It was yet another normal day. We got ready to go to office as usual. Since it was my turn to drop Richie at the nursery, I tried to hurry up. Usually Richie makes a big fuss to get ready and it takes almost an hour before he is tucked in his baby-car and is off to the nursery. But today was different. Richie willingly got ready and I was so proud of my young boy that I prayed hope he is like this always.
After dropping him to the nursery, I shoot off to office. It was a normal day at office. We were preparing for our big release in 4 days time. In the afternoon, one of our Japanese counterpart came in for a meeting and as Japanese custom goes they bring in sweets if they are known people.
He had got castella cake for us. As it was nearing tea time, we thought we would have a piece of the cake. I was enjoying a piece of the cake and suddenly the office shook. We thought it was usual earthquake which were experiencing for the last couple of years. We were cool. But it continued shaking and it increased in magnitude. We realised it is not a simple earthquake. Somebody has made the earth angry and it was rattling back. We held onto our dear lives.
The emergency door exit was kept open. We could not stand. Some rushed under the table. The things on the table started falling. It was the worst experience I had of the earthquakes. Though people were scared, they were calm. Even it was a first time experience for them, but they seemed mentally prepared. I saw somebody holding onto the printer and coffee machine and I was amazed at his bravery. As soon as the shocks died down we rushed out of the office with our little belongings.
We went to the nearby park where all the people had gathered. The phones were not working. Some people could access the internet and they told us that the earthquake happened near the east coast of Japan near Sendai and the magnitude was >8.5. Internet/Iphone came to the rescue. There was no means of contacting my hubby or finding about Richie. I was a little nervous but was praying that all were fine. After sometime there were more strong aftershocks and we could see the trees swaying in the park.
It was like when will it end. I was pregnant and was trying to remain calm as too much excitement is not good for the lil one. While I am writing this I am getting goose bumps remembering all that had happened. After sometime the shocks died down and colleague offered me a lift straight to Richie's nursery. I was lucky in one way.
Met Richie and I was relieved. I came home and saw that luckily not much damage was done. After I fed Richie, I remembered my hubby can access mails using his iphone. I had completely forgotten about it. I started my computer and there his mails were waiting for me.
Happy that we were able to get in touch again. But the day did not end there. There were a series of aftershocks. The trains had stopped. And the vehicles on the road were moving at snail's pace. My hubby came walking all the way from office and I was waiting for him with bated breath burning the lamp after midnight.
More to come.....
