CORONA-THROMBOSIS [words6050]
The three boys are sitting scattered but gazing at TV eagerly in an apartment of Hell’s kitchen They all have some panicky faces.
Ronjoy said ,“Everyday number of deaths are increasing. I think I will stop going to office” ;
Kunal,: most offices have decided their employees will be working from home from the next week .So we need not to be worried about social distance, right? ………
Oh, I am so hungry ; let me delve our kitchen to fetch something to eat .I saw 3/4 restaurants On my way are all closed. He tore a big portion from a chabatta bread and dragged out a container of mushroom cheese from the refridgerator and started grabbing it with big bite.
Checking the fridge , disappointedly Ronjoy scratched his head impatiently .”So
We need to prepare something ‘Quick’ for dinner.
“Hey Hamid, What to cook ? I cant go to sleep by grabbing only bread.”
Hamid : Me too. Wait, I will cook rice and egg curry ;It will take just half an hour.
Does it sound good for you?
In chorus “Fine, pretty fine! Hurry up!”
Hamid took all the eggs from the crate in a big bowl and put it under the tap for water.
“Cring,cring….the land phone rang. Ronjoy looking at the number ,picked up it from the counter, “yes, Jayantada”,how 'r you?
“Hi guys, what’s up there?”
“Simply pathetic, all the restaurants nearby are locked down and we are hungry; so we are discussing of some quick –prep..”
“Khichuri,khichuri,”Jayanta shouted in his usual loud voice.
[In Hindi- ‘dhirse boliyena bhai sab!’(Can’t you speak softly ?) Ronjoy heard Some customer’s comment]’
I called you to remind you to store excess grains, grocery readymade food and other essentials, otherwise you will be in trouble. You know, the isles of toilet- paper tissue paper , sanitizer are empty in Cosco. I have ordered for two musks ;but there is no supply of musk in Amazon.com before ten days . So I told my wife to cut her
old ‘bra’ and make two musks to use until getting the supply from the Amazon.”
“Well, Do you have musks and gloves?
”[ sir, can you speak little softly,please?]-
Jayanta :“Sorry”!
Ronjoy: “No! we assumed that like other viruses it will subside in time. But now the case is getting worse.”
“I know you well, the flamboyant guys! That’s why I call you. After all we spent a nice time together like a family. ..I am now waiting in the billing-line of the Indian grocery shop for half an hour to take stuffed porothas , samosas, haldiram-products etc.so that I don’t have to worry at least for two months . Ok guys, I have to pay now, take care, bye!"
As Ronjoy turned his head , he saw Kunal is busy in counting the bunch of toilet papers seriously ,as if solving some mathematical problem .
Looking at Ronjoy watching him, Kunal declared with bright face ,”We have no problem of toilet papers at least for two weeks !
Ronjoy replied irritatingly,
”Damn it; tissue or toilet papers should never be our problems till there is tap water; We have other healthier alternatives ! Now the westerns will learn some good habit and might follow us. Our problem is now ‘food’!"
Hamid giggled from the kitchen . As he met the eyes of Ronjoy , promptly. conveyed
‘ egg curry is done; only ten minutes more to finish rice,” like a doting mother pacifying her child.
' Ok; It’s fine; let us help you ; Ronjoy started to clean the kitchen counter ;Kunal also joined to make the plates ready.
“Hi guys! "
With a coffee mug Rachael, [ their front door neighbor], entered and opening the refrigerator poured some milk in her mug from the can without any formalities and replaced the can in right place before closing the door.
Rachael: I need hot milk- coffee to drink, for I had a headache and cough.
Ronjoy jumped backwards from Rachael.
“So cough and headache! Is there any other symptom like throat-soar or fever ?.
Rachael: No, Mr. Corona-specialist!
Jokingly, she made faces by showing tongue and shaking heads.
As She turned towards the door with her mug, Ronjoy rushed to her,
” Listen Rachael, u-mm-, can you lend me one of your old ‘bra’ ? Rachael throws a stunt look to the eyes of Ronjoy, directly.
Being embarrassed Ronjoy , stepped little backwards from Rachael; in trembling voice he began to stammer “ w-hat I m-mean ,m-m-for mmusk ,pointing his nose covering with palm, n-no stock in Amazon.com! Gesturing his two hands helplessly.
By the time Emily, room-mate of Rachel appeared, opening the door.
“Coffee is brewing and I’m tired of waiting for milk”; She snatched the mug from Rachael and the two women disappeared quickly.
Kunal: [ striking own forehead with his palm ] hurled words towards Ronjoy :
" You are really crazy! Lucky enough not to have a slap from her..............
OK. Come quickly, dinner is waiting”.
The three hungry boys finished the plates in such a way that plates looked as clean as washed !
Kunal: Really Hamid, how did you learn to cook so tasty meal, ?
Hamid: Simply watching my mom . ...
Well, how long Sally will take to come back from the Airport?"
Ronjoy : Not before 2 AM .I have told Sally to arrange some hotel for his Uncle who is coming directly from Hongkong . He should not mind that we can’t take risk of our life at this present situation! Let us put our utensils in dishwasher and celebrate the Friday night with some comedy movie.
The three took seat on the couch , each with a comforter so that they can sleep there, If needed .
The door-bell rang.
With wide panicky eyes the three boys uttered simultaneously,
”May be Sally with uncle!”
Disapproving their assumption, Rachael and Emily peeped with notorious smile from the half-opened door and threw two balls of cloth which struck to Ronjoy,s nose.
“For your masks, you fertiled–Bong brats !”With laughing comment they disappeared.
Ronjoy quickly unfurled the balls and his face became bright with excitement
“one, two, three bras” Ronjoy exclaimed ‘plenty’! Let us make masks for all. But we need needle and scissors.
Hamid and Kunal rushed to their room to fetch those materials. Ronjoy put each cup
On his nose before distributing. He threw the big one to Hamid saying, “This one will match to your big face.
Kunal googled the image of mask in his laptop .
They cut each bra in two pieces. Like expert tailors they finished home -made mask.
within an hour; In front of mirror they put on for trial.
Hamid with printed brown- color- mask looked funny .
“You look like big cat " - Kunal hurled a joke.
Hamid, removing the mask said ,”the pad is so thick that I have to die in suffocation , not in Corona.
Ronjoy: at least we can use it in case of emergency. I am really worried of Sally’s uncle from Hongkong ; hope Sally won’t bring him here…….Anyway our neighbor is so helpful!
As Sally called them to inform that he would not return at night,
They switched off the TV and went to sleep peacefully. ***
Hamid Hasan
In early morning the land phone rang. It was long distance call . Hamid picked up the phone ;it was his mom. Here every one except him has i-phone .
“ Hamid-beta, I am so sorry to wake you up in such early hour of Saturday! Here it is afternoon and I have to go back before the evening . I called you because I am so worried about you ;…You didn’t tell me anything but I am terrified to know that New York is under the threat of a fatal disease which is taking many lives. It is Corona Thrombosis ! China has spread this disease to New York! I learnt lots of people in china also dying thudded on the street like flies and mosquitoes. You please come back home ;’’He heard his mother sobbing.
I have none but you, my son ,Please come back here.”
Hamid pacified his mother. “ Ammi, I am fine; Sally and other boys are also with me. This disease is going to be global .The name of the disease is ‘Covid-19’ caused by Corona Virus,---not Thrombosis ! Don’t make yourself laughing stock.
It is not wise to take any flight. New York is the best place to stay now, if we abide by the simple rules: Stay far, don’t touch, wash your hands, use gloves and mask. WE are all very cautious and careful, Ammi. It is good that you live in remote place and no crowd; still be careful. This disease has been declared as pandemic. Now go back home peacefully before evening….And don’t repeat again “”Corona-Thrombosis”.
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