Who I Am

This year taught me a lot, it taught me who I really am. I have matured little by little this year. I first realized it when I learned that my father was being transferred from Kolkata to North Bengal. It was heartbreaking to know that he would not be able to be beside me for my final year in school. More heartbreaking was the fact that he had to leave the day before my birthday. I wouldn't be able to have him celebrate beside me too. I would spend hours crying, there was nothing I could do. But everything changed when we had a nationwide lockdown from 22nd March. I never said so but I was really relieved. Then after some time, my dad was made in charge of the ICU in beleghata ID - the main covid hospital of West Bengal. He showed me all the important documents of ours just in case something happened to him amidst the pandemic. I couldn't stop panicking. Just thinking about it was enough to horribly unsettle me. But luckily, the months passed and nothing of that sort happened. Then in October both my parents were infected with covid, dad had a very high fever coupled with cough and cold and mom felt very weak. That was a really challenging time for me but it helped me to grow. Starting from phone calls to going to shops to get groceries and helping out at home, I had to manage it all. I tried my best to manage it. It made me realize that the things which seem so simple to us from the outside are not so. It sort of unlocked a new dimension in me. Now I try to help out at home more, now I try to be more caring and understanding. I try to be less complacent. This year was sad and shocking for all to say the least but for me, it was a learning curve, I learned the meaning of being there for your family. It taught me to be strong.