Love story meets bitter end at Oberoi

Dubai: "Bullets just rained from their mean machine guns and they were swaying from left to right and right to left," said Justin Braganza, 32, who was waiting at the lobby of the Trident Oberoi to meet his girlfriend.

A computer analyst, he was there waiting for his girlfriend with an engagement ring in the left pocket of his jacket.

His girlfriend, Geetanjali, joined him half-an-hour later. Both walked towards the table he had reserved for them, but just then the firing started.

"People were just running all around, I turned around but did not see Geetanjali. I panicked and ducked under a table. The firing just continued non-stop for about a couple of minutes," he said.

"There was this gentleman next to me and he was reciting something, probably a prayer. He was so afraid that he urinated and I just felt so helpless. He must be in his mid-fifties.

"My mind was thinking of Geetanjali and hoped that she is safe somewhere around. From where I was it was not possible to get a clear view," he said.

Braganza said he saw the elevator nearby, and rushed into it. He said he got off on the sixth floor, and knocked frantically on a door.

"It was occupied by a tourist. I got in and told him to close it as there were gunmen in the lobby."

Both men were stuck in the room and survived on the food in the mini-bar until they were rescued by commandos on the afternoon of November 28.

Once out, he made enquires about his girlfriend.

"The first thing I did was to get in touch with her friends and look for her at all major hospitals where the injured and dead were taken."

"I found her body at the JJ hospital," he said.