Business as Usual

Come hell or high waters, it is always business-as-usual once the problems are temporary under control – the broader issues may exist, but things have to go on

It was mayhem in Mumbai on the eleventh of July. As I was closing this issue, the bureau bustling with activity, designer fighting with the proof-reader over issues and then all at once we were all silent. For minutes, hours, we were quiet.

Quietly I rushed home, tension evident on all faces, people on the road, the security guards… We felt the terror deep within and couldn’t help but frown at the perpetrators.  Hours later, some-what happy that the transportation service started functioning and people are getting back home. Phones started working, we got dinner delivered.

Reached office early only to spend some time replying to “are you fine” mails. The team started sauntering in one-by-one. Slowly, but steadily, pace of work increased and not much later, bustling with activity again, in the mad rush to close the issue.

There we were, business-as-usual and we, mumbaikars, just survived another terror attack. So, come hell or high waters, it is always business-as-usual once the problems are temporary under control. The broader issues may exist, but things have to go on.

Let’s translate. Take the case of server crash at a bank or Web site hacked at an online store, once the backups are active, it is always business-as-usual.