I have never seen a disaster like this. Never felt so scared inside my own house. I remember long ago waking up to my bed shaking. Ran to my parents bedroom. My mother very calmly had said, Bhoomikompo hochche. Shiggiri mosharir niche esho. I wonder what she would have said to the day before's myhem. In our house Bhaskar foresees, me and Chibu learn on hindsight. Bhaskar had tied the windows, cleared the balcony, stored water, kept candles ready. When the windows were being hammered he drew the curtains so that shrads of glass doesn't splinter on us. And when the entire house was being battered he found the safest place. Chibu's bathroom. Right in the middle, and landlocked. It seemed endless, hammering, pools of water, sounds of breaking. And we gave up. Let go! A voice of wisdom said, Chibu, shob mone hoye shesh hoye jabe, ektu whiskey dhal to! And in that pitch darkness father and son settles down with their glasses! And I prop my feet up from the water and medi