Covid-19 A Brief Affair

The train had started moving and I was standing before the door. Suddenly I saw a girl running towards my coach dragging a big suitcase and a bag. I stepped down from the train, grabbed her luggage and put them inside. Then I lifted her from her waist and put her inside the coach and followed her. She was breathing heavily from running. I examined her from head to toe. She was wearing tight jeans and a top that appeared to be plastered to her body. She had good figure with a lovely face, crowned with bobbed hair.

By that time the train had started running fast and she looked at me gratefully, “Thanks a lot.”

“Let us move to our seats. I lifted her suitcase and she followed me with the bag. The coach was almost empty and her berth was facing mine. I placed the luggage under the seats and offered her a water bottle. She gratefully accepted it, took a few gulps and said, “ I would have certainly missed the train if you were not there to help.”

“Why you didn’t start earlier?”

“But I did. I couldn’t get any cab and it was at the last moment that I got an auto. I couldn’t even purchase a water bottle.”

It was starting time of Covid 19. The Govt. had put lock down. All the colleges were closed. After some hesitation, some trains were started and most of the students were going back to their homes. Our train started at 10 in the morning.

“I am Nisha. I’m in second year of engineering college.” She introduced herself.

“What a surprise, I am Ravi from the final year.” It was really a great co incidence.

After that she somewhat relaxed and we started chatting.

“Would you like to see a movie?” When I nodded she came to sit beside me and we watched a movie on her mobile. By the time it was over, it was getting dark.

“I am feeling hungry, let us eat something.”

“Nothing will be available on the train. I brought some biscuits and Lays.”

“Don’t worry, I brought some Poha. We may share it.” She said, “But let me warn you I am a real lousy cook.”

She opened her lunchbox and gave half of it to me. She was right in warning me beforehand. It was really just palatable. It was getting late and we decided to call it a day. There were no curtains and no bedroll but AC was working and it was cozy and we fell asleep soon.

I don’t know what time it was but I woke up all of a sudden. Someone was moaning softly. It was Nisha. She was shivering and moaning. I shook her hand and she opened her eyes. Her flesh was burning with fever. I placed my hand on her fore head, yes, there was high fever. I supported her shoulders and placed the water bottle to her mouth. She took a few sips then collapsed back.

“Don’t worry, I am going to bring some help.” I shouted and went to look for the TTE. He made a few calls and informed me that help would be available on the next station. It would take two hours to reach there.

I went back to Nisha. Placed her head on my lap and covered her face with my hands. She opened her eyes briefly, put both of her hands around my waist and whispered, “I am going to die.”

“Don’t be a fool. Everything would be ok.”

The doctor was waiting at the station when we reached there, examined Nisha and said, “She is having Corona. You both would have to be admitted to the hospital.”

Ambulance was waiting and we were both taken to the railway hospital. There was separate ward for Corona and we were given adjoining beds. A nurse took our samples and then they started with Nisha. Drip was started and a few injections were given to her. She calmed down after that. After that the doctor turned to me, “You are also having fever.” The nurse gave me an injection and after that I fell asleep.

In the morning they informed me that we were both corona positive and had to remain there. Nisha was still unconscious and for the whole day I was asleep for most of the time. On the fourth day I was feeling almost normal and Nisha was also looking much improved. She wanted to call her father and inform him about what happened. I called my home and gave some vague detail of the situation to avoid worrying my parents and sister.

“Father would be reaching in the morning.” She was looking much better and was given something to eat that looked like porridge. She tasted it, made a face and said, “I never imagined that anybody could be worse than me at cooking.”

The nurse was nearby, and scolded her, “Just finish it all. It would give you strength.” She silently finished most of it. There were dark circles under her eyes, yet she looked lovely.

The attendant came and once again took our samples.

Nisha spent most of her time looking at me. Then she asked me, “Ravi tell me one thing.”

“What?” I asked.

“Can you spend your whole life eating lousy food?”

It took me sometime to understand the real meaning of her question. “On one condition.”

“What?” She whispered.

“It should be cooked only by you.”          

She looked at me for a few seconds then took my hand, placed it on the left side of her chest and pressed it with both of her hands. That is how she went to sleep. I tried a few times to remove my hand but she always pressed it hard. I don’t know when I fell asleep.

In the morning the sunlight was coming through the window. I was feeling much better.

“Today you are going to be discharged. Your report is negative” The nurse came to me with information.

I turned towards the bed of Nisha to inform her about the good news. Her bed was empty.

“Where is Nisha ?” I asked the nurse, feeling alarmed.

“I’m sorry, she passed away last night. Her lungs collapsed. We did everything but could not save her.” I could see that her eyes were moist.

I came out of the hospital carrying my suitcase. I saw an old man loading a dead body, covered in white on a van with the help of somebody. It could be Nisha and her father. Or it could be anybody of the thousands.

The van started and left the hospital.