A Wait Over, A Wait Begins, by Sayani Kundu, Kolkata
Born, raised, and currently living in Kolkata, West Bengal, Sayani is a very happy and cheerful soul.
The days of 2020 have mostly been a big coronavirus blur, but two of them, I won’t forget …
On January 5th, my heart raced; the beatings multiplied as I took the test twice to confirm. Twice, it came out pink in lines of two. I was going to be a mother!
Many weeks later, on November 5th, COVID, elusive in my family until now, caught my father. He fought for his life in the ICU.
Between those days, I had my fair share of ups and downs, during the crucial first three months of pregnancy with various complications, and the remaining months of ease.
If January had given me the happiest news of my life, it also became difficult times. It was not possible for me to heed my doctor’s advice to take 10 months leave. His words of caution rang in my ears, and every ultrasound became a question mark for me, about whether to continue my pregnancy.
I waited, fearing the worst, …and just as I was getting over that critical phase.
In March, I was suddenly surrounded by news of death.
I started watching more television, to stay abreast of the COVID news, but that just made me feel more worried. Every anxious phone call to question me on my health, every stare, even each word of care, seemed spoken out of concern for my baby’s health.
But I steadied myself as the realization dawned on me that the virus is here to stay. I stayed hopeful, and I started leading a more or less normal life, with just a little bit more caution.
When it came time for my C-Section, I was asked to take a mandatory COVID test. I was nervous, but strong. My test result came back negative, and my son, Yunay Raj, came into our lives.
Then, while I was savoring the exhaustion and joy of my newborn, my father contracted the virus. It was awful, everything from trying to find hospital bed to the day to day conversations with the doctors regarding his health and our fears of not seeing him again.
Again, I waited for updates, holding my breath.
His discharge was a big day for us, as well as for him: - it was his 70th birthday, and we celebrated all together at home.
And Now? I’m a mother, my dad is a grandfather, and our happiness knows no bounds.
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(This story was prepared for an “Imagine Another World” online storytelling workshop held November 11, 2020.)
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