The Lawrence Monis Tragedy- A look at the circumstances that led to the killing, the facts and the family today. A small gesture of gratitude for all that Lawrence has been to me and my family.
-Preethi Pinto, Bangalore
A picture perfect family. But not anymore.
Exactly 2 months after the tragic incident in Saudi Arabia?s Al-Khobar, where the Monis family lost their most beloved Lawrence Monis, we take a look at the family as it accepts the bitter facts of how they lost their dearest family member.
The Story
It was the beginning of a new week, Saturday the 29th of June, 04. Having had a relaxing weekend with shopping for a new tennis racquet (as Lawrence loved playing tennis as a means of keeping himself fit and as a pastime), having had a sumptuous dinner of self-cooked fresh fish the previous night, something that he relished right from his childhood, and having gone to bed a little later than usual, probably thinking of the next day?s tasks lined up at the office, as he held the highest post of the Assistant General Manager of Al Sagr Insurance Company, little did he know that the night was going to be his last one. Little did his dear ones realize that it would be the last time they would speak to him. Little did they realize that Friday?s would no longer have them awaiting their darling dad / husband / son?s call. This was Friday May 28th, 2004.
Lawrence was known for punctuality, be it to office or for any other appointment. But on the fateful day, Lawrence is supposed to have left the residence 5 minutes later than usual, 7:20 a.m. The route he took to work, the? normal route was blocked due to a possible terrorist firing, and so Lawrence decided to take a longer route, the? other route to office, a route he would have taken probably twice to drive to office, a route that led to the tragedy. Driving along a 3 lane road, being in the middle one, which gave him the license to drive at a constant speed without bothering about people overtaking, Lawrence was on his way to office. There seemed to be a sound of the Police following a speeding car. Nobody was in a position to comprehend what the police or the speeding car was upto, at an early hour in the morning. There was no traffic signal, no cross firing, no mistaken identity. All the car wanted was space to escape from the police. There was a sound of random firing, and commotion. The next we hear, is of casualties and deaths.
The Fact
Wanting to have space to escape, the speeding car with terrorists had fired random shots around the place and it was destined that a couple of them hit Lawrence, leaving the family in a state it is today. The bullets having hit Lawrence, and he having lost control of the steering, hit one of the walls on the sides. That was the end.
Not having reported to office even after 30 minutes of the usual reporting time, the Managing Director of the company was confused. A call from the concerned Saudi police officials cleared all their doubts. Post the firing, the police caught hold of the victims, and started informing the associates of the deceased, with the help of the identification they got from their pockets.
The news spread all over the world like wild fire. The family, Wilma, Alan & Samantha were given a warning bell at about 3 p.m. that day of a serious firing and possible death. At 6 p.m. that day it was confirmed to Wilma, Alan and Samantha? that their Lawrence was no more. Wilma says,?”since then I?ve not been able to sleep”? It was not revealed to his parents, Christine and Anthony Monis, who lived in the palatial 8 bedroom house constructed by Lawrence, in Madanthyar. ( The 8 bedrooms have a story to tell. Lawrence, being the loving and kind hearted man he was, always wanted his 6 sisters to come and stay along with their families, whenever an occasion arose, and the last time they did it was for Anthony and Christine?s 50th wedding anniversary in 2000 ) Having made appropriate preparation to disclose it to parents, by first telling them that Lawrence had a massive heart attack and was being hospitalized, in a serious condition, it was finally revealed to them the following morning by one of their daughters.
The funeral was conducted on June 5th, a week after his death, after Wilma and Samantha flew down to Saudi, to clear the lengthy formalities and get his mortal remains with them. Thanks to Ivan, Wilma?s brother who helped them in clearing the formalities quickly and was a source of moral support to them during the time. A swarm of people, totaling to about 1500 attended the funeral. Amidst all the grief, tear and sadness, the mortal remains of Lawrence Monis were laid to rest in Madanthyar.
The Present Day
A man gone, a funeral happened, the grief? shared by the nation, a letter? of condolence to Wilma signed by the Prime Minister himself, week?s mass, month?s mind, all back to their daily hustle bustle. But to the near and dear ones, a hollow created that can never be filled. Be it Wilma, Alan, Samy; be it his parents; be it any of his sisters Agnes, Hilda, Celine, Irene, Winnie, Monica, all of them say one thing in common ? We never expected this to happen and there is no single minute that goes by without thinking about Babu (that?s what Lawrence was dearly called )”
Wilma wants to tell you something, and I want to console her, and I try. I want to tell her that everything in life is temporary and that everyone has to leave this earth; she knows it but nothing at this point seems to console her. She knows life will be very different from what it was till date. She knows she will have to shoulder all the responsibilities they once promised to share as a couple. She is a brave girl. She still carries the pretty and tuff exterior she always had. She can handle it. Yet I want to do something for her, but nothing at this point seems to calm her tensions. I know ?time? will. She knows it too, but will there be anything at all to completely fill in the hollow. I doubt. The lucky ones still manage to get a glance of her smiling face off and on. But I know the effort she is taking to do that.?”Never miss being with your loved ones even for a single minute. Make the best use of every minute you share with people who matter the most to you” she says.
Alan is a sprouting young gentleman, on the verge of entering into a professional course. He seems to have gained a very mature streak already. Never has anyone from the family, relatives or friends seen him weep ever since May 29th. Does it mean he is brave? He should tell us this. All that one sees of this smart young man is the confidence that says ?he will be there? for all of them. He shifts between Madanthyar and Bangalore as often as he can, to spend time with his grandparents and brighten up their lives a little.
Samy, the dainty lady and daddy?s favourite remembers and is often heard telling her? friends about the long drives she enjoyed with her dad. She proudly displays her platinum jewellery which her dad got for her as a gift, when she visited him in Saudi this May. She gives me the family picture ( the one above) which was clicked this February? prior to her Class 10 Graduation Ceremony saying?”we will not be able to have a family picture ever again”. Talking about her fathers death she says?” it felt like a movie, it?s slowly sinking in, all that happened”.
The fire of anguish in the mother?s stomach is just about? unexplainable. Both Anthony and Christine seem to be at a loss for words. Will their tears ever dry up I wonder. The same with all of Lawrence’s sisters.???
“Don’t be angry if I am not there in person, alive and well, when you need me. I would like nothing more, when you feel sick at heart and weary of life or when you stumble and fall and don’t know if you can get up again, think of me, I will be watching and smiling and cheering you on”. – Arthur Ashe
Life goes on. Kids will continue with life, they have a long way to go, Wilma will play a dual role of both the father and mother, parents will think about their only son as long as they live, sisters will fondly remember their one and only darling Babu. Its not just them. All the people who got interacting with Lawrence, and who realized the gem in him, the help he silently offered, the happiness he got to the families by providing employment to someone, financial help to someone, a kind gesture to someone, a word of consolation to someothers during their hardest times, the ever radiant smile he shared, shall remain in the hearts of the people, deep down, not forgotten.
‘Of all the tales ?tis the saddest ? and more sad because it makes us smile’ ? Lord Byron
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Author: Preethi Pinto- Bangalore