‘Osama bin Laden changed my life’

In 2001, Rahul Bage, an MBA from the University of California, got a top-notch marketing job in a firm whose office was on the 34th floor of the World Trade Centre. He was to join the company on September 13.

It took an hour and 42 minutes to destroy the twin towers from the first impact to the second collapse. When the towers fell, thousands of lives were lost and dreams crushed. Five years later, the memories of 9/11 still haunt many.

After completing my MBA from the University of California, I got a dream job in the US. While many lost their near and dear ones on September 11, I lost the opportunity of a lifetime. The planes not only crashed into the World Trade Centre but also my dreams.

I was in London till September 12, 2001 and was to join the job on September 13. There was tension and terror everywhere. There were rumours that London would be attacked too.

But, I didn’t want to give up the golden opportunity so I went back to the US. But I was shocked to see that Asians were being looked upon with suspicion. I realised there was no hope in continuing to stay there. Meanwhile, my mother got worried and insisted I return. So I flew back to Mumbai. I had to start all over again in India. I realised that get a matching salary like my US job was almost impossible.

I got job offers but didn’t find them interesting. Finally, I started my own communication consultancy and am currently working as a communication strategist. Had if not been for Osama Bin Laden, my career would have been at its peak. However, later I saw blasts occurring in Mumbai, which made be realise that no place is really safe. If something has to happen, it will. Life never comes to a standstill.

But, the last five years have made me realise a lot. What you give back to society is more important than what you are or what you have lost.

As told to Shweta Karnik