12/6/20
I love to travel a lot. Mostly, I prefer the road journey as it helps us in finding inspiration in nature's many wonders and we can experience a deeper sense of gratitude. As the trees move backward, we can reminisce about old happy times. Generally, the feeling of traveling brings the best version of myself. I always feel that the journey should never end, but not in this case...! I felt that this journey should end as quickly as possible.
3/6/20
My grandparents usually spent their summer in Pune with my uncles. But due to lockdown they didn't go to Pune and stayed in our native town 'Umarkhed (Yavatmal district) (near Mahur)' My grandfather was the fittest person I ever saw, he used to walk daily 5-6 km irrespective of place. Even in Japan, he went to walk from the second day. His dedication to his health was tremendous. After walking (jogging) he used to help my grandmother in house chores. He was very passionate about the work. After lockdown 3.0, he decides to paint our house and he went to buy paints. Colouring was done in three days. After that, he cleaned all the color buckets as in Umarkhed there is a paucity of water. He celebrated his 74th birthday on the 28th of May. My grandmother made a cake of 'Shira' and used heart toffees to decorate the cake. We all sang a Birthday song on the video call. Everything was going wonderful but destiny has other thoughts. After the birthday, he started coughing everyone including he thought it's normal flu. So, he went to the nearby doctor and took the medicine for five days. Medicine did not show any effect and he was continuously coughing. Then he went to a specialist, he recommended going for X-Ray. On the 2nd of June, the X-Ray report came and the Doctor told us that the main reason for his cough is 'pneumonia'. Although it was mild so, there was nothing to worry about. According to the norms set by the Government of India, every patient suffering from pneumonia should be tested for Covid-19. That's why he got a call from the government hospital, Umarkhed. They told him to visit the government Hospital in Nanded or Yavatmal for the test. The distance between Yavatmal and Umarkhed is 150 km and the distance between Nanded and Umarkhed is nearly 80 km. As Nanded is near to Umarkhed, we preferred It. Meanwhile, we all knew that the result of the test will be negative as there is no case in Umarkhed. Whenever he went out to buy a newspaper and milk he used a mask. He followed social distancing. He was walking on the terrace. By analyzing the situation, anyone will say that the report will be negative. On 3rd June, he went to Nanded with a shirt and a pant. He left around eightish. After one and half an hour he reached Nanded. He directly went to 'Shankar Rao Chavan Government Hospital'. The hospital staff told him to stay in the hospital for one day before the test. He agreed and went on to stay there. On the 4th of June, the test reports came and we all were in shock. He tested positive for Covid-19 AKA Corona Virus. Then he was shifted to the COVID ward. After the test results, the government officials decided to take samples of 22 people who were in contact with him including my grandmother. The officials decide to quarantine them in a municipal corporation school at Marsul (20 km from Umarkhed). In Marsul, there were problems such as load shading, scarcity of drinking as well as washroom water. The food quality was so poor that, one of the kids felt ill. Our whole family was in high tension because Grandfather was in Nanded and Grandmother was in a school. They kept her in that school for three days and after three days, they tested all the 22 patients. Meanwhile, for four days my grandfather didn't show any major symptoms of the corona. Although he was coughing, there was no reason to worry as the doctor told us that the coughing was due to pneumonia. After four days, the test results of all the 22 people came including my grandmother. All the results were negative. This was the only reason for us to be happy. Because the people who were in contact with my grandfather tested negative, there was a strong chance that he is not a COVID patient and soon he can go home. We told this news to him and he felt better than before. But my grandmother was home quarantined for another 14 days.
From day one, he was always complaining about the mismanagement of hospital staff and the quality of food. Although, his health was improving. We encouraged him to stay strong and that was the only thing we can do other than praying. On the 9th of June, doctors decided to give him treatment for cough. Everything went fine for two days. On 11th June, my mother and two uncles talked with him in the morning he seems to be fine. In the afternoon, his phone was switched off. Everyone tried to call him but the call did not take place. We all were tensed. Later in the evening one of the doctors called my uncle and told me that my grandfather's oxygen level is below normal that's why he needs a ventilator to increase the oxygen level. He also told that there is nothing to worry about because 80% of the patients recover after providing a ventilator. Later that day around 10 P.M a tragedy happened, he took his last breath leaving behind a wife who is home quarantined, three children, one son in law and two daughters in law, and six grandchildren.
On the 12th of June, around sixish (morning), the doctor called my uncle and told the news. We all were in deep shock. Approximately one hour later both my uncle left Pune and headed towards Nanded. After receiving E-pass, we also left Chandrapur and headed towards Umarkhed as my grandmother was alone in the house. We've to be there with her so that we'll be there to console her. It was a five-hour-long journey. It was the only time in my life I wished the journey to end as soon as possible. We reached umarkhed around 2 P.M and directly went to my grandfather's (now late) house. We were welcomed by two guards and roadblock. The area was declared as a contentment zone. That means no one can go inside and no one can come out. My grandmother was handling the nastiest thing that can happen to a woman all alone. We were standing nearly 100m from the house still could not able to hug her or console her. Later we went to the police station for permission to enter the area but all the efforts went in vain. We were there for one hour but the police told us that they are providing only security and maintaining peace they don't have control over the area. They recommended that talk to Executive Magistrate (Tehsildar) he has control over the area. We talked to him but he said, contact collector office they can give us permission. Then we tried to get some help from politicians. After waiting for three hours, they allowed us to visit our house for only five mins. We parked our car near the barricades and walked towards the house. Aaji was standing on the first floor and we all were standing near the entrance. As soon as we entered, all four started crying. We just lost all of our senses. Aaji was not crying, she was consoling us. She was telling how Aabu helped her in recovery. Believe me, she just lost her life partner after been together for more than fifty years. She was standing there like a mountain. Even destiny could not break her.
(Incident: On 27 November 2017, Aaji was roasting paper on the gas. And, suddenly her saree caught flame. She throws the pallu away. But this caused her leg burning. Aabu was there in the hall, he quickly ran towards her and stopped the fire from spreading. He then rushed to the hospital doctor said that she has been badly hurt, take her to Nanded as soon as possible. He asked doctors that 'Will she survive till Pune?' The doctor said yes and then he took her directly to Pune. They reached Pune on the 28th of November. And on the same day, she undergoes an operation. The doctor said that she was burned around 40%. Generally, if the burn percentage is higher than 50%, the probability of living is very very low. She survived this tragic incident. At the time of the incident, my parents and my uncle's family was in Japan. She is the real warrior. After that incident, Aabu never allowed aaji to cook in the evening. He took care of her as a small girl. He is (*was) the best.)
After talking with her for five mins, Aaji told us to go to Nanded to complete the last rights of Aabu. (She can't leave the house as she is home quarantined and no one from us can stay with her. So, she was going to spend the first night all alone.) Told you, she's a warrior.
We reached Nanded at 8:00 P.M. My two uncles were waiting for us in front of 'Shankar Rao Chavan Hospital, Vishnupuri, Nanded' Then we went inside the hospital premises. One of my uncles noticed that the name on the death certificate is misspelled. Everybody knows how many things you have to do when you want to change something on the document issued by the government. We stayed there till 10 P.M, hoping to get back the corrected death certificate. We didn't get the certificate. After that, we started looking for a hotel to stay in. Many of the hotels were not operating. Luckily we found a hotel 'Athithi' and checked in the hotel.
On the next day (13th of June), we went to the hospital for the pending work and to perform last rights. We reached the hospital around tenish. My father and two uncles went on the get death certificate and NOC while me, my brother and mother were sitting in the car with a mask on face and gloves on hand because we were near the COVID ward. We stayed in the car for more than five hours meanwhile the trio tried to get the NOC and belongings of my grandfather. The management in the hospital is worst. They were taking bodies of COVID patients on the stretchers to the morgue. Although the bodies were fully covered, the public is using the same road. They should have used an Ambulance for that purpose. While we were sitting inside the car. The hospital staff took a body to the morgue, the person pushing the stretcher didn't even care to wear PPE kit. That's why we decided to stay inside the car. In hospital premises, there are more pigs than patients. While we were sitting, a person throws a urine bag on the side of the road. The pigs eat each and every portion of the bag. Maybe this is the case in all the government hospitals. So, the only option was to stay in the car with full protection. After the process and the trouble caused by the hospital staff, we got the corrected death certificate and all the belongings (My uncle went inside the COVID ward wearing PPE kit to get all the belongings because the staff was procrastinating). In the afternoon, we got the NOC and went to the Godavari ghat for performing last rights. The driver of the Ambulance told us that people are throwing stones on the Ambulance so they kept changing the location. We reached the ghat and my uncle wore the PPE kit and went on to give 'Mukhagni' We were not allowed to go close to his body. The volunteers of the happy club and municipal corporation employees helped us in placing woods. Aabu lived without causing any trouble to everyone and died without causing any trouble. He lived behind a legacy. After sanitization, we went to the hotel and spend the night there. On the next day (14/6) we took his Asthi and went to Umarkhed hoping to perform next vidhis at home.
As we arrived in Umarkhed, the officials did not allow us to stay with aaji. Thus, we rented a hall near our house and got permission to visit Aaji two-three times a day. The officials didn't allow us to perform different days (dahavi, teravi, etc) in the home. So, we performed all the days in Mahur while Aaji was still in the house alone. One day I went to give Tiffin to Aaji. While climbing the stairs, I heard a song. She was listening to
'संदेशे आते हैं
हमें तड़पाते हैं
तो चिट्ठी आती है
वो पूछे जाती है
के घर कब आओगे
के घर कब आओगे
लिखो कब आओगे
के तुम बिन ये घर सूना सूना है...'
I instantly broke. She saw me and stopped the song. I put the packed food on the ground and told her to eat and went back to the hall. I could not say anything to her. Aaji you are the Renuka Devi that Pande family prayed for years.
Even in these extreme conditions, she is staying alone. Whenever we visit her, she puts on her mask/scarf. She does not allow anyone of us to enter the house or near to her. We just sit a few feet from her and talk. She's maintaining social distancing and taking proper precautions even in this situation.
Here people are more scared of us than Corona. It's a funny thing to say but it's true. When we go outside, many people put on their masks the moment they saw us just like we are the brand ambassador of the corona.
Today is 23/6, we performed the 13th day in Mahur and now back in Umarkhed. We planted five different trees in the memory of my Aabu. Currently, we are still staying in a hall provided by 'Rajasthan Mandal, Umarkhed', while Aaji is still living alone in the house. Tomorrow her quarantine period will be over and on 28 the area will be out of contentment zone and later my uncle will take her to Pune. (Hope so)
I'm thankful to all the people who directly or indirectly helped us to survive and get over this trauma.
What Corona caused me?
It caused a void in my life which can never be filled. Baba's father died before I was born. He is(*was) the only grandfather I ever got. But believe me, I never felt that I'm missing my grandfather. I remember an incident in my childhood. When I was in the third standard, he gave me 10₹ to buy stickers to place it on a covered book. I purchased it from the store near the school. The stickers were of Pokemon, Pokemon was treading those days. Being stupid, I opened the stickers in front of everyone (to show off), and then the unexpected thing happened. Each and everyone asked me for stickers and being how am I, I was not able to say no them and I gave them all the stickers while keeping only one for myself. Later on the day, my mother was scolding me for such an act of humanity but Aabu protected me by saying 'दुसऱ्यांना दिला तर दिल मोठं होत' I felt that and I'll always feel that.
All the people in Umarkhed are saying that 'bapusaheb was having only pneumonia, the test kit at Nanded is showing incorrect result' All were saying that my Aabu was a great man. If he was in Pune, the situation may be different. But, now we can't do anything other than moving on. Hoping for the best.
For others, you were Govindrao Dinkarrao Pande (urf Badebabu, Bapusaheb) but for me, you'll be always my Aabu. I'll always miss you Aabu.
Lastly, I wanna say just one thing.
हीच अमुची प्रार्थना अन् हेच अमुचे मागणे
माणसाने माणसाशी माणसासम वागणे ||
When the neighbours came to know about the report(COVID) of Aabu, around 50 people gather in front of our house. One of the neighbours filed a complaint against us and due to this, they took Aaji to Marsul. Because of the mistake of others, she suffered a lot. They may be COVID patients but after all, they are humans first then patients. Please show some humanity to them. Don't break their morale.
I love to travel a lot. Mostly, I prefer the road journey as it helps us in finding inspiration in nature's many wonders and we can experience a deeper sense of gratitude. As the trees move backward, we can reminisce about old happy times. Generally, the feeling of traveling brings the best version of myself. I always feel that the journey should never end, but not in this case...! I felt that this journey should end as quickly as possible.
3/6/20
My grandparents usually spent their summer in Pune with my uncles. But due to lockdown they didn't go to Pune and stayed in our native town 'Umarkhed (Yavatmal district) (near Mahur)' My grandfather was the fittest person I ever saw, he used to walk daily 5-6 km irrespective of place. Even in Japan, he went to walk from the second day. His dedication to his health was tremendous. After walking (jogging) he used to help my grandmother in house chores. He was very passionate about the work. After lockdown 3.0, he decides to paint our house and he went to buy paints. Colouring was done in three days. After that, he cleaned all the color buckets as in Umarkhed there is a paucity of water. He celebrated his 74th birthday on the 28th of May. My grandmother made a cake of 'Shira' and used heart toffees to decorate the cake. We all sang a Birthday song on the video call. Everything was going wonderful but destiny has other thoughts. After the birthday, he started coughing everyone including he thought it's normal flu. So, he went to the nearby doctor and took the medicine for five days. Medicine did not show any effect and he was continuously coughing. Then he went to a specialist, he recommended going for X-Ray. On the 2nd of June, the X-Ray report came and the Doctor told us that the main reason for his cough is 'pneumonia'. Although it was mild so, there was nothing to worry about. According to the norms set by the Government of India, every patient suffering from pneumonia should be tested for Covid-19. That's why he got a call from the government hospital, Umarkhed. They told him to visit the government Hospital in Nanded or Yavatmal for the test. The distance between Yavatmal and Umarkhed is 150 km and the distance between Nanded and Umarkhed is nearly 80 km. As Nanded is near to Umarkhed, we preferred It. Meanwhile, we all knew that the result of the test will be negative as there is no case in Umarkhed. Whenever he went out to buy a newspaper and milk he used a mask. He followed social distancing. He was walking on the terrace. By analyzing the situation, anyone will say that the report will be negative. On 3rd June, he went to Nanded with a shirt and a pant. He left around eightish. After one and half an hour he reached Nanded. He directly went to 'Shankar Rao Chavan Government Hospital'. The hospital staff told him to stay in the hospital for one day before the test. He agreed and went on to stay there. On the 4th of June, the test reports came and we all were in shock. He tested positive for Covid-19 AKA Corona Virus. Then he was shifted to the COVID ward. After the test results, the government officials decided to take samples of 22 people who were in contact with him including my grandmother. The officials decide to quarantine them in a municipal corporation school at Marsul (20 km from Umarkhed). In Marsul, there were problems such as load shading, scarcity of drinking as well as washroom water. The food quality was so poor that, one of the kids felt ill. Our whole family was in high tension because Grandfather was in Nanded and Grandmother was in a school. They kept her in that school for three days and after three days, they tested all the 22 patients. Meanwhile, for four days my grandfather didn't show any major symptoms of the corona. Although he was coughing, there was no reason to worry as the doctor told us that the coughing was due to pneumonia. After four days, the test results of all the 22 people came including my grandmother. All the results were negative. This was the only reason for us to be happy. Because the people who were in contact with my grandfather tested negative, there was a strong chance that he is not a COVID patient and soon he can go home. We told this news to him and he felt better than before. But my grandmother was home quarantined for another 14 days.
From day one, he was always complaining about the mismanagement of hospital staff and the quality of food. Although, his health was improving. We encouraged him to stay strong and that was the only thing we can do other than praying. On the 9th of June, doctors decided to give him treatment for cough. Everything went fine for two days. On 11th June, my mother and two uncles talked with him in the morning he seems to be fine. In the afternoon, his phone was switched off. Everyone tried to call him but the call did not take place. We all were tensed. Later in the evening one of the doctors called my uncle and told me that my grandfather's oxygen level is below normal that's why he needs a ventilator to increase the oxygen level. He also told that there is nothing to worry about because 80% of the patients recover after providing a ventilator. Later that day around 10 P.M a tragedy happened, he took his last breath leaving behind a wife who is home quarantined, three children, one son in law and two daughters in law, and six grandchildren.
On the 12th of June, around sixish (morning), the doctor called my uncle and told the news. We all were in deep shock. Approximately one hour later both my uncle left Pune and headed towards Nanded. After receiving E-pass, we also left Chandrapur and headed towards Umarkhed as my grandmother was alone in the house. We've to be there with her so that we'll be there to console her. It was a five-hour-long journey. It was the only time in my life I wished the journey to end as soon as possible. We reached umarkhed around 2 P.M and directly went to my grandfather's (now late) house. We were welcomed by two guards and roadblock. The area was declared as a contentment zone. That means no one can go inside and no one can come out. My grandmother was handling the nastiest thing that can happen to a woman all alone. We were standing nearly 100m from the house still could not able to hug her or console her. Later we went to the police station for permission to enter the area but all the efforts went in vain. We were there for one hour but the police told us that they are providing only security and maintaining peace they don't have control over the area. They recommended that talk to Executive Magistrate (Tehsildar) he has control over the area. We talked to him but he said, contact collector office they can give us permission. Then we tried to get some help from politicians. After waiting for three hours, they allowed us to visit our house for only five mins. We parked our car near the barricades and walked towards the house. Aaji was standing on the first floor and we all were standing near the entrance. As soon as we entered, all four started crying. We just lost all of our senses. Aaji was not crying, she was consoling us. She was telling how Aabu helped her in recovery. Believe me, she just lost her life partner after been together for more than fifty years. She was standing there like a mountain. Even destiny could not break her.
(Incident: On 27 November 2017, Aaji was roasting paper on the gas. And, suddenly her saree caught flame. She throws the pallu away. But this caused her leg burning. Aabu was there in the hall, he quickly ran towards her and stopped the fire from spreading. He then rushed to the hospital doctor said that she has been badly hurt, take her to Nanded as soon as possible. He asked doctors that 'Will she survive till Pune?' The doctor said yes and then he took her directly to Pune. They reached Pune on the 28th of November. And on the same day, she undergoes an operation. The doctor said that she was burned around 40%. Generally, if the burn percentage is higher than 50%, the probability of living is very very low. She survived this tragic incident. At the time of the incident, my parents and my uncle's family was in Japan. She is the real warrior. After that incident, Aabu never allowed aaji to cook in the evening. He took care of her as a small girl. He is (*was) the best.)
After talking with her for five mins, Aaji told us to go to Nanded to complete the last rights of Aabu. (She can't leave the house as she is home quarantined and no one from us can stay with her. So, she was going to spend the first night all alone.) Told you, she's a warrior.
We reached Nanded at 8:00 P.M. My two uncles were waiting for us in front of 'Shankar Rao Chavan Hospital, Vishnupuri, Nanded' Then we went inside the hospital premises. One of my uncles noticed that the name on the death certificate is misspelled. Everybody knows how many things you have to do when you want to change something on the document issued by the government. We stayed there till 10 P.M, hoping to get back the corrected death certificate. We didn't get the certificate. After that, we started looking for a hotel to stay in. Many of the hotels were not operating. Luckily we found a hotel 'Athithi' and checked in the hotel.
On the next day (13th of June), we went to the hospital for the pending work and to perform last rights. We reached the hospital around tenish. My father and two uncles went on the get death certificate and NOC while me, my brother and mother were sitting in the car with a mask on face and gloves on hand because we were near the COVID ward. We stayed in the car for more than five hours meanwhile the trio tried to get the NOC and belongings of my grandfather. The management in the hospital is worst. They were taking bodies of COVID patients on the stretchers to the morgue. Although the bodies were fully covered, the public is using the same road. They should have used an Ambulance for that purpose. While we were sitting inside the car. The hospital staff took a body to the morgue, the person pushing the stretcher didn't even care to wear PPE kit. That's why we decided to stay inside the car. In hospital premises, there are more pigs than patients. While we were sitting, a person throws a urine bag on the side of the road. The pigs eat each and every portion of the bag. Maybe this is the case in all the government hospitals. So, the only option was to stay in the car with full protection. After the process and the trouble caused by the hospital staff, we got the corrected death certificate and all the belongings (My uncle went inside the COVID ward wearing PPE kit to get all the belongings because the staff was procrastinating). In the afternoon, we got the NOC and went to the Godavari ghat for performing last rights. The driver of the Ambulance told us that people are throwing stones on the Ambulance so they kept changing the location. We reached the ghat and my uncle wore the PPE kit and went on to give 'Mukhagni' We were not allowed to go close to his body. The volunteers of the happy club and municipal corporation employees helped us in placing woods. Aabu lived without causing any trouble to everyone and died without causing any trouble. He lived behind a legacy. After sanitization, we went to the hotel and spend the night there. On the next day (14/6) we took his Asthi and went to Umarkhed hoping to perform next vidhis at home.
As we arrived in Umarkhed, the officials did not allow us to stay with aaji. Thus, we rented a hall near our house and got permission to visit Aaji two-three times a day. The officials didn't allow us to perform different days (dahavi, teravi, etc) in the home. So, we performed all the days in Mahur while Aaji was still in the house alone. One day I went to give Tiffin to Aaji. While climbing the stairs, I heard a song. She was listening to
'संदेशे आते हैं
हमें तड़पाते हैं
तो चिट्ठी आती है
वो पूछे जाती है
के घर कब आओगे
के घर कब आओगे
लिखो कब आओगे
के तुम बिन ये घर सूना सूना है...'
I instantly broke. She saw me and stopped the song. I put the packed food on the ground and told her to eat and went back to the hall. I could not say anything to her. Aaji you are the Renuka Devi that Pande family prayed for years.
Even in these extreme conditions, she is staying alone. Whenever we visit her, she puts on her mask/scarf. She does not allow anyone of us to enter the house or near to her. We just sit a few feet from her and talk. She's maintaining social distancing and taking proper precautions even in this situation.
Here people are more scared of us than Corona. It's a funny thing to say but it's true. When we go outside, many people put on their masks the moment they saw us just like we are the brand ambassador of the corona.
Today is 23/6, we performed the 13th day in Mahur and now back in Umarkhed. We planted five different trees in the memory of my Aabu. Currently, we are still staying in a hall provided by 'Rajasthan Mandal, Umarkhed', while Aaji is still living alone in the house. Tomorrow her quarantine period will be over and on 28 the area will be out of contentment zone and later my uncle will take her to Pune. (Hope so)
I'm thankful to all the people who directly or indirectly helped us to survive and get over this trauma.
What Corona caused me?
It caused a void in my life which can never be filled. Baba's father died before I was born. He is(*was) the only grandfather I ever got. But believe me, I never felt that I'm missing my grandfather. I remember an incident in my childhood. When I was in the third standard, he gave me 10₹ to buy stickers to place it on a covered book. I purchased it from the store near the school. The stickers were of Pokemon, Pokemon was treading those days. Being stupid, I opened the stickers in front of everyone (to show off), and then the unexpected thing happened. Each and everyone asked me for stickers and being how am I, I was not able to say no them and I gave them all the stickers while keeping only one for myself. Later on the day, my mother was scolding me for such an act of humanity but Aabu protected me by saying 'दुसऱ्यांना दिला तर दिल मोठं होत' I felt that and I'll always feel that.
All the people in Umarkhed are saying that 'bapusaheb was having only pneumonia, the test kit at Nanded is showing incorrect result' All were saying that my Aabu was a great man. If he was in Pune, the situation may be different. But, now we can't do anything other than moving on. Hoping for the best.
For others, you were Govindrao Dinkarrao Pande (urf Badebabu, Bapusaheb) but for me, you'll be always my Aabu. I'll always miss you Aabu.
Lastly, I wanna say just one thing.
हीच अमुची प्रार्थना अन् हेच अमुचे मागणे
माणसाने माणसाशी माणसासम वागणे ||
When the neighbours came to know about the report(COVID) of Aabu, around 50 people gather in front of our house. One of the neighbours filed a complaint against us and due to this, they took Aaji to Marsul. Because of the mistake of others, she suffered a lot. They may be COVID patients but after all, they are humans first then patients. Please show some humanity to them. Don't break their morale.
: Aradhya
23/6/20
