Amarsys Bomb-ayed

One cardinal sin that Mourad Amarsy (49) committed was to look back at India - his motherland, his roots, the place where he was born. A French National for over 40 years and a super successful small time fashionista in Paris, he wanted to upbring his children the Indian way. Three children (all under 10 years of age) were enrolled in Indian schools. His wife, Limya (42), owner of a chain of successful lingerie boutiques in Paris made India her proxy country. Mourad dreamt of setting up high-end fashion wear business in India. His innocence was his ignorance. He simply could not match up his Parisian business sense for orchestrating business in India. Having build up a huge capital base in France, he was willing to give 'India' - time! Only if he knew, India did not have time for him.

On the fateful night of November 26, 2008, the couple's fate directed them to dine at Kandahar restaurant at The Oberoi. Eventhough they were of Muslim descent, they were shot dead. Media reports that the terrorists let Muslims out unscathed as it turns out are false. In this case, the terrorists have had atleast a generation long impact on this Moslem family. I doubt if the three kids have any immediate family and their future as it looks is in serious jeopardy. I knew them in the capacity of consultant-client relationship, which I can't claim to be highly personal. But the fact remains that I knew them. I wish, I could rewind the past five days and warn them about their impending fate. All the misfortune on the three children that an untimely death of parents have brought about is just unaccountable. This incident has scarred them for life and life will always be a discounted opportunity cost for them. In Whittier's words,

"For all sad words of tongue or pen
The saddest are these: 'It might have been'."

My heart goes out for the Amarsy's... God be with them all.