My Covid-19 battle Story

It was  December 13,  2020, and our lazy Sunday morning started with toast and a cup of tea as usual.  The time was 12 Noon and we don't want to have breakfast, which my mother prepared during morning hours.

We only had the option of brunch. So my younger brother and I decided to order some dish online from Swiggy or Zomato.

After waiting for 45 minutes, our all-time favorite Paneer butter masala with butter naan was on the door. We divided the gravy and paneer pieces equally into two bowls and had our first bite. I asked my brother to pass the table salt, I sprinkled some. Later I said to him, please degrade the ratings of this food joint and never order from his restaurant again, as this is tasteless and complain to them online and ask for a refund.

He gazed at me surprisingly and asked me what the hell I am saying. Am I out of my mind? You cannot sense the taste of salt and such a nice smell of the food, he asked me again with a surprised expression.

I backtalked "Do you want me to give you in writing or am I speaking in some Japanese language?  Can’t, you understand what I just said. Hesitatingly he asked with some doubt, “Bhai Corona to nhi ho gya tmko kahi, asymptomatic me sala taste aur smell nhi aati?”. I scolded him and asked to cut the crap and let's focus on the paneer and enjoy the music.

After finishing my lunch I thought let's smell something to check my smell buds. So the bottle of 70% Alchohol based sanitizer was there in front of me. I took 5-6 drops on my palm and smelled but it was like water. I thought maybe my mother forgot to close its cap tightly and overnight the smell went away. I requested him to please smell and check, just after 2 seconds he moved his head away from his palm and said this sanitizer is absolutely ok and u need to check your smell and taste buds, bro.

After few hours in the evening, we went out as the weather was amazing. We had Momos at Gomti Nagar street Lucknow. Again the problem was the same and this time I was pretty sure that something went wrong because I could not feel the heavy spicy chutney of momo.

I had 4 teaspoons of chutney and nothing felt as if my taste buds were no more. I consulted my family doctor over a phone call regarding my symptoms. He suggested I should go for RTPCR tomorrow and the report may come positive.

After reaching home I isolated myself in a room as if I am positive. Meanwhile, my father bought jaggery from the market asked me to try this, I asked why this ?. He explained about some video which his doctor friend sent him how to check covid at home. Without any more questioning, I followed his orders and tasted it. His eyes were reading my facial expression as if he was trying to decode my answer. Finally, I nodded my head and shrugged with the Negative reply.

My brother was excited and laughing and said do not open the door till your report comes tomorrow.

I went for an RTPCR covid19 test to a nearby hospital. The report generally gets declared after 24 hours. Apart from the taste and smell problem, I was also having a sore throat and weakness in my body. The next day was the report day and I was having a mixed feeling: Excitement and Fear both. I started making all the permutations and combinations of Positive and Negative results of my report with my next week's plans.

The time was 4:00 PM and now only 2 hours were left for my report, so I started checking the result of my report again and again after every 15 minutes as if I am having a waiting train ticket for my journey to somewhere and the chart was about to be prepared.

After 5:30 PM, after multiple tries, I took a power nap. Meanwhile, at 6:00 PM my phone rang and I was dreaming about something shit.

I thought it was my alarm but suddenly my conscious mind said it's your new ringtone dear.

I woke up and saw it was some Landline phone number and unfortunately my true caller app was not working to some internet issue. I picked up the call without much thinking. 

“Am I speaking to Mr. Rabinshu Sharma, I am calling from the CMO office Integrated covid control room center”, said some anonymous person. I would like to inform you that your Covid Report is Positive.

After listening to this sentence I was shocked and went into a panic state. My heartbeat was as if I am running for the 500-meter marathon. He asked me few questions about my current health situation.

Thanks to God, it was mild with no fever and breathing issues. I was asked for the Home isolation as I mentioned in our conversation that I have a separate room in my house so proper facility for home quarantine can be done easily

My family appeared chill because they knew it’s mild but they asked me to follow the complete 14 days isolation and quarantine process as described by the doctor on a phone call.

At Night, my Dinner was as if I am a prisoner in Tihar jail and I kept my plate on the stool so that my brother could put some food by maintaining social distancing.

The next day the rest members of my family went for the covid RTPCR test. Again thanks to God, because of His grace and love everyone’s report was negative. 

That was a sigh of relief for my family but for me spending 14 days inside a room was tougher than 14 years of vanvaas by Lord ram in Ramayana. Though the Ramayana on TV had ended, but mine started with my exile (inside my room).

The Medicines, Gargle, steam, yoga, Netflix, Video calls, chats, and reading books were my only lifeline to stay healthy both physically and mentally in this 'room - vaas' apart from the forsaken thoughts of, what-ifs.. I even thought about preparing my will but then I realized I have no earned asset.

On December 31, 2020, it was evening 6:00 PM when I received my Negative report. Everyone was happy to see me back again inside the house but I was worried that now I have to mail this report to my HR and he might call me to join the office soon.

So this was all my short Story of my Covid battle which I won successfully.