Ahmedabad blasts: One year later

It was a year back when multiple blasts in Ahmedabad left 58 people dead and several hundred injured.
A 10-year-old boy, Yash Vyas, who lost his father and brother in the tragedy battled death for several months, and today he represents a steely resolve of a city showing defiance against perpetrators of violence.
Little Yash was with his father Dushyant and elder brother Rohan taking a ride on his new bicycle inside the civil hospital compound. A deafening blast killed his father and brother. Yash, who got seriously injured, battled for life for over eight months and survived. A year on, the tragedy lingers but the little boy is looking ahead. He is back to school and loves it there.
"I go to the school. I enjoy it and during lunch time, I have lots of snacks and play with my friends. I want to be an engineer," said Yash.
It was a traumatic year for his mother Geetaben. She had to cope with the loss of her husband and son, and pray continuously for Yash's recovery. Her dream now is to ensure that little Yash has a bright future.
"I will do whatever to educate him. That is the reason why I took up a small job. Whatever he wants to become in life, I will do everything for that," said Geetaben.
Some distance away, Gumansinh Rajput still shudders as he recounts the horror of 26/7. Gumansinh was near the civil hospital where most number of people died. He and his friends heard the loud explosions and rushed there despite a risk of more blasts. They took the injured to hospitals, arranging for blood, and in the process saving many lives.
"It was a traumatic day. Bodies were lying all around and the injured were bleeding. Even today when I get those nightmares I wake up. I can't get those traumatic moments out of my mind," said Gumansinh.
And as the city continues to remember the innocent people who lost their lives, it is people like Yash who represent a steely resolve for fight back.
Rohit Bhan, Ahmedebad