Layover of life

A friend just posted an Instagram story—an aerial shot of Mumbai—with the caption: “Landed! Surely ‘landed’ is the most beautiful word in the world?#Thankful.”

- ANUJA CHAUHAN

We're all struggling to make sense of the horrific tragedy that was Air India flight 171. The scale of it, the suddenness, the sheer randomness—both for those on board and the ones simply eating a meal on the ground. What a sobering reminder to all of us hurrying around, self-importantly, on the surface of the planet, meeting our goals and targets and deadlines—that death can come anytime and anywhere. Literally, out of the blue.

Stampedes at religious gatherings like the Mahakumbh and joyous celebrations like the RCB win—as well as the many train and bus accidents, collapsing flyovers and crumbling bridges all around us—underline a similar message.