Valli : Personal Journal of Valli Pillay, a Living Dead Pandemic Survivor

Entry 12

The situation quickly got out of hand. The government of Mauritius finally admitted there was a virus going around and based on recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), they needed to implement certain measures to keep it under control. One of these was the closure of all educational establishments.

The government claimed the situation was under control. But it wasn't.

I tried calling Andy, to check up on him. He didn't answer his phone. I called his house and spoke to his mom. She told me he was sick and was at the hospital. I asked if I could go visit him, but his mom told me they weren't letting anybody in. The whole place had been quarantined.

Mom was at home and so was Vani. Dad was still going to work. He had also taken matters into his own hands. He had started buying supplies and kept some of them at home and the rest at our small vegetable farm.

"Better be prepared," he said. "Something big is going to happen."

Mom wasn't buying it. She trusted the authorities to do the right thing and she turned to prayer. An incident happened which made it clear to Dad and me the end was here. The internet was still working at the time and we could Skype Mam, Aunty Selvi, and Uncle Francois in France. Since Mom was at home she was Skyping them on a regular basis.

We called them around 9:00 p.m. in Mauritius which was 7:00 p.m. in France. Mom didn't usually call that late but Aunty Selvi sent a text message saying Uncle François had gone to get groceries when someone attacked him, and he was hurt pretty bad. Mom called immediately, using her iPad. She sat at the kitchen table and the rest of us crowded around her. I asked Aunty Selvi what happened.

"Your Uncle Francois got hurt yesterday," she said.

"Why didn't you tell me yesterday when I spoke to you guys?" Mom asked.

"We didn't want to worry you. The army has a curfew in place between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.," Aunty Selvi said.

"Why do they have a curfew?" Dad asked.

"Because of all the trouble," Aunty Selvi replied.

"Was Francois hurt by the army?" Mom asked.

"Oh no," Aunty Selvi said. "Francois went to get some groceries a little bit before the curfew started when someone attacked him. It was close to our building. A young lady. She bit him. Can you believe it?"

"Did you take him to a hospital?" Mom asked.

"It wasn't so bad, I cleaned the wound. Mind you it was pretty deep like when that dog bit you, Tanu. Do you remember? On your arm."

I grabbed Mom's arm and found the scar just above her left wrist.

"I remember, Selvi. Do you remember Papa took me to the dispensary and I got a shot?" Mom said.

"Francois had a tetanus shot a while back. I cleaned the wound. He'll be fine. He has a bit of a fever. Mam is watching over him."

As she was talking, there was a gunshot, followed by more shooting.

"That's a heavy machine gun," Dad said. "Selvi, what's going on?"

"It's nothing, the army are shooting the people who don't respect the curfew. It's been happening for a while now."

"What?" Mom wrung her hands in worry. "Selvi, you guys need to leave Paris!"

"Who are they shooting, Daddy?" Vani asked.

"I don't know sweetie," Dad said. He grabbed the iPad from Mom. "Selvi, Tanu is right. You guys need to get out of Paris. Go somewhere safe. Where is Mam?"