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Excerpts From My 2020 Diary
Denial
Jan 2020 - Dear diary, I want to travel a lot this year. There is a lot of hype in the media about some mysterious illness. I think all this will blow out to be nothing.
Feb 2020 - Dear diary, My friend is visiting me from China after a long time. We were planning some treks. My wife has forbidden me from travelling fearing the virus. I don't care.
Mar 2020 - Dear diary, last couple of weeks were great. I visited Meghalaya, Sikkim, Uttarkhand and Himachal. Next stop is Kashmir. There are just 1 or 2 cases or Covid in India but people are very apprehensive. There are rumors of lockdown. I guess nothing will happen for a couple of weeks. By then I will be back home.
Anger
Apr 2020 - Dear diary, I am stuck in Kashmir for more than a month now. There are just a handful of covid cases in India yet the stupid government has imposed a lockdown. I barely have any money left with me. A guy I got acquainted with here as promised to smuggle me from Kashmir to Delhi. I parted with my gold chain yesterday. Fingers crossed.
May 2020 - Dear diary, see as I predicted the lockdown did not help contain covid. I haven't seen my acquaintance yet. I hope he is dead otherwise I have to commit a murder. I am living on the streets of Kashmir now. I had declared myself as a migrant laborer and waiting for a train to take me to Bangalore. I guess that is not going to happen anytime soon.
Bargaining
Jun 2020 - Dear diary, For the last few months, I am living with the poorest of the poor sharing food and shelter. Their plight has humbled me. God if you will help me reach home safely When I will fight for the rights of these people.
July 2020 - Dear diary, a lot of people around me are falling sick. We are living in close quarters. There is no possibility of social distancing here. I am afraid of catching covid. God if you save me from covid I will be a good human, I will pray to you every day. Please save me.
Depression
Aug 2020 - Dear diary, finally I had managed to reach Bangalore via the special train for migrants. I am held in quarantine at a private hotel. The conditions are pathetic here. There are too many bedbugs, the toilet is dirty, food is awful and on top of all this I am shelving 5000 per day. I should have listened to my wife. I miss her.
Sep 2020 - Dear diary, covid has finally caught my family. My grandparents and parents are infected. My grandfather passed away a few days back. My mother's condition is critical as well. Everyone I meet has lost somebody to covid. I don't have any more tears left. I feel helpless and useless.
Acceptance
October 2020 - Dear diary, I was fired from my job because of my long absence. Searching for a job is stressful during these times. At least the remaining members of my family fought covid successfully.
November 2020 - Dear diary, I ran into a few migrant workers I met during my travel. They are increasingly asking for my support. I don't have time or resources to spare for them. I don't understand why they won't leave me alone. I have my own problems to solve.
December 2020 - Dear diary, I had ran out of money last month. My wife is giving me only a small allowance. I cannot manage with this. Recruiters are giving me only half my previous salary for twice the amount of work. I don't know what to do. Last couple of days I am suffering from fever and dry cough. Hope it is nothing.
© spacebar
Jan 2020 - Dear diary, I want to travel a lot this year. There is a lot of hype in the media about some mysterious illness. I think all this will blow out to be nothing.
Feb 2020 - Dear diary, My friend is visiting me from China after a long time. We were planning some treks. My wife has forbidden me from travelling fearing the virus. I don't care.
Mar 2020 - Dear diary, last couple of weeks were great. I visited Meghalaya, Sikkim, Uttarkhand and Himachal. Next stop is Kashmir. There are just 1 or 2 cases or Covid in India but people are very apprehensive. There are rumors of lockdown. I guess nothing will happen for a couple of weeks. By then I will be back home.
Anger
Apr 2020 - Dear diary, I am stuck in Kashmir for more than a month now. There are just a handful of covid cases in India yet the stupid government has imposed a lockdown. I barely have any money left with me. A guy I got acquainted with here as promised to smuggle me from Kashmir to Delhi. I parted with my gold chain yesterday. Fingers crossed.
May 2020 - Dear diary, see as I predicted the lockdown did not help contain covid. I haven't seen my acquaintance yet. I hope he is dead otherwise I have to commit a murder. I am living on the streets of Kashmir now. I had declared myself as a migrant laborer and waiting for a train to take me to Bangalore. I guess that is not going to happen anytime soon.
Bargaining
Jun 2020 - Dear diary, For the last few months, I am living with the poorest of the poor sharing food and shelter. Their plight has humbled me. God if you will help me reach home safely When I will fight for the rights of these people.
July 2020 - Dear diary, a lot of people around me are falling sick. We are living in close quarters. There is no possibility of social distancing here. I am afraid of catching covid. God if you save me from covid I will be a good human, I will pray to you every day. Please save me.
Depression
Aug 2020 - Dear diary, finally I had managed to reach Bangalore via the special train for migrants. I am held in quarantine at a private hotel. The conditions are pathetic here. There are too many bedbugs, the toilet is dirty, food is awful and on top of all this I am shelving 5000 per day. I should have listened to my wife. I miss her.
Sep 2020 - Dear diary, covid has finally caught my family. My grandparents and parents are infected. My grandfather passed away a few days back. My mother's condition is critical as well. Everyone I meet has lost somebody to covid. I don't have any more tears left. I feel helpless and useless.
Acceptance
October 2020 - Dear diary, I was fired from my job because of my long absence. Searching for a job is stressful during these times. At least the remaining members of my family fought covid successfully.
November 2020 - Dear diary, I ran into a few migrant workers I met during my travel. They are increasingly asking for my support. I don't have time or resources to spare for them. I don't understand why they won't leave me alone. I have my own problems to solve.
December 2020 - Dear diary, I had ran out of money last month. My wife is giving me only a small allowance. I cannot manage with this. Recruiters are giving me only half my previous salary for twice the amount of work. I don't know what to do. Last couple of days I am suffering from fever and dry cough. Hope it is nothing.
© spacebar
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