Lockdown

She looked up at the sky. It was a clear blue with some clouds scattered. She didn’t fail to notice the silver peeking from the clouds. All clouds have a silver lining…. Lesson :Proverbs….English language textbook. She remembered it fairly well as she had just come home from school after appearing for her Annual examinations in English. Though there were earlier hiccups in understanding English, let alone use it ….lately she had developed a liking for the language. She seemed to be understanding it and applying it also. Those comic strips introduced in class seem to be working wonders.

Hemlata was studying in grade 5 in the nearby government school.She had come home from school  with the news that schools were to be closed the next day onwards ….some virus …the reports said.The grade 5 child in her was somewhat relieved and happy that the next exam papers were postponed. Her happiness was shortlived. In matter of days the entire country was in a Lockdown. Her daily wage father , no longer went out in the morning for work. No work meant no earnings…and with no indicattion of the virus receeding, things were grim.

Help poured in from all quarters…a reminder that humanity was alive. She still went to school everyday …albeit  to have her free meals provided by the Government . They waited a month  and one day she woke up to the din of her parents packing their belongings! They were heading to their native village! In such uncertain times it is better to be with our kin….her parents argued. She wanted to ask them about her school, her books, her friends, but none of her queries were entertained.She felt her heart growing heavy , she was actually leaving her world behind!

Looking out of the window of the speeding train , she found it difficult to breathe. Almost choking ,tears streaming down both cheeks , she shut her eyes….a tiny voice in her head said,’keep calm…take a long breath…focus on a happy incident’. That was her teacher speaking to them in the morning assembly. Never had she followed this advice so sincerely! For Hemlata the uncertainity had just started….she looked towards the sky….searching for a cloud with a silver lining…