Sarojini looked at the door for the tenth time. Sejal counted every time her grandmother gazed at the door. She guessed her grandmother was expecting someone's arrival. The light sparkle in her eyes  just when she heard slight sound at the door was so evident that even Sejal could not help but ask her.

“Dadi... Whom are you waiting for?” she turned her gaze from the door back to her grandmother who left one more sigh. “Um.. nobody” she lied. Sejal had been witnessing a lot of changes in her grandmother lately. After her father and mother left Sarojini at the old age home sighting their too busy life Sejal never saw her grandmother's eyes sparkle with this shine.

When Sejal came to meet Sarojini for the first time here she had only seen her sad and depressed with teary eyes. What else can a mother do after the son she believed as her world left her to face the world alone. It was not just the story of her grandmother but there were so many others across her who were in a similar remorse of considering their kids as their world. Sejal decided she will take her grandmother away from here once she stands on her own.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw the spark in her grandmother's eyes grow brighter. A huge smile broke into her lips lifting those wrinkles around her lips. She guessed it hurt her grandmother but she didn't seemed to bother.

Sejal furrowed her brows and followed her grandmother's stare. There stood a tall man with a even wider smile plastered on his face when his eyes met Sarojini's. Sejal wondered how can this man be a reason that her grandmother is smiling so lively.

“I am sorry... I am so sorry...” he apologized as he approached Sarojini and sat beside her. “You know I wont be angry on you. Don't you?” Sarojini caressed his cheek lovingly. His smile only became wider. “Still I can't help but apologize for making you wait” he said stretching his lips into a thin line.

“Dadi..” Sejal spoke as she felt herself as the silent spectator of an event she isn't even aware of. “Oh... I just got carried away. Sejal this is Sanskar... And Sanskar this is my grand daughter Sejal” she said cheerfully.

Sejal weakly smiled at the man who smiled back to her. “He is the one who doesn't make me feel that I am all alone” she looked down fighting the tear at the edge of her eye. “Hey... Saru.. What have I told about crying?” Sanskar reached for her shoulder and brought her face up.

Sejal felt the pain her grandmother was going through. She wondered why people are happy about making their parent cry. The parent who never let them cry ever and tried to get everything they demanded as kids. Though their parent had spent their whole life around their children it looks impossible for them to get a few minutes of their children's life.

Sarojini smiled looking at Sanskar. He wiped the drops of tears on her cheeks and Sejal smiled sadly realizing she was helpless, she couldn't possibly do anything to make her grandmother feel any better. She wondered how can someone sacrifice their time to cheer an elderly person who is not even related to them. The man was intriguing her and she wanted to know why is he doing all this?

Sure there was no reward for service but even though knowing this there will be very less people who will be ready to be of service and she had a habit of not letting go of the chances to learn from the right teacher and right now Sanskar was that teacher who was going to make her understand the true meaning of being selfless.

“Hey” she sat in front of him in his cabin where he used to do all the paper works of the old age home. “Hi” Sanskar smiled at her and welcomed her inside the cabin and signed to the chair to settle down.

“Um.. Anything I can help you with?” he asked when she remained silent for a long time. “Um.. Yeah actually. When Dadaji was alive he said me one thing which I have never forgotten” she began and Sanskar keenly listened to her.

“He used to say we find inspirations and teachings everywhere. Only we should be ready to accept it” Sanskar smiled nodding his head in response. “Your grandfather was very true about it” he relaxed on his chair.

“So can you tell me how are you so service oriented and selfless? Even I want to learn it” she smiled and the expression of Sanskar's face turned dark and he struggled to smile back and that made Sejal think whether she hit on some spot.

“I don't know I am good at it but it was not me who came up with the idea of this old age home” he said and Sejal's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He weakly smiled at her.

5 years ago.

There was a huge smile on Sanskar's face when he got off the bus and the sun touched his eyes. He adjusted the sling bag he was wearing and started to walk towards the village.

It was summer afternoon and the smell of freshly ripen mangoes made his taste buds come alive. How much she loved mangoes  and the thought of her made his smile become peaceful.

Sanskar was working in a small private company in the city nearby. He hardly visited his native place. His mother always was angry on him that he always visited this village before his native and he couldn't help it when the reason was so beautiful. His childhood friend Ragini.

He was in love with her from the time he entered his teenage and all the hormone in his body started to act weird. Eventually he thought this was some teenage attraction which will end but then it turned out that he cannot live without Ragini. He did not wanted to also.

His legs slowed down when he saw the barricades and the police surrounding the area of entrance to the village. He stood there confused for a considerable amount of time.

“Stay there” one constable shouted and his steps stopped. He was still clueless. The constable walked to him when he did not move back also. “What are you doing here?” the man stood a bit away with a mask covering his nose and mouth.

“I... What is happening ? Why are these barricades?” he asked at last snapping himself out. “Have you not watched the news?” the constable asked and Sanskar nodded his head negative. The man rolled his eyes. “Like what is wrong with this new generation and watching news?” he wondered.

“There is a virus outbreak in this village so we are isolating it” the man spoke. Sanskar looked at the man shocked. “What?” he asked shocked. “Yeah and nobody is allowed to enter the village nor anyone can leave it” he assured.

“But... but I wanted to visit the village” Sanskar fumbled. “You cannot. Nobody is allowed” he said strictly. “But I have someone there waiting for me” he said and the man looked at him weirdly. “What do you think it is kind of a joke. The virus is deadly and we don't want anyone to get infected outside of the village” he said and Sanskar's eyes started to prick.

He remembered the time he spoke to Ragini last time.

“When are you going to tell me ha? I am dying due to your silence” he asked desperately. “What do you think what I feel?” Ragini stared in his eyes. “I know the answer. But I want you to say it” he neared her and she smiled blushing. “When you come to the village next time your answer will be ready. Only thing is you have to wait for it” she teased and ran from the farm towards her home.

He tried to stop her but she did not stop.

He was so happy that finally he was going to hear what he wanted to hear from the time unknown.

But now his dreams looked shattering. He stared at the barricades and found it to be a ocean between him and Ragini which he knew he could not humanly cross. But was he going to give up?

“I need to go there” he started to walk towards the barricades but was abruptly stopped by the constable. “What are you doing? You did not what I said. You cannot go there” he said struggling to stop Sanskar.

“I don't care” he looked at the man and his eyes were red due to anger and pain.

The other police officers ran towards him to stop. In the process they have to use violent ways to calm him down. Sanskar's head started to bleed and his hands and legs turned blue due to the beatings. He wasn't budging. He knew he had to reach her at any case.

When all the tissues in his body gave up he collapsed on his knees. “Please... I want to see her. She needs me” he kept screaming but they had to stop him at any cost.

“Sanskar...” he heard a voice and looked towards the barricades from where the sound came. There she was. Smiling through her tears. She watched him and a sharp pain ran through her blood seeing his injuries.

Sanskar stumbled on his legs and tried to walk towards her but was held by the police officers.

“Don't... don't come here” she signed him. He stopped and watched her. She had turned pale and her eyes puffed due to the cry and also due to fever. She was wearing the mask and her body had weakened beyond recognition.

“Don't worry Ragini I will save you. We can go to a better place and get you treated” he said hopeful and she nodded her head holding the cry forming in her throat which was already soar.

“I know I am not going to survive” she hiccuped. Sanskar nodded his head. “Don't say it” he pleaded. “I know in my heart” she smiled and he felt the ground under him swallowing him in the instant.

She was there standing in front of him literally dying as each second passed and all he could do was watch. And there was no worst way for him to die. He was going to bear this pain all his life.

“There are people hear who are old and all left them to die as they could not survive the outbreak and others don't want to contaminate themselves” she explained.

“Why are you staying then. Come with me. I promise everything will be fine” he stretched his hand. She nodded her head closing her eyes letting out tears.

“I cannot Sanskar. I don't want to leave anyone who is breathing. They need care and they also deserve to live” she spoke smiling at him.

“And moreover I don't want it to be transferred to others due to me” she spoke and Sanskar cried looking at her. “I need you” he collapsed on his knees looking at her.

“I.. I can't live without you” he nodded his head. “In that case I will also be with you” he got up to move. The police officers were ready to grab him but the constable stopped them.

“No...” Ragini screamed. “If you ever loved me don't cross this” she stood determined and his steps stopped. “Why are you doing this? Why will I want to live without you?” he asked helpless.

“I am with you. Always” she smiled that divine smile which released his shackled peace to fly.

“When you help someone I am there with you smiling. When you make a difference in someone's life I will be watching you with love. When you make someone smile I will smile and you can feel me with you” she collapsed on the ground as she felt weak.

“Ragini...” he tried to move to her but she stopped him. “ I had told you my answer will be ready when you come back. Isn't it?” she asked painfully. He had no idea how he stopped himself from grabbing her in his embrace tightly.

“I....” she coughed. “I love you. I have always loved you” she smiled through her half closed eyes.

His breath started to hitch with each passing second.  And when her eyes had the last spark he felt his life also ending. He was dead indeed. His soul was dead. His body had survived it.

***.***

“So it was she who established this old age home may be through me. But it was all her efforts that I am hear and doing whatever keeps me with her for eternity” he smiled and Sejal found a drop of water shining at the edge of his eye.

“You are actually the best teacher who taught me the meaning of being selfless. And your teacher was really an inspiration to all” she smiled at him. “I feel sad that she was not recognized for what she did” Sejal looked down.

“Don't worry. She never wanted to be recognized. Service never craves recognition” he smiled and Sejal nodded her head. She turned to leave the cabin when she found a picture of a girl. She smiled at it and walked out. Sanskar stood watching the sun outside the window. It was summer again and the smell of mangoes hit his nostrils and he smiled when he felt her presence beside him. He knew she will be with him.

Always. Like the pole star. 

****.****

This is my small attempt to spread awareness among people regarding Covid 19 which is popularly known as Corona Virus.

Be safe guys. My heartfelt condolences to the countries which have been affected worse case. We are with you guys stay strong.

I can imagine how it feels to be chained and not able to move around fearlessly.

It was sad that the first death in India happened in Karnataka and we are on high alert due to it and there is complete lock down.

The government has taken a good decision by this but people are very careless about it and specially the college students they are considering it as enjoyment time and roaming around freely.

But be considerate guys. You might survive the contamination. But what about the lives you are affecting. I think we can be more humane in this case and avoid such things which not only risk our lives but also someone else's.

This story inspired by a medical student (I am so proud to say that she is from Tumkur which is my birth place) who refused to return from China when all her relatives wanted her to return fearing she might contaminate others also.

I hope you have enjoyed it.

Follow your personal hygiene.

Wash your hands regularly.

Don't touch your eyes face nose and mouth without washing your hands

Eat a lot of citrus fruits. And if you are having holidays from school college or work stay at home and stop the virus from spreading and be very cautious that you don't spread to others.

Don't do handshakes and keep at least 3 feet distance from the person who is infected with cold and cough also in general from everyone.

And do consult the doctors if you find yourself having symptoms so that it can be prevented from spreading.

It sure looks like a common cold but the ones at higher risk will suffer a lot due to it.

Be safe

Love

Sally.  😘