"I am immune to COVID-19", "My body has sufficient antibodies to protect me" - these are two standard lines used by many in defense of their lust for venturing out of house. People uttering these words take it very casually, little realizing the plight of their relatives. And mind you, none of them have medical evidence to prove out either of these statements.
While most believed the first wave in India to be the first and only severe downfall of this pandemic, little did people foresee the second wave to be more dangerous. The first wave felt like an unknown and invisible enemy oh human species, wherein the healthcare system of the most advanced countries in the world were brought down to their knees. Last year during the nationwide lockdown, even a 1000+ rise in national cases created fear on people's mind, face and voice. Contract tracing, strict adherence to social distancing rules, extra precaution was there to be seen everywhere. News of a distant relative contracting this virus, even hundred miles away, used to run shiver down our spines. Constant news of shortage of beds in hospitals, availability of few life-saving drugs instilled an instant fear of death. For precaution, people now more focused on their health over money and for once it felt like that the hygiene standards would finally improve in India.
Series of unlocks, freeing of inter-state & foreign travel curbs, removal of night curfews led to a massive uptick in the economic activity. With months of living behind caged doors, everyone wanted to re-taste their lost, loved social life. Dalal Street went into a crazy bullish mode, economic recovery indicators stumped the best economists' around and yeah the politics was back to normal.
Fast forward a few months to mid-March and slowly signs of a second wave started gripping small pockets of the nation. Within a month, the official increase in daily caseload crossed 0.3 million (highest ever worldwide) - 3 times more than the peak last year. Shortage of ICU beds, oxygen cylinders, vials of few important drugs have made even the richest feel like beggars. Lucky are those people who are capable of being treated at home. But take a moment and think of those families who have their loved ones battling out in a hospital. Truthfully, literally and despite innumerable planning by government - ground reality remains that despite using best of your sources and contacts available at your disposal, the pain of getting a bed in hospital to treat a COVID-19 patient is beyond imagination. And, God forbid, if it requires an oxygen cylinder then it is virtually impossible. Without reasoning, a life is more valuable than any amount of money and hence people are ready to splurge any sum - at times ever more than the budget of a big fat Indian wedding (remember this budget is the biggest earning of an Indian household).
Being a relative to COVID-19+ patient, I really understand and share the pain, plight of people around the country who are working tirelessly to help their loved ones get proper medical help. I have very close relatives whose entire family, including a 2 month baby, tested positive. Two of them were put into ICU, one was treated at home. It's mentally very disturbing and disheartening when doctors say that the chances of survival are minimal. Within a second, memories of a lifetime come flashing in front of your eyes. At that moment, all what you hope for is to just get even one more chance to speak to you loved one - tell them how much you love and care for them. With acute shortage of critical drugs, it's a harassment when you helplessly dial hundreds of pharmacists, druggists, NGOs, hospitals, government departments. Despite several messages of verified and confirmed number doing the rounds on social media - the harsh reality is that at that moment you are not in a state of mind to even think much and see messages. You are literally ready to barter your lifetime of earnings to get your hands on those precious life-saving items, somehow and from somewhere.
You feel helpless seeing your young brother battling day-in and day out to keep his father alive in a different city. A father, who is the only bread earner in the family. A father who himself is settling in a city away from his native place. P.S. imagine his situation when his mother and younger sibling also test positive but his number one priority is his ailing father in CCU (critical care unit). Despite all the technological advancement we ever make, we cannot substitute physical presence and its benefits. Being hundreds of miles away, you helplessly make calls, search your contact list to get one, even one friend or a relative living in that city who can help you out. However, so grim is the situation that despite having contacts you cannot force, plead anyone to venture out and lend a helping hand for the sake of their safety. All what you can do is, look at the medical reports, get some expert opinions and pray for the ultimate good. And God forbid, if the reports are not very encouraging, being a brother you cannot even speak about making due arrangements. All what is there on such calls is few murmurs, broken words and mostly utter silence. This really hits you. You are taken off your feet. Nothing, absolutely nothing comes to your mind. Hopelessly, you can only disconnect the call and cry.
I will refer to two high-profile cases which will hopefully make you realize the gravity of this situation. Recently, the Chief Minister of one of the states in India tested positive for the second time. Just try to imagine of the number of medical resources at his disposal, safety protocols that would have been followed at every step but yet the minister could not prevent a reinfection. So, please stop this illusion of becoming immune and developing sufficient antibodies. Few days back, the elder son of a national leader succumbed to this disease. Imagine the monetary resources and contacts available at his/her disposal but yet the leader couldn't do much to save his life. In India, we all know that if a politician is unable to get things done for himself then there is certainly no hope left for the common man. In fact, the common man is nowhere to be seen. At the end, he just turns into a number amongst the daily count and is left forgotten forever.
Who are these people who speak lines at the top? Are they illiterate? No, they are very much qualified, certified but their behavior feels like disgraceful. Their craving for meeting friends is difficult to express and imagine - perhaps even more difficult than comprehending a speed which is more than the speed of light. Perhaps the bigger danger floating around is from strangers, but rather from relatives, friends who are taking this casually, casting doubt over vaccines. Please remember once you are in a hospital bed, you will not be undergoing the pain highlighted in above paras but your family and loved ones will certainly do. Your behavior certainly shows that you can't do anything for the man in the mirror but please, for once, do this for your family and loved ones - STAY AT HOME!
P.S. Purpose is not to spread fear but to make few people realize how their stupid actions can cause a lifetime of pain for their family and loved ones. And if you think that life will go on unhindered, even after you - DM me and I will share my experiences on how life changes forever with a pillar passing away.
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