Raj Kishore Partho, Caf� Coffee Day vendor at CST station.

Raj Kishore Partho, has been in Mumbai for the past 12 years, and he has survided two terror attacks.

Partho's coffee machine was at the McDonald's premises on December 6, 2002 when a blast took place but Partho was unhurt. But Partho feels that earlier blast was nothing compared to what he witnessed on Wednesday night.

Partho's coffee shop opens at 9 am and shuts at 11 pm. Partho was in the shop when he suddenly heard a loud thud then what seemed like small crackers bursting. Partho figured something was amiss when people started running helter skelter.

Partho then saw two people firing randomly. The first thing he did was lock his cash box and ran for his life.

But it was difficult to leave the premises as many people were hurt and several dead. People were running here and there, many crying and screaming. Partho too was scared as he had not seen so many bodies at a time.

Partho left his shop open and went and waited on the road some distance away. Once everything was peaceful at around at 2 am, he went to his Caf� Coffee Day outlet and locked it up.

He returned to work at 9 am again. Life goes on.

Photograph: N V Reuben

Coverage: Terror strikes at Mumbai's heart