Five months ago Shruti Kamble was left bedridden as she suffered severe back injuries after a fall from the Andheri railway bridge. As she lay on the tracks staring at the train approaching her,she made a small prayer. Deva mala maroo dyeo nakkos (God,dont let me die). For Shruti this was not the first time when she had to gather herself after a tragedy and begin life with a stronger resolve to live. A year ago Shrutis husband Rajan Kamble,a maintenance worker at the Taj Hotel,succumbed to bullet injuries suffered while steering guests to safety on the day of the terror attacks. Rajan had fought a losing battle with death for the six hours he was trapped inside Taj and for six days in the critical care unit of a hospital. Rajans death changed life for Shruti. A homemaker till Rajan was killed,Shruti took up a job as a nurse with the Taj Group to support her two children Rohan (10) and Atharwa (3). Recalling the accident Shruti says,He was with me. I was too weak to get up but a few passengers lifted me. if something happens to me,my children have no one else. My in-laws want to have nothing to do with us. My mother is away tending to my father who recently suffered a paralytic attack and loss of sight. Amid the misfortunes,her only succour is the occasional calls she receives from guests who were present at the hotel on 26 One lady called me to say that she wants to deposit a small amount for my sons. She said that she in a way owes her life to my husband who guided her and others to safety without caring for his own life, she says. However,Shruti admits to battling sleepless nights. Her husbands framed photograph had to be carefully tucked away for long as her younger son would hold it and cry for hours. Only a fortnight ago we finally decided to display his framed photo in the house. Atharwa still weeps but it has been a year and I think now he has got used to his fathers absence, she says.
