We were quarantined against our will!

Back at the start of the year 2020, people all around the world were facing quite the challenges. COVID has left a stressful life around our heads. People during COVID have lost family members, and jobs, from rich to poor, etc.,. There are a few events that I want to share with you at the start of COVID-19 when COVID-19 did not even enter our country.

A story of my neighbors...

A family of 3, which were a couple and their daughter who was recently married was living in our neighborhood. The daughter had left for a foreign country. After a few months, their daughter was visiting them. And at that time one of the person's mother had passed away. A new pandemic COVID-19 news was just ringing in our ears but no one was actually in contact with it in our state. The couple had left to attend the funeral. After a few days, the husband passed away from a heart attack. We came to know that they were a loving family. So, the wife couldn't bear the grief and sorrow, she was shocked by the incident and after a day and a half, she passed away as well. The news had spread in our neighborhood. As it was the start of COVID-19, the Police came to know about this incident. They thought that the couple came in contact with COVID-19 and passed away. So, the Police came to our colony and inspected our neighborhood. A day after 3 deaths in a row, the Police put up barricades in our neighborhood in the whole area. All the houses, and apartments including the couple's flat were sanitized.

During the time we were quarantined...

My family and neighbors were not allowed to go out anywhere in town including grocery stores, hospitals, and offices, or for any emergency. We were quarantined unwantedly for 15 long days. The Police were patrolling us all 24 hours. Our apartments were being sanitized with a sanitizing vehicle for each day. These 15 long days were equal to 3 months! No outsiders were allowed to come in or insiders to go out of our neighborhood. A group of medical officials used to come every day to each of the flats to check on our health. We were advised to wear masks in our homes too. An officer was staying with us in our lane all the time. He was calling out with a whistle whenever the cart of fruits or vegetables came.

On hot sunny days, he would roam in the lane, whistling to help us out with groceries. I felt pity for him because he was staying in a tent and a meal was delivered on time for him by the officials. Our neighbors would take turns to help with tea or snacks for him. At the end of our lane, there was a general store run by brothers. They were a real help for us. They helped us a lot with all the needs. Shout-out to these COVID warriors!

We were hoping each second that when would we be free and see the world outside these barricades. We never imagined these days even in our nightmares. At last, on the very warm morning of the 16th day, a vehicle with a group of workers came to remove barricades. WE WERE FINALLY FREE!

From my point of view, I felt like this was a blessing in disguise, we were safe and protected from COVID-19 from entering into our homes. We felt different in our town protected under God's permission through the COVID-19 warriors. After this period, we were very careful about going outside. Sadly, by that time COVID-19 had already spread in the state.