And the hotel staff was taking care of you?
They were wonderful. This one man Javed was managing and they made simple little triangle sandwiches for us.
With all the stress they were able to cut the triangle sandwiches?
I cannot believe that they were still working. The staff was so wonderful, they kept serving us water. I kept thinking why did they have to comfort us? They needed to be comforted also.
I was both exhausted and terrified to sleep, because I thought if I fell asleep something could happen.
There were plenty of false alarms. One time the hotel staff stood in lines to protect us and we were about to leave, when we heard more gun shots and everyone panicked. And then we hid for another four hours.
Did you walk through the lobby to leave the hotel?
They removed the piano from the door and let us out. I was worried I would see dead bodies. But they had removed the bodies. There was glass shattered, furniture was toppled and blood on the floor. And the Indian police with guns standing in every corner, some ready to shoot.
When we got outside we were bombarded by the media. But we didn't know what to say. It was still dark outside and for a brief moment we felt abandoned not knowing what to do. Then we were bused to the Taj President. We had left all our stuff, our bags, my computer, camera with all our India pictures, our passports in the hotel. We called the American consulate from the President. I called them three times.
Image: Employees prepare the Zodiac Grill restaurant for the reopening in Mumbai. Zodiac Grill was where most of the guests took cover and were saved by the presence of mind and courage of the Taj hotel staff.
Also see: Diary of an eyewitness
Advertisement
