This episode is in continuation of Episode 13 - Musical Masti and Episode 14 - Night Riders
It was about 10 pm on a sultry Saturday night; Anshuman had just finished his dinner. He picked up his phone and visited a few Instagram pages, including Lata's. He spent more than an hour catching glimpses of some scintillating images and ogled at them to his heart's content. He thanked his luck that he was living in the 21st century.
When he was convinced that nothing else was gonna excite him any more, he dialed Kavita's number. She didn't take the call until the fifth ring.
"Hi beautiful", he said in a tone that sounded cringy.
"Hi Anshu...how was your day?"
"You know...the usual...get back home from the bank...spend some time on calls discussing matters regarding the housing society...daily chores..."
"And Instagram...", she chuckled.
"You're wicked, that's what you are", he laughed, "Did you know that 10 people tested positive for COVID 19 in our area today?"
"Ten people? That's insane."
"Yeah...so far there have been about 28 cases in our area."
"Oh God", Kavita made her concern quite apparent, "Please be safe Jaanu."
"You stay safe too sweetheart", Anshuman's tone sounded grave, "Apparently there was some guy who was picked up by the police from outside your building gate a few nights ago."
"Outside my building gate? When was this?"
"The night I wanted to come over to meet you. There was some guy in a car right outside your gate."
"Uh Huh? What about him?"
"Well, the police took him for testing simply based on suspicion. Unfortunately, he turned out positive for..."
Before Anshuman could complete his sentence, he heard Kavita take a deep breath. The very next moment, she disconnected the call.
At the other side of the conversation, Kavita began sweating and felt her head spin.
A dreadful apprehension clouded her thoughts - "Was that Manoj who had tested positive? Does that mean I am infected too?"
A few miles away, Manoj was getting treatment in a hospital ward. There were questions is his mind,,,questions he had no answers for.
He and Kavita had met - more than just met - three or four times over the past two weeks. So, was it she who had infected him?
It seemed life was soon about to change for at least three people in the near future.
Idiosyncrasies of a Covidiot
All episodes so far
Episode 01 - Aaho-Choo Story
Episode 02 - Bus-Ted
Episode 03 - Bohemian Clapsody
Episode 04 - Departmental Chor
Episode 05 - Exceptionally Coarse
Episode 06 - Fruits & Nuts
Episode 07 - Gross Spread
Episode 08 - Helping Hands
Episode 09 - I Want to Break Free
Episode 10 - Jamboree
Episode 11 - Keep Safe Distance
Episode 12 - Let There Be Light
Episode 13 - Musical Masti
Episode 14 - Night Riders
Episode 15 - Order Order
Episode 16 - Papa the Great
Episode 17 - Quarantine
The COVID would make us all doubt our own shadow someday.
ReplyDeleteI think Anshuman is just playing tricks on them!
ReplyDeleteDid Manoj really test positive?
ReplyDeleteAnshuman is spying on Kavita. Otherwise how would he know someone was picked up outside her gate.
ReplyDeleteCovid may not but fear surely will kill some of us !
ReplyDeleteQuarantine will bring forward many affairs like this one!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing how people flout lockdown rules and go ahead meeting & infecting all!
ReplyDeleteThe chain of infection continues...
We're gonna have a lot of stories with this theme in the next few years. Well-done.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and yours are staying safe and healthy during this difficult time.
J Lenni Dorner~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author