How did the Rishika Family encounter this pandemic? What has been her experiences? Let’s read her experience from the lens of a law student. The way she dealt with her fears during this situation.
Dear Diary,
I envisioned that there’d never come a day when I’d write ‘Dear Diary’ but recent events have taken bizarre turns and I’m here to vent my emotions out (I can’t possibly exhaust my parents more than they already are of this pandemic). Innumerable mischances have happened, and I can’t imagine recalling events of a specific date so this is going to be a long journal that might reek of privilege.
Start of Pandemic
Let me begin from the start. The beginning of this lockdown encounters me with despair about my exams getting postponed. The household chores awaiting us, and happiness for all the free time I have been dreaming vanishes. However, my gut feeling has made me completely oblivious to the storm that awaited me. It was June and we had a silver jubilee to plan for my uncle and aunt. Monitoring the current events, we thought it best to cut our guest list short and change the venue to our apartment. We mutually decide that it’d be a small ceremony. With family members (well, we’re a joint family, so ‘just family’ amounted to 50 guests at least) and few close companions. All distributed with responsibilities and tasks of arranging two celebrations.
The panic stage
The night before the first gala was scheduled, one of our office staff was rushed to the hospital and the male members of our family went to visit him. Suddenly, a fear struck our mind, what if he was infected? My father is a diabetic patient and he worked with him closely on a daily basis. My mind contemplating all the worst scenarios and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I decided to sleep. With apprehension in our hearts, we continued with the preparations the next day. It was now 5:40 p.m. and the house was filled with decorators and caterers. The party was scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m.
The sudden news of Positive case
We got a call from the hospital stating that the staff member had been tested positive for COVID-19. Everything came to a halt. We didn’t tell anyone other than our immediate family members. We started coming up with a cop-out regarding the cancellation of the event (we obviously couldn’t put their health at risk). The phone rang again…… It was my eldest uncle telling us that the SMC representatives had reached our offices for securing the entire place and we should expect them at our house pretty soon after.
The fear of the unknown
All our enthusiasm dropped. The only thing that was on my mind was the health of my father. My thoughts went to a place of anxiety again. I insisted that he promptly go to the doctor for a test along with my uncles. He refused. We evacuated our house and that evening we celebrated with our immediate family and similarly for the silver jubilee. It was our vain attempt at consoling ourselves. Few days went by and all other staff members tested negative. I have a sigh of relief after this, but I couldn’t stop thinking about my father, he hadn’t been screen yet.
That fearful news
I witness my worst nightmare come true that night. My father caught a cold and his oxygen level drop drastically. The next morning, my mother caught it, and slowly all the elders have to be in insolation, as they have cough and fever. I couldn’t help but think of the impending doom. One fact of utmost importance is that my family consists of a child attending pre-school and my grandmother, both of whom are the most vulnerable to the virus. We all need to fight this pandemic.
The prevention stage
Luckily, one of my uncles didn’t get sick and decided to prevent further mishappening by relocating us to a friends’ farmhouse. Immediately we pack a suitcase containing our belongings for the next 10 days. How could I leave my parents when they are probably too sick to walk? It is said that humans survive in a society with the support of their peers/friends/neighbours, but our experience told us something different.
The reaction from society
Soon after my family got sick, rumours started floating around my society. As has been expected under this pandemic. Instead of helping us, they make calls to the SMC for us, stopping the house-help to come to our house (we had already informed the house-help at that point). Of course, the elders didn’t leave their room, much less the apartment.
Face-off
Nonetheless, we suddenly felt isolated from everyone, not just in practice but in thought as well. The moment we kids left the premises of our society, rumours grew, and we faced more backlash. Phrases like “they’re only concerned about their kids, that’s why they sent them away” started going around. What could I, someone miles away from my home do about it? All of this made me question some friendships I had held close to me until then. From god’s grace, our family went back to normalcy soon after. However, I now know whom to trust and not and I realized how important my family was to me, something I had taken for granted earlier. Lastly, Rishika, if you’re reading this, I hope you never have to open and write a diary entry ever again. especially written during this Pandemic. As they only lower your spirits.
11:30 p.m.
Rishika Agrawal
Law Student, IP. Jindal Global University
The story above is submitted under the story competition organised in collaboration with the story of souls and Gyaannirudra team
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