Stay at home or not??

It was an ordinary day. I find it strange to call it ordinary because if anything, this is bizarre. It is the 63rd day of quarantine. People have lost their jobs, they are starving and the country’s economy is gradually collapsing. I work in the grocery store so I have to be at work by 8 am every day.  

It was just another day, customers were buying their needs. Ironically, the economy is in downfall when people started to buy only what they need. Anyway, as I was saying, she was my last customer for the day. After I was done billing and recording the products have been sold that day, I was getting ready to leave, taking my bag, my umbrella and the most importantly my pass. My home is 15 min walk from the grocery store. So there I was, with my earphones on, Adele playing in the background and I was just 5 min away from my home. I felt a little quaver. Ugh! Aftershocks.. it has been 4 years, since the earthquake disaster in Nepal. That was one of the darkest days of Nepal. It was an absolute catastrophe. I was walking by, when I felt another shock. This one was slightly stronger than the previous one. And just in a second, the ground started shaking violently, houses were collapsing like a sandcastle, tall buildings were torn apart. Just a second ago, the road was empty. And now it has been swamped by people. People were running out of their homes bare feet, somewhere still in their pajamas and some had a spatula in their hands. I was standing still, my legs froze and I blacked out.

After a few minutes, I regained my consciousness. Someone was talking to me. ‘Sakshi, Sakshi! Can you hear me? Open your eyes chorri. Sakshi! Look at me. Are you alright? Do you remember who you are? What is your name?’ It was my mother. Those questions made me smile. My mother, always acting as my personal doctor. Well, a force of habit I guess. After all she worked as a nurse for 30 years of her life. ‘Sakshi, do you know where you are? Do you know who I am?’ I got up and sat straight. ‘ yes, Aama I know who you are. You are my mother and my name is Sakshi. And I am on the road. Wait there was an earthquake. What..what happened?? Are you alright?? Where is baba?? And sanu is she alright??’ ‘ They are okay. They are safe for now. But most of the houses have been destroyed. People are in terror and they are horrified. They are scared to stay inside the house. This had to happen in the middle of the pandemic. People rushed out of their homes without masks or gloves and now everything destroyed. I don’t know what we will do .’

This was a state of anarchy. We were searching for Baba and sanu in that mob. People were injured, crying for help, some were bleeding, children lost, so much pain and agony. We were all terrified by the news of COVID-19 spreading all over Nepal in the speed of light and now this. Many of them have become homeless because of the earthquake. How are we going to survive this? I heard someone screaming my mother’s name ‘ Shanti didi, Shanti didi, please help my son. He ..he is bleeding and he is losing his consciousness. Please save my child.’ It was Sarita aunty, our neighbor. We rushed to their home. Raman, her son was stuck. His leg was under the wooden cupboard. My mom tore her pallu and pressed it against his forehead. Others pulled out the cupboard. Arh.. he will survive.  

‘WAKE UP, WAKE UP. Sakhsi wake up now! You are going to be late for work.’ My eyes were wide open. ‘Ama, we.. you.. I ..Ama, where are we? And where is Baba? And sanu? What happened to Sarita aunty? And what about the earthquake?’ ‘ What are you babbling about? Have you lost your mind? There is no earthquake. Now get up and come have some breakfast before you go.’  

Woah so I was dreaming. What a horrible nightmare to have. Thank god, we are okay for now. I freshened up, had my breakfast, grabbed my phone, earphone, and of course the most essential mask. I opened the door and with a smile, I said ‘Ama, I am off to work. What do you need for today?’ ‘ Nothing chori. Be careful and here is your hand sanitizer.’