All seems to surreal and I havent been able to digest what I went through the lasts few days but here i am. Have lived to tell the tale. I dont go much to the city center and made an exception when invited by a friend for dinner on my birthday. In Colaba. In Cafe Leopold where the first shootings in Mumbai took place. I am a regular at Leos on weekends and always sit downstairs. That day it was more packed then usual, so the manager who recognised me came over and asked me to wait upstairs in the a.c floor. I agreed and 2 pints later I went to the washroom, thats when i heard the shots. Well then i was preety sure it were fireworks being india. But the sudden silence, its really noisey downstairs otherwise, with only the shots from an ak47 and glass breaking and all. So everyone by then had ducked down. Bullets came in through the tainted glass windows, so no one dared to look down. People started crawilng, heading for any space they could find, the tiny kitchen, washroom and even the storeroom. This was really happening. Leos was known for drug trafficers and shady characters in the 80s and 90s. Lots of nigerians were banned to enter Leos. So I did think it was a gang thing at first. No idea what was awaiting the city. The rampage continued for about 15 minutes and then no one came for the next 30 min, although it seemed like an eternity that time. We had barricaded the door downstairs with a table so when the Squad arrived they almost shot me again tring to explain that all was well and we just want to come out. The Leos awaiting me downstairs was beyond anything I could imagine. All the tables were turned and bodies drenched in blood. A women screaming for an ambulence with her husband lying unconscious next to her. I went out where the police was. A friend who was with us, lived nearby and asked me to come there. I just wanted to go home, but that plan changed as i heard minutes later from a taxi driver that there had been a shooting spree in the Victoria Terminus Station. I went to my friends place, heard more shots around that place. Little did we know about the hostages held in the Nariman House was only two blocks away from the appartment I was staying. I could see the dome of Taj Mahal in flames from the balcony and the Nariman House from the terrace. In fact the view was so good that it was the favourite spot for most journalists and cameramen who grew in numbers the following day. I am still in Colaba and hopefuly will be returning home today. I just saw earlier on T.V that the terrorists were already in Leos, when we arrived, they were having their dinner. My story seems like a joke hearing and seeing what others have been through. We still dont know what can happen in the next few days so it doesnt feel right to be hopeful yet. Anyway this was long story short. I am fine. And feel I had good stars that night. Lets pray for all the victims, martyrs and the injured. Will never celebrate my b`day. Ever. Deep