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After spending 10 days at the J J Hospital, Sonba Deveghar has returned to his home beside the Jai Mata Di sugarcane cart.

He sleeps on the ledge of the damaged Nav Nidhan building in Zaveri Bazar. The second blast on August 25 occurred just outside the 80-year-old building.

Sonba suffered a head injury. He does not know whether it was glass or tin or some other debris that caused his wound. He just remembers being rushed to hospital. Three of his friends working at the juice centre were also hospitalised. One of them is yet to be discharged.

Since his return he hasn't been able to do much work. Abdul Rashid, his friend sitting beside him, says Sonba's hearing has been affected and that he gets up in the middle of the night and starts walking towards the other side.

Their sugarcane stall is the only shop in front of the building that remains open today. The other shops have been severely damaged.

Anand Raut, who mans the stall in the afternoon, says profit has shrunk to half since the blast. "Since there is barricading on both sides, people don't like to stop here, it's only the regulars who continue to come," he says.

Every evening Raut goes to spend the night with his injured colleague recovering at the hospital. He returns to work in the morning straight from the hospital. "I just hope he will be discharged soon. We are waiting for him."

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Also see: Ghatkopar Blast

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