Mumbai: Piyush Goradia stands on the road waiting for his friend, Tushar. The two would often phone each other to meet near Mumbai's Opera House, where Tushar worked. This time, Piyush waits outside Tushar's home. This time, there will no banter, no hurriedly-shared snack. Just the long slow walk to a crematorium nearby.
Like most other days, they spoke on Wednesday evening as well. "But only for 5 minutes," says Piyush flatly. "Around 6:38 pm he called me and by 6:45 this blast took place."
Other mourners pass Piyush on their way into Tushar's house in Girgaum to pay their last respects. Many visitors are from his community - Jains from Palanpur in Gujarat. They have controlled India's diamond trade for centuries. Many have close professional and personal links to Opera House, the hub of diamond trading.
Tushar's wife breaks down. Piyush looks on helplessly. "I couldn't sleep the entire night. I finally slept around 5 am," he says. "I kept thinking about the blast in newspapers, on my mobile, and I could only see Tushar's face. I just couldn't sleep."
Not far from Chandanwadi where Tushar will be cremated, the body of Asghar Mohammed is being taken to the bada kabristan - the big cemetery. Tushar and Asghar never crossed paths, but they worked for the same trade
Asghar was amongst a handful of Muslims who work in the lower ladders of a diamond trade dominated by Jains and Gujaratis. He was killed in the blast at Zaveri Bazaar - the crowded market named for the jewelry stalls in its tiny streets.
His father, Faiz, who is in his 70s, says he received a phone call last evening that informed him his son - married just two months ago - had died. "I could not find a taxi or a bus... but somehow I reached that Saifee Hospital," he says. "Once I got there , his friends told me that he died. He just got married. There are still two days to go for their two-month anniversary."
At the cemetery, after the last rites, there is a prayer for Asghar and for his family. Faiz is a social worker - he volunteers with a group that provides cheap medical care to the under-privileged. Asghar, he says, was his favourite. "Only my heart knows what I am going through," he says, the tears shining in his eyes. "What was earlier my joy, is now my mourning."
Like most other days, they spoke on Wednesday evening as well. "But only for 5 minutes," says Piyush flatly. "Around 6:38 pm he called me and by 6:45 this blast took place."
Other mourners pass Piyush on their way into Tushar's house in Girgaum to pay their last respects. Many visitors are from his community - Jains from Palanpur in Gujarat. They have controlled India's diamond trade for centuries. Many have close professional and personal links to Opera House, the hub of diamond trading.
Not far from Chandanwadi where Tushar will be cremated, the body of Asghar Mohammed is being taken to the bada kabristan - the big cemetery. Tushar and Asghar never crossed paths, but they worked for the same trade
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His father, Faiz, who is in his 70s, says he received a phone call last evening that informed him his son - married just two months ago - had died. "I could not find a taxi or a bus... but somehow I reached that Saifee Hospital," he says. "Once I got there , his friends told me that he died. He just got married. There are still two days to go for their two-month anniversary."
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