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I was two years old at the
time of the disaster. Most of what I know about it is from
what my mother has told me. We used to live in Quazi Camp
then. My mother tells me, when the gas struck her she
thought some warehouse that stored chillies, had caught
fire. The room we were sleeping got full of gas. All of us
my mother , father my little brother Mubeen who was only
eight months old and me all were coughing and vomiting and
we could not open our eyes. My mother threw away the covers
because she was feeling so hot. Outside people were shouting
"Run Run" and their was the noise of lots and lots of
people running past our door. My mother wanted all of us to
join the crowd that was running away towards the city. But
my father stopped her, he said if we die, we all die
together. So my mother held on to Mubeen and me and sat next
to the open door thinking the wind will carry out the gas.
Instead more gas got in . My mother says her throat got so
choked she could not even cry out and groan. Father was
huddled in one corner. Mubeen's stomach had swollen like it
would burst. In the morning our uncle took us to the
hospital and for eight days I had a bandage over my eyes.
That's what my mother tells me. She says next morning the
beds, clothes, walls and every thing else in the house was
covered with an oily film.
I study in 10th standard
at the Government Girls School. I like maths best because it
makes me think, use my head. Other subjects one can pass
just by cramming but not maths.I want to be a lawyer when I
grow up and I hope my parents don't get me married before I
become one. When I am doing maths or reading a book I have
to stop every few minutes because I my eyes begin to hurt
and they water. As far as I remember I have always had pain
and burning in my eyes. Some times I get black outs. Also
some times like even when I am walking, all of a sudden I
feel panicky. Breathing becomes difficult and there is a
pounding in my heart. I have to sit down. I have very
painful periods. My mother has to give me hot fomentation.
Even with that the pain gets unbearable. I dread my periods.
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