‘Only the innocent die in terror blasts’

Outside the family’s Chandrapriya Apartments,the wait was getting longer. The house was empty as the family,Aditya’s parents Jaiprakash and Meera and sister Misha were all in Pune. A neighbour said: “It feels so hollow. He grew up in front of our eyes. Only the innocent die in terror blasts.”

Neighbour Pankaj Chawla,who lives opposite,said Aditya’s parents left for Pune on Saturday night as soon as word reached them that their son was among the 57 injured. His sister,who is studying for an MBA degree,left either late last evening or on Wednesday morning,Chawla said.

Jaiprakash Mehta was very proud Aditya was studying electronics and communications,neighbours said. The businessman,who owns a factory in Jhandewalan of electrical goods,told Newsline from Pune: “We are at the Pune airport right now. We shall catch a flight at 7 pm and are coming back.” He said little else.

Outside the apartments,neighbours huddled together and remembered Aditya. His mother’s friend Sweety Arya said: “He was senior to my daughter and guided her well during college admissions. Who can believe this?”

Chairperson of the local RWA

O P Verma said: “Hamesha ‘Uncle,namastey kehta tha’. He was so happy when he made it to the engineering college.”

The boy’s friends at his Bal Bharati Public School in Rohini remember him as a studious boy. Friend Varun (name changed on request) said he was shocked to hear about Aditya’s death. “I checked the internet. I cannot even think my friend is no more.” Varun said Aditya was a passionate footballer and never idled away his free time. “Not even girlfriends,” Varun smiled. “We shared notes,books. We went to school together. Then he went off to Pune and I stayed behind to study engineering here. But we never missed the opportunity to catch up when he was in town.”