Lsst year, a devastating earthquakee rocked my city Ahmedabad, killing thousands of people in moments. I dreamt of the earthquake for many nights, and I am attipting to write some of the dreams as monologus uttered by the protagonists of those dreams. In this one, a soldier who came for the rescue operation speaks:

SOLIDER. Our troop was headed for Kashmir. But then they brought us here for the rescue operation. [Beat.] Well, it is nicer to try and save people here than try and kill them on the border! [He smiles pleasantly.] But I can¹t say this is any less intense [Beat.] The things that I have seen in these two days‹[Beat.] Š there was this man for instance, trapped under the debris for over twenty hoursŠ When they lifted the slab which had trapped him with a crane, we could see himŠ our eyes met, you know? He saw a patch of the blue sky, and faces of peopleŠ. and he knew he was saved. But then the slab that was lifted by the crane suddenly snapped. It broke into twoŠcrashed on him, and killed him instantly. [Beat.] But I still maintain that I am one of the lucky ones. I have the chance to try and help people. Some boys from my troupeŠ Even here they have to shoot people. There has been a shoot at sight order issued, as far as those concerned who are trying to steal things from the debris. My friends were telling me horrible stories last nightŠ of hands sticking out from under the rubbleŠ hands wearing wrist-watches and ringsŠ and there are bums moving around all over the town, removing these wrist watches and rings. [Beat.] ImagineŠ those guys trapped inside the rubble are still alive. They can feel a human hand from outsideŠ from the free world, where the air circulating freely, where there is light, where there is no weight crushing your bonesŠ and from that free world, comes a warm, human touchŠ .but that has come only to steal their belongingsŠ god-damn rings and wrist-watches! [Beat.] When the rings are too tight-fitting, and can¹t be removed easily, then there have been instances when soap or oil was used to lubricate the finger and get the ring out--- all this from a man or woman trapped on the other side, caring for nothing but life. Sometimes, if the ring would not come offŠ they simply cut off the finger and take it awayŠ.