Sahityasetu

‘Dear, have you no heart to meet?’
‘Oh, come on darling...Aren’t you in London? I had been out of Ahmedabad. Just arrived today. Take care of you in this Corona situation. Stay safe dear.’
‘I know you didn’t like my going away to London. This was the reason I stopped communication. But you at least can send a message or make a call. I returned to Ahmedabad yesterday and me safe too.’
‘It’s good you came back. You must be knowing today’s 16 March, 2020. And from this day all the flights from the USA and the European countries have been stopped.’
‘Know it dear. But tell me when do you wish to see me?’
‘Darling not today. Would it be better on Thursday?’
‘Fine. Granted.’
**** **** ****
It was the 19 March, 2020. Sameer kept eyes on the news. Foreign returned people are taken to the isolation centers with the help of the police. Against many people FIRs have been registered on the violation of quarantine rules. As far as Corona is concerned India is heading from stage I to stage II. All this worried him especially when he thought of Juhi. She came from London and may she be infected of...? Of course Juhi didn’t inform him anything on such a matter and didn’t he do the same?
On the very next day Juhi made him a call and proposed, ‘My mom and dad are coming home. Would it be better if we meet on Friday?’
He responded, ‘Oh...but okay. If it’s the matter have I to say anything darling? My sweet heart I am at your command.’
**** **** ****
March 20, 2020. Friday. The news flashed: Corona fear gripped Gujarat.
Juhi rang up to Sameer. ‘Yes Dear. Tell me time and place of our meeting. I’m ready. We will have tea and coffee. A lot of talks. You know my parents will not allow me to go out. But I’ll manage my Dear.’
He said, ‘O Darling I think most of the restaurants in our city are closed. I don’t think we can meet in a restaurant. Either you come to my home or I go to your place. If you don’t prefer this, we can go for a long drive.’
‘Neither your home nor mine. I constantly fear Rahul. I think he’s doubting me. No long drive. By the way why your voice is seems so strange and vibrating? I think you are scared of something as well as you seem to be tired very much. But it’s up to you. You decide very soon. We shall go to any coffee shop.’
‘Okay, if we don’t find any we shall go for a long drive.’
‘No dear, if any shop not open we’ll depart. Will meet sometime later on, but today no mood for a long drive. Make a decision quickly and let me know.’
They didn’t know that perhaps they were talking for the last time. He did message her but to postpone the meeting. He described the Corona situation in Ahmedabad city. If the situation comes under control they would meet. Juhi was not ready to believe this. She was displeased. Sameer too felt the same.
Sameer took the newspaper. 21 March, 2020. There were positive cases: 3 in Ahmedabad, 2 in Vadodara, and 1 in Surat and Rajkot each. A girl from New York arrived at Parishram Apartment, Ahmedabad and in 4 days met 20 people. A couple of them may be infected of Corona. The 104 helpline received plenty of complaints of foreigners not observing the pandemic rules and constantly remain out.
It was Sunday, 22 March, 2020 and Sameer had the newspaper. Following the appeal made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people themselves observed self-imposed curfew. The Government imposed lockdown in 18 states including Gujarat. In a single day 7 cases came up in Gujarat taking the tally at 14 positive cases. The country is moving to the phase of herd community transmission. All over the country 22 states have registered more than 300 positive cases.
Monday, 23 March, 2020. Sameer read a newspaper. Gujarat saw the first death in Surat due to Corona. Gujarat has 18 positive cases and the country has 391. Till 25th voluntary lockdown. The government has ordered that only essential services will continue. Around the world in 188 countries 13,746 died and 3,22,572 people are infected. Till today only China claims 3,261 deaths.
Sameer always kept eyes on the news. He read a paper of Tuesday, 24 March, 2020. The honourable Prime Minister addressed the nation on a national television channel and declared nationwide lockdown. He called this lockdown as one type of curfew. From the midnight enforced. Will end on 14 April, 2020.
**** **** ****
Sameer returned to Ahmedabad after his office tour. As Juhi came to know about it she too took flight from London and headed towards Ahmedabad. Like a film in a cinema the past passed from her mind. She had first time seen him in a function. It wasn’t ‘love at first sight’ but she liked him very much. Rahul had introduced them: This dud’s Sameer Shah, and this is my wife Juhi Rahul Patel.
The function didn’t give them any opportunity to talk more. Rahul didn’t just use the word ‘dud’ for him. Sameer was a different personality. He was an HR manager in a company. He was fond of cricket, poetry, reading, travelling, long drive, cycling, fashion and so on. Even did donate blood often and served the society many other ways. Nothing beyond his horizon.
After departure from the function for them it wasn’t impossible to meet but was difficult indeed. Juhi thought of him as his dream boyfriend. She accessed her husband’s FB common friend list where she saw Sameer’s profile. She sent him a message: I wanna meet you.’
Sameer reciprocated, ‘Why do you show so much interest in me?’
Juhi very boldly responded, ‘O dear, Rahul’s so boring. None of a thing can create interest in him. I really don’t know he’s a hubby or a robot? Like a machine full day works. Only work. Say workaholic. Has no hobby at all. Yea, does smoke but no movie, music or fun.’ Sameer listened to her talks and was lost in some thoughts.
She carried on, ‘He handles the factory whole of the day and when returns to home he has no energy left. Will go to bed soon. Why should I bear him? Does a wife mean a matter of entertainment? Can’t a wife have a right to think and decide of her own?”
When she went to meet him for the first time she had put on western black outfits. She remembered it well. On the Mauka Lounge he greeted her, ‘Welcome Juhibhabhi’.
She went red listening to the word ‘bhabhi’. She in a romantic mood said, ‘No need to say bhabhi. You can call by my name. Juhi, only Juhi.’
‘O Juhi, romantic you are!’
‘None the less you are!’
‘Juhi, tell me. Does Rahul know of our meeting?’
‘No, but you need not worry about it. For it he should have time, but he doesn’t have. I think you too don’t talk about this to any one.’
‘Well, how many years before you married?’
‘Why? Didn’t you know? Four years before. I was 24 then. Now I’m 28.’
‘Won’t you ask my age?
‘No. I don’t feel so. If any relation is true it doesn’t make any difference whether one is younger or elder. You’ll be surprised that Rahul is 12 years elder to me.’
‘Don’t know his age but mine’s 30. Two years elder than you. Even I don’t care why you selected 12 year elder man as your husband.’
‘It’s okay. I’ve no problem. So let’s make a new beginning.’
‘But let me tell you. I didn’t marry at all. And no body occupies my life. So for me no new beginning but only beginning. The first and the last one.’
‘Oho! What an amazing thing!’
‘Yes dear, have you any issue?’
‘Issue means do you want to know how many children do we have or you want to know whether there’s any problem in between me and him?’
‘Well, even though you may have children, your slim figure doesn’t show you can be a mother.’
‘Thanks for the compliments about my figure but no need of such an appreciation. Had you not appreciated me, I might have fallen in love with you on the very first sight.’
‘Tell me about your kids. And you can also open your heart about your relationship with your husband.’
‘No child till today. And the husband – wife relationship? Had I been comfortable with Rahul, I shouldn’t have been here in a restaurant with you.’
‘Why?’
‘Because in business he remains so much engrossed that he has no time for me. I left complaining too. He comes to home as if to pass the night. He never takes me to a movie. Never outing, nor any tour nor a programme. Even when we had been to our honeymoon he had had his laptop with him and did business. If I complain he would offer me money. How can I explain him that I didn’t need money but need his love. Now you can understand why I am drawn to you. For your affection and love, dear.’
Sameer held both her hands into his hands. He too had felt love for her and turned almost crazy. He liked her company. And things began to take place which Juhi missed. Both of them remained lost together in a different world.
**** **** ****
Each moment the pandemic situation in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India and the world changed. Between Juhi and Sameer the phrase ‘Take care and stay safe’ remained only an expression.
Sameer was infected and so he kept distance from her and the vice versa. They gave various excuses.
On March 31, 2020 Tuesday news flashed: due to Corona one more young man of Ahmedabad Sameer Shah died, while a woman Juhi Patel who had come from London was home quarantined but today she died in the hospital.
Rahul read this. He spoke to himself: Eh, a love story so small ended amidst Corona. Thanks Corona. I’ll be able to marry Minoly, my Love.’

Harish Mahuvakar, ‘Ame’, 3/A, 1929, Near Nandalay Haveli, Sardarnagar, Bhavnagar 364 002 Gujarat, India. Cell: 9426 2235 22 Email: harishmahuvakar@gmail.com