinning.

Time: 09:30 AM
The tremors which measured 7.6 in magnitude struck.
Me: [Thinking to myself] Man..my head is still spinning..all that work has made me really weak I guess!

[Voice in the far distance]
Bro(Kris): Manish…Manish….Jaldi Aa..Jaldi Aa (Come fast Come fast)
Me: [Thinking to myself]..what am I hearing voices too now?
[Running to my brother’s room, I see him lying on his bed]
Bro(Kris): This is an earthquake, my bed is shaking.
Mom: Manish…look look at the chandelier..look look at the fan

[The Chandelier was swinging from side to side like a pendulum..tha fan was swinging too..Standing on the 11th floor of a high rise, the whole earth was shaking]

Me: Okay, ..chalo (lets go) we have to go down..hurry..hurry.
Bro(Kris): What dressed like this..are you crazy.
Me: C’mon make a move dude, pick up the car key and the house key.
Mom: Wait let me close the gas knob.
Me: C’mon lets go..oh my..the rubble seems to be falling down from the crevices..hurry.

[Voices coming from outside, frantic calling..rushing for the stairs]

Young Girl:[Almost in tears]..Mummy..I am scared..Mummy
Young Girls Mom: Sweety don’t cry well be fine, we are in a earthquake proof building
Young Girl: No ..I don’t want to live on the 15th Floor..where is Daddy?
Young Girls Mom: [Now on the phone] ..Daddy is fine he is on the phone..yeah she is fine..just a little scared.
Young Girl: [Almost in tears]..Mummy..will it come back..I think it’s coming back.
Young Girls Mom: [Still on the phone]..No don’t worry and don’t cry ..you are making me nervous.

[Reached the ground floor..the whole apartment complex was downstairs..security guards on their walkie talkies..others on their cellphones, people getting their cars out and fleeing..some barefoot..most in their night dresses..a few with just their shorts on (yes men ofcourse)]

Mom: I knew it is not a good day today, it’s Saturday (Shanivar), the 8th. Disaster spares no one..and it does not distinguish the rich from the poor.
Bro(Kris): Dude, this is some experience..I want to be the first one to blog this.
Me: [Staring at the building and looking upstairs]..Dude.can’t you think of anything except blogging.
Bro(Kris): [Thinking to himself]..Thats a nice chic..wonder where she stays..she looks “hot” in that skirt.
Me: [Still staring at the building]..Duh..what are you talking about!
Mom: I felt as if I was not feeling well, I moved away from the gas, and something pulled be back towards it..I came out to call on you that I was not feeling well..that’s when I saw the chandeliar moving.
Me: Yeah mom..and you thought I was sick the first time.Anyways lets go to the open ground..you never know how bad the after shocks could be.

[Moving away from the building, I thought I will have a word with the security guard, cause he looked unmoved]

Me: Aapko kuch feel hua earthquake ka (Did you feel the earthquake)
Security Guard: Nahi..hume to pata bhi nahi chala (I didn’t feel a thing)
Me: Achha ..lagta hai ground floor par kuch feel nahi hua (Seems like the people on the ground floor didn’t feel a thing)
Security Guard: Yeh to kuch nahi hai saab..bhuchaal to Surat mein aaya tha..main tab waha hi tha..kya bhayankar tha (This is nothing sir, The Surat earthquake was worse (26th Jan 2001)..I was there then). Ab to hawa chalne lagi hai saab, ab kuch nahi hoga (The wind has started blowing..so now nothing will happen)
Me: Achha..jab bhuchaal aata hai to hawa bandh ho jaati hai (So does the wind stop when an earthquake comes)
Security Guard: Haanji sir aisa hi hota hai (Yes sir this is what happens)

[As I moved ahead]
Man on phone: Yeah Mr. Malik, there has been a massive earthquake in Gurgaon..but it seems like the earthquake proofing in the building has worked..the first time it was really tested I guess.[pause]..yes yes good job with the earthquake proofing..this building is really safe.

[After a while..when the wind was blowing again]
Me: Mom..I forgot my cellphone..let me go and get it..seems like the wind has started blowing so the worst is behind us.Also I guss Dad will be concerned..so need to tell him that we are fine.

As I climbed the stairs to the 11th floor again, I realised how incongruent we are in our reactions, from being unbelieving (Mom) to self doubt(Me) to scared(Young Girl) to consoling and sympathetic (Young Girl’s mom), to unperturbed (Security Guard) to a sense of accomplishment and Joy (Man on phone). Thats what makes every individual so different from the rest.