GREETINGS to all!
This pandemic has changed my life to a great extent. I as a social being studying and staying out of house whole day, interacting with friends and elders, to be honest faced a lot of difficulties keeping social distance and staying at home. In March,2020 when this virus appeared in my locality, at first was really worried like I started avoiding going out unnecessary, wearing mask at public places, keeping 6 feet distance and all that. The thing was that not everyone was serious about it. With heavy heart I used to see boys playing outside from my balcony, really wanted to join them but then realize that it’s not safe. Government imposed lockdown in the country and all the activities were limited. Educational institutions, marriage halls, airports, parks etc. all were closed. My physical health was effected since I am a sportsman and sitting all the time in house and doing nothing was tough for me.
I was a student of last year in college at that time and I had to appear in many entry tests for universities during months of March, April and May, but everything was postponed for unpredictable time duration. More than virus the only thing I was worried about was my education and future plans. I had prepared myself for several tests and had to join academy for others, but everything was unusual and everything was disturbed. Board exams were also postponed and it was great hustle among students that either exams will take place or not. To study with such state of mind was really difficult for me. On one hand on television news I used to see the situation of Covid-19 in country and it was getting worsen day by day and even there is no hope because the opinion experts were warning about more alarming situation and on the other hand the stress of education. Daily I used to hear in news that about thousand new cases are reported and hundreds are dying in Pakistan. Seeing the obsequy of corona patients and thinking of experience of death away from my people all alone in a room really stressed my mind. But as the days kept on passing I get used to it, normally everyone get used to it and started progressing like normal life. Exams were cancelled and students are graded on the basis of result of previous year. Fortunately, I did great in my previous year exams so this decision was a blessing for me. There was great hustle among students again but it was final decision. Some universities started taking tests under strict SOP’s and some awarded admissions to students on the basis of their college results. I appeared in tests with masks and gloves on, sanitizing hands frequently and staying apart from one another.
With the passage of time doctors find out the temporary cure of this virus in normal temperature and immunity boosting medicines. Since I knew that I am young and had strong immunity yet was worried about my parents, grandparents and elders because I observed that aged individuals are more exposed to it.
So yes kept on moving, taking precautions and being more careful 7 or 8 months passed, I got admission in university and because of the pandemic, the process of virtual education started. Educational institutions started operating online, perhaps because of online system I could not experience the joy of university life, the very first days in a professional environment.
During the third wave of virus my parents, siblings gets infected to this virus. Even my uncles, aunts, cousins tested positive. There was a total of about 20 positive cases in my family. Only I was the one who tested negative in my house so along with precautions I took great care of my family. Cooking, washing dishes, taking care of diet and medicines I did all what I could. I used to see my father in one room whether he need anything and my mother and sister in other room to ask “Are they fine?”. It was a tough time for me, made prayers to Allah that He almighty provide cure to my family, provide cure to all the sufferers. Mentally I was really disturbed throughout this. Alhamdolilah all recovered one by one and in great health currently.
I am living with this virus now, used to it, used to all the precautions and my life is totally changed in a previous year. It has become more of a virtual then practical. Vaccine is here and I am looking forward to get myself vaccinated.
More power to all the paramedical staff and front line workers out there and prayers for speedy recovery of all the patients.
Muhammad Saleh
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