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I am stuck in a traffic jam *%!*@” came the SMS the other morning. “Thank God,” it ended. Suddenly, for my friend, as for many of us, a traffic jam, after those horrific days, seemed a comforting thing. Getting ready in a rush, grabbing a cup of tea, getting into a packed train or getting stuck in traffic gridlock, then a day of infinite boredom at work with meetings and more meetings; same old, same old. And yet, this daily routine of the rodents suddenly looked so warm and familiar and welcoming.

Mumbai back to normal, said the newspapers. After every major mishap, be it floods or acts of terrorism, the newspapers cannot wait to write about two things — a) the indomitable spirit of Mumbai and then, soon enough, the dreaded headline, ‘City limps back to normalcy’. The photographs that accompany these stories are familiar — crowds on the roads, people hanging out of trains risking their lives, a couple at Marine Drive catching a few moments at dusk before going home. These are the vignettes of our quotidian existence which we otherwise take for granted but are now suddenly imbued with a new meaning; the humdrum has become the profound.

But let’s face it: normal of yesterday is not going to be normal of tomorrow. Our lives are going to be very different from here on. The terror attacks will change things, but some other changes were coming which will now get accelerated. So much has happened so suddenly. The attacks came at a time when the entire world was beginning to cope with the financial crisis. India was feeling a bit better than the rest of the world, but now that hope has gone. The mood has turned from cautious optimism to one of anger, even despair.In this frame of mind, we are looking for answers; they will come, but will also bring some changes. Get ready for ‘normal’ life of the times to come.

Security: Despite all the terrorism, Mumbai was never ultra paranoid about security. Apart from the occasional metal detector or frisk down, people were not inconvenienced in any way. That will change now. Not only are we seeing sandbags and gun-toting cops in public places, buildings are installing CCTV and soon, New York style doors, where a visitor has to be let in by the resident will become common. More restrictions will be put on our movements — feel like a walk on the beach at night? Be prepared to be interrogated. As for wandering into a hotel to have a drink at the bar like those old times, forget it.

Citizen vigilantism: The citizens of Mumbai and even of the country are now up in arms at the slackness of our police and our ineffectual laws. (They also think our courts are too lenient). They want action and they want it now. They want tougher laws and more powers to the law and order machinery. Already the phrase ‘Homeland Security’ is being bandied about. How will life be if those measures are introduced? The police could stop you on the road and ask you for identification. Loose talk will land you into prison. If a neighbour fingers you by reporting you to the police for indulging in “suspicious” activities, be prepared to spend a night in jail before someone you know can vouch for you.

Renting flats: Renting an apartment in Mumbai was never easy (forget buying!); now it will become even tougher. Foreigners, till the other day much coveted tenants, are strictly a no-no and that goes for the fair-skinned types too. But even Indians will be unwelcome. And God forbid if you have the wrong name. Even if the landlord is willing, the paperwork involved will overwhelm him. Police permission will be required for renting out, something that is a basic right. The worst part is that nobody will complain at this intrusion on the basis that “it is for our own good”.

Jobs: The meltdown was already scaring companies; the terror attacks have made them even more fearful. Never mind the economic stimulus packages and the constant exhortations of the government that India is growing, the mood in the private sector is depressed. Many industries have been directly hit by the perception created after the attacks; besides, not only visitors from abroad, but even orders have stopped coming in. Companies will therefore cut costs, and what better way than to retrench. Holding on to a job therefore will become a heroic act; only the lucky few can take employment for granted. On a humorous note, they will be much in demand and soon parents will introduce their sons to prospective in-laws by saying proudly, “Meet Ramesh, he has a job.”

This is the world our children will grow up in — young kids will play terrorist-policeman, they will learn to walk out of the school calmly whenever there is a bomb scare and they will be frisked every time they go to a mall. It may all seem abnormal, but that is going to be the new normal. Is this the world we want? This is the mood of the urban citizen, but do we know the long term implicatations? Are tougher laws always the answer or can more efficient intelligence and smarter policemen do the job better? Is there a balance between security and freedoms? As citizens we will have to make a considered choice.

Email: sidharth01@dnaindia.net