I remember that day..
writes Rehana Sheikh

One year has passed since hijacked airplanes hit the World Trade Center in NY and the Pentagon in Washington. The Editor of humPakistan Online, Rehana Sheikh shares her memories of the 11th of September 2001.

"I was back home early that evening after finishing most of the research work required for the magazine. For me, the only thing special about that day had been the Quaid's death anniversary, that is until I reached home.

It was around 8pm and usually nobody bothers to turn on the TV at this time of hour [drama hour] in my family but that day i witnessed the whole family flocked into the lounge as they watched somethin on the TV on full volume.

I was informed that a passenger plane had hit the World Trade Center and immediately I rushed to the TV screen to see for myself. At first I thought it was an accident. Later they told on TV of the hijackings. I was shocked.

Two planes had already hit their targets in NY. There was smoke and flames all over the screen and as the camera zoomed out, we could see the two towers were on fire. Shoaib, my son [9] was running around joyously as he usually does when Pakistan beat India in a cricket match. What he could not realise was that this was more than just a cricket match. There was perhaps a sense of jubilition among all others and i must confess, myself included.

It did not last long however as we realized what exactly had happened. Soon I was called by the office staff and friends, many of them jubilant, some fearful, but none of us expected the towers could collapse just like that. Unfortunately in an hour or so they did.

I was so horrified on watching those scenes flooding each and every channel you tuned into.. people hanging out of windows waving for help, those running in the streets screeming, some jumping off the towers even! It was as terrifying on TV as it would have been on the ground there. I decided to take Shoaib to bed as soon as he finished his dinner.

All I thought that time was how many innocent people had died, how many more would die once US retaliates, I even had a thought of a Nuclear attack on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Later as i put Shoiab to bed, thoughts of his future were all that were in my mind. I had dreamed of sending him to Yale or Harvard someday.. all that felt quite distant, especially that chilly September night".