A call by a friend who asked her to wait for him, saved the life of Vanlyn D&rsquo;Cunha, (21), who was headed to City Kinara restaurant at Kurla, that caught fire on Friday killing eight people. D&rsquo;Cunha considers him her angel, for had she not waited for him, she would probably have met the same fate.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-hotel-fire-i-wanted-to-help-but-feared-for-my-life/16617171" target="_blank">Mumbai hotel fire - I wanted to help, but feared for my life, says Kurla restaurant's manager</a>
<img title="Vanlyn D&rsquo;Cunha with (L to R) Akash Thapar, Bryan Fernando, Sharjeel Shaikh and Sajid Chowdhri. The picture was taken on Fernando&rsquo;s birthday" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/oct/Vanlyn-D-Cunha.jpg" alt="Vanlyn D&rsquo;Cunha with (L to R) Akash Thapar, Bryan Fernando, Sharjeel Shaikh and Sajid Chowdhri. The picture was taken on Fernando&rsquo;s birthday" /> Vanlyn D&rsquo;Cunha with (L to R) Akash Thapar, Bryan Fernando, Sharjeel Shaikh and Sajid Chowdhri. The picture was taken on Fernando&rsquo;s birthday
&ldquo;On Friday I was on my way to City Kinara, but luckily I got a call and had to wait for a friend, Melvin, that made me about 10 minutes late otherwise I wouldn&rsquo;t have been alive today,&rdquo; said D&rsquo;Cunha, a third year IT student, and a close friend of five of the students who got charred to death.
Before leaving for submissions and vivas, D&rsquo;Cunha had met her five friends &mdash; Sharjeel Shaikh, Bryan Fernando, Sajid Chowdhri, Akash Thapar and Taha Shaikh &mdash; in the morning and never imagined that it would be the last time she saw them.
Their hangout The Vakola resident further added, &ldquo;Eating at City Kinara restaurant was routine for us, in case there was a change in venue then only we would notify everyone, otherwise it was understood that everyone was meeting there.&rdquo;
&ldquo;As it was a Friday, Sharjeel, Taha and Sajid were planning to go for prayers at 2 pm. So they left for lunch early. I was on my way, I had even stopped a rickshaw for the restaurant. Just then I got a call from a friend and had to wait for a while. He probably came as an angel in my life,&rdquo; added D&rsquo;Cunha.
Also read: <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-hotel-blaze-a-terrible-tragedy-that-couldve-been-worse/16614157" target="_blank">Mumbai hotel blaze - A terrible tragedy that could've been worse</a>
She waited for 10 minutes for her friend and then hired a rickshaw to go to the restaurant. By the time she reached, it was on fire. &ldquo;I thought the kitchen area had caught fire, and after inquiring a bit with the cops, I left for college again. After my vivas got over, a teacher started inquiring about them, as the police had come to our college,&rdquo; she added.
She and her friends visited the spot again and noticed their (the five friends&rsquo;) bikes parked outside the restaurant, it was confirmed that the five boys were trapped in the fire.
&ldquo;Since yesterday I have got nearly 200 calls enquiring about my well being, as everyone knew that I was a regular customer there. After they heard that a girl died in the incident, many people were sure that it was me, but I think God sent an angel to look after me,&rdquo; she said.
Memorial service There is an All Faith Memorial service at Don Bosco Centre for Learning, Mondini Hall, Kurla on October 20 at 9 am in remembrance of the students. All are welcome.

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A call by a friend who asked her to wait for him, saved the life of Vanlyn D&rsquo;Cunha, (21), who was headed to City Kinara restaurant at Kurla, that caught fire on Friday killing eight people

Mumbai: Call from 'angel' saved student from Kurla restaurant fire

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Mumbai: Call from 'angel' saved student from Kurla restaurant fire

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