Delhi moves with a rhythm that never sleeps. The old Delhi streets pulse with honking cars, markets hum with bargaining voices, and historic monuments stand tall and proud as symbols of history.
But just two weeks ago, that rhythm had changed abruptly. The recent 12 November Red Fort blast, paired with memories of terror like the 26/11 attacks, has left an invisible scar across the city. The capital, a symbol of India’s power and heritage, has been reminded of its vulnerability.
For Delhiites, the same aftermath of fear has taken subtle forms and shaken the core of the foundation. Parents clutch their children a little tighter in crowded streets now. Daily commuters pause before entering metro stations.
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Even familiar places like the Red Fort, India Gate, and Connaught Place carry a new weight, a lingering question: “Could it happen again?” It is not just anxiety; it is a quiet, persistent unease, a shadow that stretches over daily routines.
What are Delhiites saying?
News Ei Samay spoke to some people in Delhi about their state of mind about going out on the roads now, and when asked, Sanjana Mittal, a master's student from Jamia Milia University, told us, “The series of attacks that Delhi has faced over the years has deeply affected my conscience. During the 26/11 attacks, I was barely four and had no way of understanding what was happening. But the recent 13/11 incident created a fear that felt as if it carried the unresolved weight of 26/11 too. It has left me constantly worried about what could happen next, as if I'm living in a state of continuous fear.”
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When she was asked about this anxiety, to let go of the feeling that this can happen again, she shares, “I have this constant feeling that something like this could happen again at any moment. And when it does, I can’t help but wonder, where will I be? Where will my family be? My friends? The people I know?”
An auto driver mentioned the probable risks of carrying an unknown passenger, whether he or she might be carrying something problematic. He said, “This vehicle is the breadwinner for my family of four. I’m afraid this might happen again, and all of these are related to the NDA government’s tactics of cover-up of the Delhi Pollution.”
Zoya Fatima, a resident of Sukhdev Vihar, Okhla, shares, “A sense of fear now lingers in the hearts and minds of millions of indians, especially those living in North India. In moments like these, the average working-class citizen takes the most vulnerable position, often standing at the frontlines.”
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Agniva Ray, a PhD scholar at JNU, comments, “Uncertainties of this kind constantly hover around the head, I mean it's not a constant thought, but in the back of the mind, there is a fear when such things take place. It feels frightening to think of when our close ones are there in these cities, working, studying. I think the government agencies work hard on these issues with their continuous surveillance and should enhance this activity more to ensure that people can sleep at peace. Its not an easy job, no one can claim that. It's just we common people have nothing to do in this regard other than relying on them.”
Yet, within this fear is resilience. Strangers hold doors for one another. Neighbours check in daily. Communities quietly rebuilding their trust, picking up the pieces in their surroundings. Security is heightened now, but so is the shared human resolve to live, to continue, to celebrate life despite the threat.
Delhi’s story is now one of vigilance stitched with courage. Its people are learning to navigate a city that is both a treasure and a target, where every heartbeat carries memory, apprehension, and the unspoken determination to move forward. The city fears, yes—but it endures.
