Fear

Since Indian Express has decided not to run profiles of the dead, and since Ravikiran has decided to cover the human angle, here is my short (second-hand) story as told by my jijaji (sister's husband)

 His company had booked few rooms at Taj for some conference. On the fateful night, everyone except for one of his colleague, who decided that it was too late and it would be better to stay in the hotel itself, left the hotel. When the attacks started he locked himself up in the room.
After considerable period, he heard a knock, which he mistook for commandos, he looked outside with the chain locked. The terrorists outside shot him in the hand. Shortly they broke the chain, and entered. They asked him to call his near or dear, he called his brother who lives abroad. They informed the brother that they are going to kill his brother and shot while the phone connection was still on.

And this is what was different about the attacks, getting blown off by some anonymous bomber is one thing, but being shot in the cold blood, it is so animal, brute, animal dominance without its usual civilizational euphemism. It just offends our impotent middle class dignity. We, the respectable people, are confronted by our emasculation, and we are humiliated.

I really don't think that the terrorists should have mocked our fragile honour. This is so mean.