When city of dreams turned nightmare for taxi driver's family

Four-month-old Farhan will never know what paternal care and protection is all about.

His father Mohammed Umar Sheikh was killed in the blast on the Western Express Highway near the domestic airport in suburban Vile Parle on the frightful night of 26/11 while driving the taxi in which the terrorists had planted a bomb.

This was the only bomb blast in the suburb as most of the killings had taken place in South Mumbai.

"I don't like Mumbai anymore. The city gave me a decent life, but snatched away my husband who toiled hard often driving taxi late into the night," Sheikh's widow Momina Khatoon said.

Momina was pregnant when her husband met with a tragic end. Four months ago, she gave birth to Farhan, who is too young to realise the misfortune that befell his family, and that he will never see his father.

Farhan is the youngest of the four children of Sheikh, who came here from Basti district in Uttar Pradesh.

"My four children (eldest is around 7 years) have become orphans and I have lost the bread winner of my family. Life has come to a standstill. I neither have a decent job to support my children nor a house of my own," a sobbing Momina said.

"I earn a meagre Rs 25-40 a day by making flower garlands. My children are small and they need to be attended to.. due to which I am unable to concentrate on my work," Momina said pensively.

"I get an interest of around Rs 4,000 a month from the Rs 5 lakh which the government has deposited in my bank account."

But the exorbitant rise in prices of food items, besides electricity charges, house rent and medical expenses, amongst others have made life difficult for Momina, who also has to be a father to her children.

"I pay around Rs 1,500 as house rent. Besides, other expenses like water, electricity and medical bills take away a major chunk of my income," she said, adding, "imagine how can I feed my children with what is left."

"I want my children to study and stand on their own feet. Had they been young enough they could have worked part time at tea stall or garage to supplement my income and help run the kitchen. Only Allah knows what fate has in store for us," she said.