Art by Holly Warburton
2020. The year that changed everything. For ages, mankind developed the greatest of greatest defense systems, or simply weapons, to protect themselves. I have read theories of how alien invasion, ice age, global warming, or World War III shall perish the most developed human era. Whether you believe it or not, that is up to you. But who would have thought that a 26 to 32 kilobase genome could bring the world to a standstill? Literally. Times like these come to teach a lesson to us- humanity above all. No technology, money, fame, possessions can save you. Only humanity can.
Perhaps for many, the world ends here. A world where no one can be trusted, greed and ego overpower love and hope, loved ones have departed, or a world where you cannot physically communicate with your loved ones. For many, the world might have ended already. Losing their loved ones to the virus, not being able to put food on the table for their families, or drowning in the medical or education debts. Now, they are just a bag of skeletons, with muscles and skin, waiting to finish their days left. For some, it is a brand-new day, with brand new possibilities. For them, the world has eons before it seizes to existence.
But I remember. I remember, the day world ended for me, for anything and everything I cared about. June 15, 2020. A day etched in my memory forever. I remember, waiting for you. It was 9:17 pm, I was sitting on the porch with my 3rd cup of tea. You usually would reach home anywhere 9 to 10. Nowadays, you would complain of fatigue, ‘too many patients, and the hospital being understaffed’, so I assumed you would be home by 10:30 today. Your phone is switched off, so I called Doctor Singhania. “Hi, yes a hectic day, no no, left about 9:15”. It took you exact 30 mins to reach home. How do I know? Because, have been counting it for 45 days now. The kids had eaten already, and were fast asleep in their rooms. I know you wanted to eat with them. It had been a month you hadn’t. But sorry, I know if their timetable got messed up, it will upset you. I try not to bother you with their tantrums, Nia wants a new soft toy, she has been asking for that for 2 weeks now, I guess. And Roy wants to know as to why his parents have caged him in the house. I tried a new recipe for you today, aloo postho or potato poppy seeds. I knew you hadn’t had it in ages, so took the recipe from dad. It was a quiet moment, and a lonely one too. You know, the one where you are at peace, but there is something, or someone missing. I took another sip, and dialed your number again. ‘The number you are dialing is switched off. Ple...’, I disconnected it. I know your battery was low, but you would normally charge before leaving. I got up to wash the cup. Not because I love cleaning, but because I wanted to pass the time. Drying my hands, I checked the dining clock. It read 9:50. Why were you not home yet? Okay, now I am getting a bit panicked.
We eat by now, so, where are you? I call Doctor Singhania again, “the number you are calling is out of network coverage.’ I don’t feel good. An uneasy feeling that something is wrong. I trying calling your reception, it’s busy. I don’t like this. Something is definitely wrong. The house is silent. Suddenly my phone rings. It’s your sister, Neha. I pick up, and before I can speak, a howling voice speaks, ‘I’m sooo sorry. I soo sorry Varun”. I am not able to make sense of what she is saying. But I know it’s bad, I have never seen this women cry. “Turn on the news channel”, I do as she says, and put her on speaker. I’m feeling cold. Too cold, for a summer. There is a reporter at a crime scene. I turn up the volume, not caring if the kids wake up. “According to source, 2 criminals Ajay Singh and Chota Nigam, escaped from a nearby RML Jail around 9:00. It has been alleged that they were planning their escape for 6 months now. 2 guards, and 1 police officer have been injured. The criminals reached the KN Marg and found a car approaching. In the process of stealing the car, unfortunately, the driver, Doctor Niti was shot dead. The police arrived immediately but they had escaped already. She was declared dead on the scene. The hunt….”
15th June, 10 pm. The world perhaps ended for me.
Written by Paromita Gupta
Journalism (PG), Delhi School Of Journalism. Delhi University
Paromita Gupta bagged the first position under the Above UG category of the short story writing competition, 'Prose It!', whose theme had been decided to be "perhaps the world ends here", the competition was held under the November's Literary Fest named 'Breathe'
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