Good Friday to Easter

Good Friday and Easter have got a new significance in my life… starting from last year. While for the Christian brethren, these days have a profound religious significance, in my case it is at a very personal level, ever so close to my heart.

Cut back to the dark days of 2020, as Covid-19 ruled the world, when the human race shrank back in fear, remained closeted at home and normal life almost came to a grinding halt. The first of the lockdowns was announced by the Indian government on 25th March 2020. However, given the surge of infections in Maharashtra, the State went into a lockdown a few days earlier. All public transport was stopped, inter-state borders were sealed, all non-essential shops, theatres, shopping malls, schools, colleges and offices were closed. Shops selling essential items were allowed to be opened for limited hours while maintaining social-distancing norms among customers. Night curfew was strictly imposed. When and from where the virus would attack was unknown. Hospitals were facing a shortage of beds, medicines,oxygen cylinders, ventilators and above all, doctors & nurses.

All residential housing societies had imposed self-restrictions — no visitors allowed, residents to move out only for necessities and if going out by vehicle, details to be recorded with the security, no courier, milkmen, delivery boys,why even the garbage collector,house-helps and drivers were not allowed to go to individual flats. Residents had to come downstairs to avail some of these services. Our housing society was no exception and we had completely insulated ourselves. Stuck inside our flat were my wife, daughter, grand-daughter and yours truly.

My daughter had come before the lockdown (thankfully) for delivering her second child. Working from home and with no house-helps was indeed a big challenge. Add to it, managing a 4-year old who was feeling extremely claustrophobic inside the apartment and one would think, our cup of woe was full. No, not at all. The greater worry was that daughter’s delivery time was nearing and the lockdown was intensifying by the day. When we visited the doctor for regular examination in the first week of April, was surprised to see her and the entire staff in her private clinic in full PPE & patients being allowed in one by one and continual saintisation of seats happening. While the check-up was uneventful, the doctor suggested having the delivery at a full-fledged children’s hospital and not the one we had zeroed in earlier. Reason? The chosen one had a Covid ward as well.

Due to the ban on inter-state travel, my son-in-law could not make it to Mumbai. As days passed, our nervousness increased. I would often wake up at night in a cold sweat — What if we had to go to the hospital during curfew time? What if my car does not start ( not used for weeks)? What if the attending Dr. P catches the virus or if her building gets sealed? Negative thoughts clouded our minds. Meanwhile, the hospital sent word that before admission, a negative Covid test report was to be submitted not only for the patient but for the attendant too. It was decided that my wife would take of our grand-daughter at home, while I will accompany my daughter to the hospital. A bag with all necessities was kept packed for any emergency. Did not want to risk taking my daughter to any Testing centre. We took special permission from our Society to allow the Testing lab personnel to come home and take the tests, which they did in full PPE. Thank God, we both tested negative.

GOOD FRIDAY, 10th April 2020: A holiday, so did not have to open my laptop. Another nervous day as we were wondering when would the delivery be and praying that everything should go well. A routine day and my daughter said there were no indications of any pain and being a ‘second’time mother’, she claimed it may take a couple more days. It was around 6.30 PM. We were watching television when my daughter felt somewhat uncomfortable. While my wife insisted it was labor, daughter attributed it to a heavy lunch. By 6.45, she had more spasms and called up Dr.P. The doctor said wait for an hour or so and then go to the hospital and I will join you there. We took a quick decision to move to the hospital right away.

All hands on board! Gone was the nervousness,fear and self-doubt. I picked up the bag as my daughter kissed grand-daughter goodbye and promised to return soon. My wife was instructing me on the Dos and Don’ts in the hospital, which hardly fell on my ears. Guided my daughter to the car, made her comfortable and turned on the ignition. The engine roared to life and we were away. Empty roads greeted us as we traversed the distance to the hospital in 15 minutes. The security at the hospital gate insisted on checking our temperatures even as I said we both have Covid-negative reports. Rules are rules, he said as my daughter’s spasms were increasing. Finally, we were let in. There was a long wait as the hospital was functioning with minimal staff. The resident doctor checked her and informed that Dr.P was on the way. Our family group was active on Whatsapp with me giving updates and receiving expert comments. We were all feeling that the delivery may be around midnight or perhaps early morning.

At 8.30 PM, we went to our room and my daughter was given a change of clothes. Also came the information that Dr.P had arrived. That was big relief! Now the spasms were increasing as we went to where Dr.P was sipping tea, Her reassuring presence was comforting even as she asked me to wait outside and asked for my daughter to be taken to the delivery room and made to walk around a little. I was sitting outside, not nervous but my mind was blank.

Sometime later, by around 9.15 PM, a nurse came out and beckoned me in.What had happened now? I was anxious as I quickly followed her asking this question. She turned around, pointed to a social-distancing line drawn in the room and asked me to wait there. My hear was thumping hard. A few minutes later, she came out carrying a green bundle, showed it and said ” Its a girl”. At that second, seeing the pretty face of the new-born, her eyes peering confidently at the Covidian world, her mop of black hair forming a striking contrast to the green blanket, the meaning of two English phrases fully dawned on me 1) Bundle of joy 2) Love at first sight. Then the nurse took her away. I messaged the family group and everyone was pleasantly surprised at the quick and easy delivery. They were asking for pictures and I had to ask them to hang on. The little one, from the cocooned comfort of her mother’s womb came out confidently to face the world.

The whole night and the following day passed in a blur as we were only half-awake tending to the little one. Hospital staff was limited. When the room air-conditioning became too cold for her, the little one would cry out and would you believe it? I managed to daintily carry her and pace the outside corridor where it was less cold. She would sleep peacefully in my arms. Dr.P paid a visit and said everything was fine and even asked my daughter to sit on the floor and start her exercises on reaching home.

EASTER SUNDAY, 12th April 2020 ; After a day of check-ups, inoculations, Birth certificate details submission and account settlement, it was time to go home. Baby’s first ride in the car. Again empty roads, a policeman stopped me and on lowering the window, he looked inside and waved me on. Came back home at around 5 PM to an emotional welcome. Mission successfully accomplished. The Society had strict regulations that guests were not be allowed inside, however, a new family member entered our Society and our home but much before that, she had entered our hearts. She now waits to celebrate her first birthday.

HAPPY EASTER !