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DTerror has been a way of life for us, Indians. But never did it feel as immediate as in Mumbai last July. They seemed a reminder of the Delhi blasts the year before and Sankat Mochan blasts earlier in this year in Varanasi.

If anything, they glared at our faces in all their nakedness. They reminded us that we were helpless victims of terror. It meant that the odds were stacked so heavily against us, that we could nothing but were sitting ducks. It meant that despite the best efforts of the law-abiding agencies we could never be as safe as say the US. The Mumbai train blasts, in many ways, were waiting to happen. The Qaeda mode of terror, which had earlier been seen in Madrid and London, had now visited us.

What was pathetic is that we had to depend on public transport system, come what may. Think of a more efficient public transport system in Mumbai? Before that, ask how many Delhiites could miss going to Sarojini Nagar?

On July 11, 2006, a series of seven bombs went off in jam-packed, first-class compartments of Mumbai's lifeline, the local train. Approximately within a span of 11 minutes, starting 6.2 pm the bombs went off - Matunga Road, Mahim, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar and Borivali while an additional bomb was defused at Borivali. All occurred along the western line of Mumbai's local train network.

It left 209 dead and over 700 injured.

The idea, it seemed, was to target the rush-hour traffic. The affluent, upper middle class (even Gujurati) citizens. It seemed the target was India's strong business community. It seemed the target was India's stock-broking community. It seemed the targets were the diamond merchants of India.

Well, speculations were flying think and fast. This was Al Qeada response to India's proximity to America. It was a reply to Gujarat carnage, etc.

What was certain was that middle class comfort was passe. The educated and comfortable middle class was the target.

This was the severest indication that India was clearly a terror target, much on the lines of the West and, as many would argue, far more vulnerable. Our cramped way of life, our corruption in the law-enforcing agencies, our hollow political class, our collective complacence at not bothering about national interest, as long it did not affect us... only made us so much more vulnerable.

Fear was the emotion then. And name-calling (PM was the first to point a finger at Pakistan's ISI) was certainly not going to help. We, Indians, had reasons to be very afraid.

In India, the needle of suspicion was pointed at the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), an underground terror network in India.

Then on November 8, 2006, a bomb went off in a crowded marketplace adjoining a mosque in the town of Malegaon in Maharashtra. 37 people lost their lives. What was shocking was the incident occurred as Muslims were performing a ritual of Shab-e-Baraat. Though, initially it was thought to be the handiwork of some Hindu-right wing outfit, it was soon known that SIMI was responsible here again.

There had been several attempts to disrupt public life as well. On June 1, 2006 three suspected Islamic terrorists tried to barge in at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. True, the Maharashtra police was successful in thwarting the audacious act, it nonetheless was a stark reminder of our weakness in public safety.

In August 2006, there were reports in the media that the security of the Kakrapar nuclear facility had been breeched. It was suspected that two unidentified men had been seen moving suspiciously around the protected zone. The claim was however refuted by the National Security Advisor MK Narayanan who insisted that the facility was safe as ever.

However, the incident did bring to light fears that the investigating agencies had been suspecting for a long time - that Al Qeada would target them for spectacular results.

Fear was here to stay then. Yes, Indian stocks were zooming. True, India was new darling of the US administration and nation as such. We did have reasons to cheer the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Having said so, the shadow of death was more than felt in 2006.