It was the morning of January 26, 2001, when I woke up with the unsettling feeling that someone was dragging our house.
Our entire family had gathered in Gandhidham, a small town in Gujarat, India, for my cousin's wedding. The last two days had been filled with laughter, dancing, and the extravagant rituals of a traditional Indian wedding. This was the first wedding of the 21st century in our family, and no expense had been spared.
The celebrations were supposed to last seven days - what I like to call a 'parade of wealth.' But little did we know, everything would come to a standstill the next morning.
The night before, we cousins stayed up late, lost in the excitement of the upcoming journey to the groom's town for the remaining ceremonies. I fell into a deep slumber, exhausted from all the festivities.
Then, I felt it. The house was moving.
"I must be dreaming," I thought, trying to shake off the feeling and go back to sleep.
But the shaking didn't stop. I tried to get out of bed and fell, hitting my left arm and leg. The sensation was bizarre - why did it feel like the house was being dragged?
I woke my sisters and cousins. Panic set in as loud screams and cries echoed from outside. Our elders were rushing downstairs, trying to get everyone out. We were on the first floor, and the only way down was through a flight of stairs.
Then, I saw my father sprinting up. His face was stricken with urgency.
"Get out of the house! Now!" he yelled.
Still groggy and confused, I shouted back, "Buaa (father's sister) is still in the bedroom! She can't get out of bed!"
"You take everyone down. I'll get my sister," he commanded. "Run straight outside, stay away from the walls, and DO NOT STOP ANYWHERE."
As I rushed down the stairs, I saw the house behind ours. Its first floor was barely holding on, hanging by a single pillar. The family inside was screaming for help, trapped.
We had no time to process what was happening. When we reached the street, my mother, younger brother, and all the guests were already outside. The neighbors stood there in shock.
That's when I realized - it wasn't just our house. The entire town had been shaken to its core.