Chapter 3:Into The Pandemic

We again started to walk towards my grandpas field... but to our surprice it was barren and became a dumpyard.My grandpa was broken to see the land.....it was once the land which provided food for their ancestors for many years and now it has became a dustbin today.It was filled with plastic covers and electric waste.I can see the pain of my grandfather in the form of tears in his eyes.There used to be a large Tamarind tree in the middle of my field,where we used to sit,play in its shade and enjoyed the tamarinds but now the tree has disappeared.It was very hot and sunny.It is july and a rainy season but there is no sign of rain and clouds in the sky.There was a small shop.My grandpa remembered that this was the house of his old friend Radha who was newly married with a girl naned Diya in those days.Grandpa took us to the shop.Grandpa called "is anyone there inside....Radha!!".A man came out and asked what we need.My grandpa asked about his old friend Radha.The young man replied"I am Rahul.Radha is my father.He is no more now.Who are you?! How do you know my father??"He was tall,handsome and good looking.His words are very polite.My grandpa said "your father is my friend.I came to meet him but it was too late.Its ok.We will leave now"...saying this grandpa turned around.Rahul requested "no..no..sir,please come.Have something...please come inside".Grandpa dont want to disappoint him.So he accepted to stay there.

We went inside.It was a concrete house with a garden in the backspace.There is large varanda in front.It was painted with ash colour.Grandpa introduced us to Rahul by saying " Rahul!! meet my grandchildren Hazel,Sam,Reena and Mona."We all greeted him.Our grandpa asked him about his mother.He said that his mother passed away due to astama 5 years ago."I am sorry my child...!!you stay alone hear..?"My grandpa asked with pity."Yes sir,everyone are busy with their works.No relatives,no friends,they just call me sometimes. We come into vedeo conference now and then.Sometimes I feel so lonely hear."Rahul replied in a very low voice.My heart melted with his words.He looks so strong and handsome,but he is very sensitive and emotional from inside.One can easily understand this from his words.

We walked inside the house and brought some lemon juice.My grandpa asked him about his profession.He replied "I am a chemical engeneer.But due to the corona virus around the world I am working from my home."

Rahul prepared lunch for all of us.He prepared Khichdi and dal.It smells great .We had it.The dish was delicious.He was a great cook too.Rahul started to work on his computer.Grandpa always used to listen news on his radio,so he asked rahul for it.Rahul said "grandpa,there are no radios heare you can hear it on my mobile." he handed the mobile to my grandpa with a news channel.We were shocked to see the technology hear.In 90s there were only some radios which were used to listen news and music,a landline phone which would work now and then.But hear a small device is working as a clock,calender,radio,phone and everything.

There was only news about corona virus.Rahul explained grandpa that a virus named corona had been spreading throughout the world along with air.Many people are dying,there is no medicine for this.We are safe hear in this village,as there is no case of virus recorded hear.But it is spreading very fast.So we have to be a bit cateful.

The sun started to set.....it was becoming dark,Sam and I started prepare the dinner.Rahul turned on the lights.They were very bright as the day.We only had a few incandicent bulbs in those days.We had our dinner.Grandpa slept on a bed,Rahul occupied the sofa,Mona,Reena,Sam and I slept on the matress on the floor.I closed my eyes with a thought that we still have to stay 9 more days hear.The atmosphere hear is a bit harsh.But to overcome this they have fans,air conditioners and coolers.But I dont know why I feel suffocated a little with this machines as I am adopted to the fresh air of trees.

Next day I woke up early in the mornig.The sun just started to raise.Rahul was watering the plants in the garden.He saw me standing outside the room and said "good morning Hazel!! had a good sleep?" I answered him "good morning.Yes I do". He said " you dont want to ask me....?"I smiled at him and asked "did you had a good sleep?" He was saying something but suddenly I can hear grandpa calling me.So I looked at him,he nodded his head by giving me permission to leave.I went to grandpa....he asked me to make his morning tea.Our day never starts without a chai.I made him a hot tea.he had it.I prepared breakfast with the help of my cousins.

After having the breakfast,Rahul handed his mobile to grandpa to listen the news.

I was very shoked to see the technology which developed in these 30 years.Rahul showed us different cars,bikes,aeroplanes and he told us about satellites.We all listened to him with a great intrest.At last he said "we get all the facilities by destroying the nature hear.We have motor bikes,cars,aeroplanes etc.They release harmful gases into the atmosphere which causes global warming and over exttaction of the fuel is contaminating oceans making many fishes extinct.(Rahul started to show the pictures of the Chinese paddlefish and smooth handfish got extincted due to the human activities.)These are nothing...there are many other things which are destoying the nature.And we are the one responcible for everything." Grandpa said "then why are you using this.There is a solution for every question.We can use bicycles instead of motor bikes,bullock carts instead of cars.People are becoming very much dependent on technology for there luxuries.But they are not aware of the consequences in the future." Grandpa was very upset and went out looking at his barren field which is filled with plastic waste.

Suddenly there was a news saying that 6 children died due to consumption of micro plastic.We were broken to listen this.Every child was under the age of 10.Tears from my eyes started to fall.I asked Rahul about this.He explained me about it by saying "small parts of plastic is called microplastic.They move into our lungs when we breath and it was proved that microplastics have been shown to cause damage to human cells, including both allergic reactions and cell death.I am working on this for many years. Plastic sticks around in the environment for ages, threatening wildlife and spreading toxins. Plastic also contributes to global warming. Almost all plastics are made from chemicals that come from the production of planet-warming fuels.This is one of the major causes of environment."

The day went very fast but with a heartbreak news of those little kids.We had our dinner and occupied our places to sleep.My eyes filled with tears and heart filled with sorrow i fell asleep.