THE 'ESCAPE' FROM INFERNO..

The rehearsals went as smooth as smooth as silk. The stunt was perfect. Though the element of danger prevailed, I was confident I would get out of the fire unharmed. The 29th of October arrived sooner than expected and before I knew it, the Mc had announced me…


It was the annual Diwali bash at my old school. It was my seventh year performing there.

I took the stage to thunderous applause. Doves appeared in flashes of fire, giant fans out of nowhere, the birdcage and doves vanished, a table eerily floated in the air and light was manipulated with the greatest of ease. Then time came for – Inferno…

A committee from the audience inspected the handcuffs, chains, locks and sack that were to restrain me. They passed the test. I was handcuffed and chained and then taken to the centre of a circle of hay that had been made in the middle of the field. There I was placed in the sack and its mouth was tied. My assistants placed a cardboard carton over me….total darkness. As soon as I felt the carton around me, I began working on the handcuffs, in about thirty seconds I was out. My hands were free; in the meanwhile, my assistants were busy dousing the hay and the carton with fuel. I could hear the voices of the audience, the smell of the petrol reached my nostrils, the music blaring in the speakers. Over the din, my mother voice suddenly reached my ears, “that’s enough, done pour anymore” she shouted. Damn, I though, they’ve poured too much of fuel. I frantically began to undo the knots that held the sack shut. Straining my fingers through the canvas sack and getting the knots loose. As soon as I was out, I felt the heat around me, the fire had been lit. I shook off the remaining chains and got my ankles out of the tangle of metal. Then there was a sudden explosion around me, I had no idea what happened but the outer layer of the carton just burst. A wave of flames gushed in from under the carton. The inside was ablaze and I was standing in the fire. I felt the hair on my arms singe off, heat around my left arm… the escape was definitely not going the way it was planned. Calling out to God I grabbed the bottom rim of the carton through the flames and threw it over my head and made a dash forward. I felt something burning hit me on the face, I felt the skin starting to peel off the lower half of my face. I took a bow and tried to exit and the next thing I knew, mom had poured a bottle of water on my head… I didn’t realize but my hair was on fire. The applause was still on as I made my way to the green room, a few of the teachers realized that something was wrong and came to the green room, however to most of the crowd I had performed a heroic escape. A very favorite teacher of me started crying. My face was burning. Horrific blisters started erupting on my waist and left arm… but I was glad I was alive…Thank You God.

First aid was applied in the form of ice and Silverex ointment. The principal, his wife and m any of the teachers came to see me. I knew I would not be able to perform anytime soon and started calling clients and canceling my performances.

I got home and the family doc was called. He prescribed a ton of antibiotics. The next day, talks were on to hospitalize me, I was however against the idea. We called Dr.Sanmoy Ganguly, one of the cities best doctors who is also a magician of his own right. A prescription of six antibiotic injections per day followed. News spread in the magic community like wild fire and fellow magicians are still coming over to see me. Thank You. I am quickly recovering as the stage calls out to me. I like to thank St.James school, Mr.Ireland and Mr Chako, for their contribution towards my treatment. My friends Rajat da, Didi, Ruchira Rongit and Pisimoni, Deepmala, Sweepy, Sachin, Jenny, without whose constant love and support my recovery wouldn’t be so quick, specially Sweepy. Dr. P.Biswas and Dr.Ganguly for their medication.

Thank You Mom for love and care.

Thank You God for giving me the strength and bravery to come out of the inferno alive.

God bless you always……

Note: haven’t got photos of the escape yet, and post accident photos of me are too graphic to post here….