—by Suresh Iyer
–Reading Time – 14 min Approx
It was March 20. Surya was busy preparing himself to go to the nearby temple. He got up early and wanted to leave home before anyone can wake up.
He recalled Jugal telling him the earlier night.
“Are you Mad! Here people are dying, and you want to go to Mumbai. Mumbai is an extremely dangerous place right now you see. There, people are just dying. How do people live like that in Dharavi?”
The seriousness of Covid had just reached India, somehow Holi was celebrated without many restrictions. However, the gravity of the virus attack was reaching higher proportions with Mumbai and many state governments demanding to get Airports and Public transport closed. The nation was waiting with bated breath what would be the next course of Action by the Prime Minister.
Jugal, Ashwini, Amit, Maithy and Surya lived in the same colony and used to meet every evening. Their recent discussions often touched upon this topic of Covid and its likely impact.
Now Surya wanted to slip away from the house to the temple, as he did not want Jugal or his other friends to see him and say something cynically about his temple visit. It was not that Surya was irresponsible or did not know the consequences of a Covid attack if social distancing and exposure to outside world is not restricted. He was recently transferred to Delhi and was worried more about his family and his young daughter who were in Mumbai and how they would manage themselves if everything were closed down. Lockdown was not much known by then. But he read about it in newspapers regarding the experience in Italy.
Surya was working in Central Investigation Department. He knew it was difficult for him to get leave as it was essential service. He wanted to go to temple and pray that his leave may be sanctioned at an early date and he could be able to go to Mumbai without much trouble just to be with his family for some time.
Alas, things did not turn out as he wanted. The Government announced Lockdown. He got stuck worried about what his family would do for provisions and daily necessities. His family worried about Surya how he would manage all alone.
Surya’s ordeals had just begun. At a time when his colleagues were enjoying lockdown as it meant leave and relaxation for them, Surya began to feel more and more isolated. He did not even know cooking. He somehow started bearing the ordeal and avoided coming out. None of his neighbours or friends enquired about him or how he will manage things. Rather they guffawed whenever Surya came down for milk or other things saying he was coming down too often and did not care much for the Nation. They were working in other Government departments and did not even had to go office.
Surya always wondered how his friends were managing without going out and how does it matter to the Nation if he happens to be on the street only to buy milk or biscuits or fruits. He was getting increasingly irritated by the antics of his friends. They were happily posting status messages in Whatsapp and seemed to be enjoying. He would watch TV and was often interested with the story of migrants. He thought that at least they were lucky to move on roads. Somehow, one day they would reach home. Here he was trapped by attending to the office needs daily and keep listening to the news bite of the CMs. He just wanted to know that trains had started running or flights have become operational.
Mumbai seemed like an Oasis for Surya. He avoided chatting to Jugal and his other friends in Whatsapp. Whenever he broached the topic of Mumbai, he would usually be taunted by his colony friends saying Mumbai was topping in Covid and best place for him was to stay wherever he was. How easy it was for them to say so, he thought. Sitting within the confines of one’s homes, where were they to understand the plight of a man who is separated from his family at these times?
March and April just passed by. By now Surya was getting accustomed to the boredom of lockdown. Each time, his hopes of going to Mumbai kept dashing as news of Lockdown extension repeatedly came out.
How benevolent was this Government by ensuring Lockdown! his friends used to discuss. They also would proudly chat that Delhi’s air had gone pure. Animals are walking on streets. Covid has changed People and what not.
Whatsapp Group was the most irritating place to be during these times. Surya felt increasingly sick of it, but he could not avoid Whatsapp too. Surya began to hate Lockdown.
Suddenly by May 11, a ray of hope emerged for Surya. He got to know that special trains were to be run from Delhi to Mumbai. Ticket bookings were to open on the website from 16:00 hrs. in evening. Surya’s excitement knew no bounds. His house was jubilant. He could see his daughter crying with excitement on video call. It was not that he was going to shift to Mumbai and be with his family permanently. He was to go for just two weeks leave. But for a thirsty crow, a few drops of water after throwing pebbles in the pot are enough to keep it happy.
Surya kept trying for his ticket. His family was trying for him from Mumbai. His near and dear ones were getting excited about his coming to Mumbai. Out of excitement, he messaged to Jugal and his friends on Whatsapp only to make a fool out of himself.
He got the same old advice, “Don’t go to Mumbai. People are dying there, Covid cases are the highest in Mumbai.” He got a ticket finally and rushed to office the other day for permission to leave office for two weeks.
His boss asked him only two questions.
“How will you return?”
“When are you supposed to come back? Are you going to extend your leave?”
Surya was getting irritated. His office was not worried about how he would go to Mumbai and the risks he may have to endure. They were only worried about the loss of one staff and wanted to ensure he returns. He just fell at the feet of his boss and got his leave sanctioned.
Surya finally went to his dream destination i.e. his home at Mumbai on 13 May.
By 3rd June, Surya made his way back to Delhi.
Though he had to live a lonely life again, the time he spent with his family was enough for him. He felt reenergized and ready to be back to work the very next day.
He took a good bath and had a good sleep. He got up in the evening and reached out for his mobile when he remembered – for a few days, he did not even bother to check his Whatsapp Group of his colony as he was having a good time with family at Mumbai.
He had nothing to eat at home and so got down hesitantly looking if any biscuits or something was able at nearby store. He was surprised to see his Colony friends Ashwini, Amit, Maithy and Surya happily laughing and roaming around. He could not see Jugal.
He asked Ashwini, “Hey, whats up to you all. You all got down. Has the scare of Covid got over?”
They laughed back in unison.
Ashwini replied, “Come on, don’t you see, we have to be self-reliant. Aatma nirbhar banna hai! Covid is not going anyway soon. But hey, look at our economy. It is just slipping down. We have to just take care of ourselves and not feel scared, that’s all. See we all are wearing masks. People have woken up.”
Surya found amused at Ashwini’s reply. He even laughed at it within himself. He was curious to know why Jugal was not with them.
Ashwini informed that Jugal has got Covid and that no one should go near his place. They even spoke casually of Jugal commenting how weak he was and that Covid does not attack those with better immunity.
Surya felt sorry for Jugal. He was surprised to see the Media talking about ‘New Normal’. He felt nothing new happened. Even Covid failed to cure the virus of selfishness and ego among people, he thought to himself.
Covid cases were reaching its peak. But it was a ‘New Normal’. People were roaming around happily with masks worn half-heartedly. Surya felt relieved to see ‘Pizza Hut’ open. He was also going to enjoy this ‘New Normal’. He ordered for the Pizza and kept waiting for it.
—by Suresh Iyer
