The birthday girl did not want to be photographed in case her parents spotted her bunking college for a day out at the Gateway.

The college friends had made an impromptu decision and couldn't think of a better place to spend the day than at the grand symbol of Mumbai.

"It was only after we reached here that we realised it was a month after the blast," says Raman. "I was in Chhattisgarh when it happened and was glued to the television for the next two days, so I was curious to see the site."

Laughing and edging each other to decide what place to eat in -- the famed Bade Miyan near the Gateway, maybe -- the youngsters agreed that incidents like these left a lasting impact.

"I was in the suburban train and my mom called to tell me that there was a blast," says the girl standing beside him. "And I just thought --- 'Yuck! Who are these people, who do these things?"

The bunch of five strolled towards the birthday girl who had walked ahead. She stood waiting for them, just around the blast site, with a bouquet of bright flowers.