The Asymptomatic Carrier

Robert was a vibrant, vivacious youth of twenty-one. He had just given his Post-graduation Examination. He took his studies very seriously and aimed at being a Topper. With strong motivation and steadfast determination, he devoted every minute to the fulfillment of his dreams. No obstacle or impediment could deter him from his objective. He was passionate about everything he did. So it was with his studies too.

Robert put in twenty-two hours of studies daily, in single-minded dedication to his Post Graduate syllabus. Page after page he read, and night after night, he kept awake. He would get up with eyes red and smarting, after having slept for only two hours. He would rush to the library, in his creased and rumpled shirt, his unruly hair, combed anyhow. He would gobble down a tomato sandwich on the way, which he had assembled in a hurry, and had forgotten to sprinkle some salt on it. That would be all he ate till he came back home, tired and fagged out. His mind was so much immersed in his work that he had no time to even think about food. But what was remarkable, his resolute determination to make his life a success, never flagged.

Now that his exams were over, he had reason to rejoice. “Freedom, freedom, freedom”! His mind resonated with the words, and he felt like the birds; he could at last spread out his wings and fly, and lose himself in the azure, blue of the sky, without any inhibition. It was a wondrous feeling, which he savored and relished. One by one, he made phone calls to his friends and invited them for a Get-together at a restaurant. His excitement knew no limits, as he imagined what great fun they would have when they assembled after so many months. But his mother was the wet blanket. Amy discouraged him and told him that he should not be eating with the other boys, during the Pandemic. It was when they took off the masks to eat, that the sneaky Virus made its entry into the host’s body. But it was difficult to dissuade Robert when he had set his mind on anything.

 The boys had a rollicking time tugging at the ‘KFC Zinger’ Combos. The goodies disappeared in no time as the boys excitedly exchanged all the details of their lives when they had lost contact. The Get-Together was a great success, and Robert organized another Outing with his friends. He felt fine, and all his friends were apparently fine too.

But after a week, a few of his friends tested Covid- positive. Robert became concerned, but the first meeting was so much fun, that this time they planned to go to a movie together. It was a James Bond film. Robert had not seen a movie for a whole year, and he felt that his mind was starving for some good entertainment. Again it was Amy, who forbade Robert from going to an Air-conditioned hall, in which the Virus gets trapped, and infects the audience. But Robert would not take heed to her warnings. He felt that his mother was unnecessarily being paranoid. In the Cinema halls, the rules laid down were, that everybody had to wear masks, and leave one seat in-between, to maintain social distancing. There was no chance of catching the virus if one conformed to the rules. But his Mother’s contention was, that since keeping the masks on for such a long time was extremely difficult, as soon as the lights were turned off, the boys would remove them. It turned out that Amy was absolutely correct in her assessment, as the boys did take off their masks, and cheered and hooted in their excitement, and released the Virus, which found other hosts to prey on.

Robert now planned to visit his grandparents whom he had not seen for a whole year. He loved them very much, and at last, he was free to fulfill all that his heart desired. This time there was a big show-down in the family. Amy told Robert very firmly that on no account should he visit her parents. Both of them had crossed the age of eighty years and were suffering from co-morbidities. They were therefore very vulnerable to the disease, and as the Virus was not only very contagious, it was deadly, so he was not to go anywhere near them. If they got infected, they would not survive. But whatever she said, was like water on a duck’s back. He blatantly ignored his mother’s warnings, as he thought that since he was so fit, he could not in any way transmit the Virus.

Robert looked forward to meeting them and knew that the small gifts he had purchased were going to make them very happy. They were both waiting for him. As he entered, they came forward and he hugged them tightly. They in their turn kissed him, which he reciprocated. Robert’s cup of happiness was nearly full, but there was something very important in his schedule, which had to be completed.

With his heart beating like drums, in anticipation of the event, and his eyes radiant like the stars in the sky, with light steps, he almost danced into his girlfriend, Natalie’s house. As a strict disciplinarian, he had stifled his desires and had refrained from meeting her for the last eight months. Now he has unleashed all his dormant desires, and like an active volcano, they gushed out, spewing forth like bubbling, boiling lava from a spuming volcano. It was an ecstatic moment when at last he put his arms around her, and they embraced and kissed with a passion, which shot electric currents through their bodies. It was an ethereal sensation, a sensation so sublime that it could be experienced by only two people intensely in love. He asked Natalie’s parents for her hand in marriage, and they were happy to fix up a date for their Engagement.

News started trickling in, that one after the other, Robert’s friends were becoming targets of the obnoxious Virus, on the lookout for its prey, stealthily attacking, and squeezing the life out of its victims. But the disaster also struck Amy’s family. One dismal morning message was conveyed to Amy, that her parents were both hospitalized. This was the spark that ignited a frightful fire in the family. She spent the whole day sobbing and accusing Robert of murdering her parents, despite her warnings. Her aged parents did not go out, neither did any outsider visit them. It was obvious that as Robert was the only person having had to contact with them, he must have been the carrier. Their condition was deteriorating fast as one was suffering from Asthma, and the other from High Blood Pressure and Diabetes. Amy was not the one to spare her son this time. There was pandemonium in the house. It seemed that the Third World War would break out. They received the information that Amy’s mother was being given oxygen, whilst her father’s condition was so critical that at any moment he would breathe his last. Robert regretted having had visited them and felt guilty for being the cause of their imminent death. He did not believe in prayers, but he loved his grandparents so much, but he got down on his knees, and with all intensity, asked God to spare his dear grandparents. It was because of his prayers, or the miracle of Science, Amy’s parents started improving, and after two weeks Amy was able to bring them home. A massive weight was taken off of Robert’s shoulders, and after a long time, he could sleep in peace.

It was at this juncture, that the most unexpected news reached them. Natalie had taken ill with a high fever, bad headache, and partial paralysis. The Doctor diagnosed that she was suffering from Meningitis and she was sent to a Neurological Hospital, where they prescribed a brain scan. The reports for the other tests were expected after two days. After losing so much time, it was detected that she was Covid+. Then they made arrangements to transfer her to a hospital where they had all the facilities to treat Covid patients. As she was being taken in the Ambulance, she expired.

Robert heard the details in silence. Then he held his head with both his hands and gave a loud cry, like an animal which had been wounded. He swayed from side to side, and then fell prostrate on the ground. Robert had not been able to endure the shock, and suffered a massive heart attack and was no more.