By Tarana B
On September eleventh, two thousand and one, by 9:03 am, EST; a booming strike frightens Manhattan, New York, as The Twin Towers, which once stood tall as The World Trade Center, is struck by hijacked planes (Huiskes). The unfathomable attack isn’t only heard by the world, it echoes in the minds of each and every soul who witnessed the catastrophe.
Radhika Pasi, a childhood friend of my Dad’s, moved from New Delhi to New York, arriving only six months before one of the world’s most tragic displays of fear, terrorism, and destructiveness. Radhika saw Flight 175 crash into The South Tower. Burned into her memory are the images of urgency, survival, and chaos, yet as she reflects upon the literal grayness of her world at the time, there is an unexpected, hopeful light; people coming together, lifting one another up through generosity, empathy replacing bitterness, kindness and support for strangers, displaying a beautiful exhibit of humanity. This idea of care for those around you, and the willingness to understand, even in the time of the dehumanization of 9/11, has shaped Radhika’s perspective on how she lives today.
Radhika Pasi was born and raised in New Delhi, the bustling capital city of India. With lots to offer, it paralleled New York, so upon arriving in America, she instantly fell in love; she was right at home. This feeling of belonging almost instantly, would later emphasize the toll that the events of 9/11 would put on her life. At the time, New York called Radhika for education. She was a young student attending Pharmacy School. Simultaneously, she made time early in her mornings to work at the front desk of her University’s Media Arts Department as a way to make a few extra bucks.
Around the date of August fourth, two thousand and one, her sister was in town, and together, they decided to experience the World Trade Center. Radhika was hesitant and resistant from her sister urging her to join her in visiting the very top floor, as the trip was a whole twenty dollars; afterall, she had just arrived in America and was naturally diligent on saving wherever she could. Her sister justified spending with a mighty, “Who cares?” and the two sisters witnessed the bird’s eye impression of the city, from the grounded, strong, infamous twin towers’ rooftop view. The World Trade Center: epicenter for trade, unity and commerce, standing tall and symbolic to New York from 1973–2001. In the years prior to the collapse, New York may just have been the epicenter of excitement. New York was thriving in culture, a new kind of community, and popularity. Every night was a party in New York; it was alive. Not only was New York’s ground met with The World Trade Center, but parties were found hip-hopping through the underground world. It’s safe to say New York in 1973 challenged the social norm. What’s beautiful to see is how Radhika’s story parallels the spike of humanity in the midst of its very break.
The front desk greets Radhika with familiarity as she seats herself for her morning shift, at her University’s Media Arts department. It was still five minutes before the globe would be forever burdened. She shifts around her desk responding to the emails on the same computer she had with her since arriving from India to America six months prior, but she felt just at home. New York City; you can already hear Sinatra’s bellowing saxophones from his hit song, New York, New York from the very mention of the name, and so could Radhika. How dreamy it was to live in The City, how strong, grand, and resilient. 8:00 am, the phone sings it’s obnoxious song notifying her of a phone call from her senior who had just graduated, Arini. What a pleasant surprise to get a call from a successful friend who works at the World Trade center. The loud dial pauses, and Radhika’s sincere, “Hello” echoes at the front desk. “Radhika, we just got hit at The World Trade Center.” They say silence is loud, but they don’t talk about the actual chatter of the mind amidst its hollow sound. It started with denial.
“Okay, you’re–this is too early, and it’s not April. So stop joking, and get something better to do.”
“No, no, no, I’m not lying. Go turn on the TV.”
Of course Radhika’s department had a large screen TV, so Radhika informed the dean that a plane had struck The North Tower, and together they clicked the power button. Their poor pupils were just beginning to see the horrific image of destruction; the large shiny TV screen held the compilation of news channel after news channel all confirming the voice on the phone. Not only did this news begin to impact people like wildfire around the globe, but Radhika and her fellow building peers witnessed it first hand. Being located right off the Manhattan Bridge, the World Trade Center was in a perfect view from the terrace. Radhika and a scramble of people run up to the lookpoint and right as they reach the top, their heart shattered; A second plane has hit The South Tower of The World Trade Center, this is not coincidental.
It is silent as the group watches the tallest building meet the ground. It is silent as they hear the screams of people jumping off its hundredth floor and the chaos down below. It is silent in Radhika’s mind as it cannot comprehend reality.
“Come down! Stay inside! Lock the doors!” The safest option was to stay sheltered, it was time for lockdown. Nobody knew what was happening but it didn’t matter; everyone followed to take shelter in fear of not knowing what was coming next. As Radhika stays safely holed inside her University, the chaos burdened everyone. The news was everywhere to be seen on all the screens around her, and the melancholy horrors of what was actually happening was beginning to settle in; this was an intentional act of terrorism. Not only could Radhika not comprehend such dehumanization, but so couldn’t the world as they all faced the state of shock. At one point later towards the evening, Radhika’s world went metaphorically dark– the phone lines were down and the TV was no longer working. However, amidst the darkness was a precious light; a kind light. The University would not only shelter its students and staff, but shelter the people of Manhattan. The Manhattan Bridge was temporarily closed to cross for the while, and Radhika’s University was one of the first buildings towards the side of its entrance. Sheltering hundreds of people, Radhika and her University created an everlasting impact of kindness on such a cruel day, which is strikingly ironic. The distribution of water and warm blankets from the frighteningly cold autumn day brought people together in a time of uncertainty and helplessness. Radhika herself began to realize, “You really don’t know what anyone is facing today, what they are going through, what they’ve seen, who they’ve lost.”
It is seven thirty pm when the late afternoon begins to simmer into a later evening, and when New York is silent. Yet, a fine big diesel engine makes itself heard outside the abode-like University, “Screeeechh,” a line of fairy god-mother-like buses come to a halt at its doors. These buses ran on fuel, petrol, and the kindness humanity has to offer. “All aboard, all stops lead to your front door!” These buses rearranged the system for the situation, they would drive Radhika and all the others to whatever personal address they desired, it was late, and everyone deserved to be home. It could take all night, but New York’s finest metro bus conductors and captains were here for their community, these carriages would drop you wherever you needed to be, it was for sure and it was guaranteed. Radhika exits the building for the first time since her traumatic visual from the terrace, the heavy glass doors open like a gentle goodbye as she takes the four steps up to the big bus; it was time to go home, but does it still feel like it? It is ten thirty at night when the later evening darkened to a smoky, gray, moonlit sky. Our young New Yorker finally reached her home in Brooklyn. Unreleased papers and files all the way from Manhattan fly across the ashy sky, and homes are covered in soot. Radhika picks up fifteen burnt and rusted pieces of parchment that rained from the night sky as she steps into her apartment for an unsettling night of sleep, she thought to herself: “I am going to keep this.”
It took a week for Radhika to fully understand the intensity of what was happening around her because it took a week for phone and internet connectivity to be back online. There were several missed calls and messages flooding her phone, which broadened her reality as to the demoralization of the eleventh of september. It was an unreal feeling for Radhika, as not only was she cut off from communication, but she was going through a surprising amount emotionally; nothing personal from the attack, yet she was. The way everyone and everything was covered in ash felt unsettling and citizens of Brooklyn were especially confused as to why so much of it was coming in. Suddenly Radhika’s world went silent again, but this time it was real. New York City, debatably the liveliest in the country, was quiet– it appeared like this was the end of the world, a disaster had shushed all people. Radhika found herself in a depressive-like state, as she felt isolated from her loved ones, and even isolated from her home, nothing was the same for weeks and months. Life was literally, physically gray for weeks.
As Radhika reflects on her first hand experience of nine eleven’s tragedies, she cannot help but highlight the importance of empathy and understanding. There is so much happening in our world daily, and there is even more happening collectively internally in all humans, so having a considerate and caring approach to everything is so important. In fact, as Radhika revisited the World Trade Center Memorial several years after the reason for its establishment, she not only felt emotional, but a feeling of misrepresentation. As she looked around there were children running about, folks eating ice cream, people taking selfies, which felt completely irrelevant to Radhika–how could these people be so neglectful of what they were actually standing by? The Memorial itself does not do justice to the Twin Towers for Radhika, it brings haunting memories of the day, and is overlooked by the tourists. Radhika Pasi is indefinitely a kind, empathetic soul, and nine eleven has taught her to always be curious and considerate of each place she visits.
Through her story, Radhika has enforced the importance of kindness in the midst of barbarity, and the necessity to approach landmarks and history with empathetic curiosity–really trying to understand. To this day, Radhika reflects on the visit to the top of the tower with her sister, and she shares how she couldn’t be more grateful to her, “When you get a chance to visit a beautiful place, which is a landmark, never think twice. I thank my sister till date, because if she hadn’t pushed me that day, I would have tried to save the twenty bucks and not gone to the top of the world trade Center and I would have never experienced it.
So anytime you get a chance, never think twice. Just go and go all the way and experience all of it.” At the root of it, Radhika Pasi’s story teaches us to never take anything for granted, and to always live life having infinite care and understanding for all people, beings, and places.
