Our Brush With Corona

Chapter VII

It was the morning of the 30th of November. I was up early, but before going for my morning walk on the roof, decided to read some pages of a novel. Today was the day when the suspense would be broken, suspense regarding who all, if any, in our three-member family, had been struck with COVID. The call from the lab finally came at 10 am and events unfolded as I have mentioned in the opening pages of my story. I was informed that I had tested positive and since the lab only made calls to those persons who had tested positive, it implied that my wife and daughter had tested negative. But just to be sure, I cross-checked this fact from the lady calling from the lab, and she echoed the same thing, adding that the hard copy of the reports both positive and negative, could be collected in the afternoon of that day.

This was a big relief for me! Not only had I tested positive, but my wife and daughter had tested negative. I could now proceed as planned. I had already told my wife that I would shift to my parent's place if I tested positive. Though my home had that spare room and separate bathroom necessary for allowing one to stay in home isolation, both of us felt that it would be much better if I shift to my parents' home. For once there, I could monitor their progress and keep them under my own care.

I had already got a few clothes, my laptop and other things packed in a suitcase, the previous night. I had not received any follow-up call from the government doctor as my parents had received after testing positive, perhaps considering my younger age, the thinking would be that I would know what to do. Anyway, I had a talk with Dr Virender and discussed with him the idea of shifting with my parents. He agreed straightaway, adding that he would text to me the medicines to be taken.

I reached my parents home and asked the home guards to allow me to enter it, since I had tested positive myself. As was to be expected, the guards had to call the hospital authorities to confirm whether this could be done, obviously my COVID status would also be checked. After a few minutes of suspense, during which the guard made a few frenetic calls, the all-important permission was granted. The critical fact that two aged COVID affected people were staying alone, may have tilted the decision in my favour. Besides, by staying at my parents' place, I would obviate the necessity for deployment of two more guards, thereby helping to conserve on precious manpower.

Before making my move, I had taken the permission of my parents, not that one was required. They were so happy about it that they did not even remember to show their concern at my having tested positive! Perhaps they had also had a premonition about this outcome.

Without further ado, I entered my parents' home and went through an experience the likes of which I have not lived for a lot many years. It would be like stating the obvious when I say that it would forever remain etched in my memory.

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I entered the house to find my folks sitting on the sofa and looking expectantly towards the front door which led into the living room. While I was talking with the guards, they had already opened the door and kept it slightly ajar. After keeping quiet for some time while I settled my things in a room which they had already made ready for me, they started by first complaining about each other which they are always wont to do when any of their kids visit them. After all, both were married when they were incredibly young, my mother was sixteen and my father all of twenty at that time. It was an early start to their marital and martial life running concurrently at that tender age.

It has been my experience that these small fights are an integral part of all marriages that happen when both the partners are of a tender age. Though a rarity now, it was early marriages were commonplace, one generation ago, where the end of one's studying days was duly signalled with the beginning of a wedded life. And because the partners grow up together, they end up doing what close friends are quite good at, that is showing their love and belonging for each other through spurts of bickering.