Unmasking Life

"Good morning, Geethu Miss!," my students greeted me as I was moving to the staffroom. 

Today I felt the greetings have warmth and a touch of sincerity. It was after a long time we could see them with their true vigor and naughtiness. It is a new beginning, not only because the schools were open but because the Covid pandemic unfolded a new chapter of life for me. 

A lot has happened to our lives, but not as much as one of my loving students had. I still remember that day.....Susmita, my friend, phoned me up saying that Nithya's parents were taken to the hospital. It was the first phase of Covid 19. Lives stood bewildered hearing the mind-numbing news about the massive blow of the pandemic. Scary silence prevailed around the world. Nithya's family was the first confirmed positive case in our locality.  

She was the smartest child in third grade. Her mother, Ananya, was a staff nurse in a private hospital. She had agreed to do extra duty in Corona Ward when a majority of nursing staff objected to it. 

"Geethu, I know it's not safe, but the management has offered to pay an extra amount of Rs.7000," she told me with her rheumy eyes. 

I insisted she better stay away from it. Maybe, her circumstances forced her to take the risk as she had to find extra money for her husband Venu's treatment. He had a stroke a few months ago, and his body from below the neck was completely paralyzed. She didn't even notice the initial symptoms, or she willfully ignored them. Finally, she had to give in ...but not alone... She took Venu with her to the other world - a world free of sorrows and Corona. 

I had an altercation with God for at least a few days. It shouldn't have happened. 

"I can't think of a moment on earth without Venu," Ananya used to tell me.

 God heeded her prayer. Who else will take care of him as she did! 

Ananya had invited my family for her second child, Bobby's first birthday on 20th February. She had no plans to celebrate it, but it was the wish of Venu to have a small celebration. The poor children couldn't even give them a last kiss. Their bodies were cremated in the presence of a few good Samaritans who had volunteered to do this hazardous work. 

"Good morning, Ma'am!", the students greeted me with a broad smile.

'How's your baby, Ma'am?," one of them enquired. 

"He's good," I said fondling his head. 

Even before Covid made us mask our faces, we had our Masks. Das and I were wearing happy faces in front of everyone. I took years to accept the fate that I was barren. Years of treatment gave us no hope of a baby. Ours was a love marriage against the wish and dreams of our parents. We pretended that we were happy even when strong gales of frustration were lashing us. 

Now we are the happiest couple in the world because we have not one but two children, Nithya and Bobby. We adopted them. We completed all the legal formalities as their relatives were cooperative considering the future of the children. 

It is their presence that unmasked our life. It's a new beginning; now life has a new meaning and our dreams have got new wings to fly. The pandemic brought us a new beginning. I'm only looking at the bright side of life and trying to forget the rest.