Wellington, Nilgiris
As the first rays of dawn seep in through the canopy of pine trees, the sharp whistle of a red-vented bulbul calling out to its mate breaks the silence of the morning. The male bulbul with its short crest and red vent has just identified a suitable shrub to build their future home. His mate flies in swiftly, whistling and calling out a special note of acceptance. It’s time to start their family.
The bulbul pair painstakingly build their home, a small, beautiful cup-shaped nest with dry twigs, bits and pieces of wires and a few odd pieces of colourful rags. They perch themselves on a thin branch to admire their handiwork, calling out cheerfully to the other birds in the vicinity to celebrate their happiness.
The female bulbul lays two pale-pink eggs with dark red spots and after a day, the process of hatching them begins. She sits patiently on the twin eggs, providing the much- needed warmth for them to hatch after the stipulated fourteen days of incubation. The male bulbul in the meantime, fusses over his beloved, bringing her bits of fruits, flower petals, nectar and an occasional worm, while at the same time keeping an eye out for dreaded predators.
24 May, 2021
It’s another bright sunny morning and while the male bulbul whistles a cheerful note as he searches for the right worm, the female bulbul fluffs out her wings to cover the nest completely. In less than a week, her little chicks will be out! She coos and chirps softly, serenading her unborn babies, watching her mate flit about as he forages for food. Her eyes close gently and she drifts off into a dreamless slumber.
Coro the evil grey-striped cat is new to the neighbourhood. He roams around hungrily, picking up bits and pieces of whatever can be considered as cat food. Hunger pangs make him even more evil and angry. It’s been a long time since he’s had a hearty meal.
A cheerful whistling from somewhere in the bushes irritates Coro and as he spots a red-vented bulbul foraging for food, a wicked grin slowly envelops his malicious face. He looks around stealthily and approaches his prey silently. Then with a brief and explosive charge, Coro attacks.
The air reverberates with the sound of loud screeching distress calls. The bulbul, caught completely unawares, tries its best to strike off the attack but in vain. Coro grasps the bird’s throat in a tight vicious grip, squeezing out every breath of air from its tiny lungs. Gasping for breath, the weak bird lets out a tiny whimper before it is devoured hungrily by the wicked cat.
The male red vented bulbul looks hopelessly at the horror in front of him. All of a sudden, his world has been turned upside down, just like the beautiful cup-shaped nest that now lies on the grass, the two unhatched eggs a blotch of gooey mass.
Like a lunatic, the red vented bulbul screeches and wails, calling out to the other birds in despair, to share his grief.
___________________________________________
Chennai
As an orange sunset envelops the city, a beaming Dr Valli and her husband Dr Jayavel (names changed) enter their new house hand in hand. They are ecstatic and have reason to celebrate as in nine months from now, they will welcome a little bundle of joy into this world.
These are difficult times. The country is in the midst of a global pandemic. Coronavirus, a dreaded virus has taken control of the entire human race, wrecking tragedy and havoc in its wake. While Dr Jayavel is in the heart of the pandemic being a pulmonologist, Dr Valli a dedicated frontline worker, also has her hands full. At home however, they refrain from discussing their professional challenges and spend every moment in each other’s blissful company. Jayavel fusses around his beloved wife, taking care of her every need, especially the food cravings that come up from time to time.
By May 2021, the pandemic takes an ugly turn with a catastrophic lethal second wave sweeping across the country. Oxygen cylinders are in grave scarcity and every possible aid is pledged by countries across the globe. Dr Jayavel is alarmed at the surge in cases and takes every precaution to keep himself and his wife safe. Valli, who has just entered her third trimester will soon be taking that much needed maternity break.
“We must perform the valaikappu ceremony for Valli,” says Dr Jayavel’s mother one evening, on a phone call from Kumbakonam.
“It’s not advisable in these times Amma,” suggests Jayavel gravely, reminding his orthodox mother of the need to follow the directives of restricting ceremonies and functions.
‘Valaikappu’ or ‘bangle ceremony’ is akin to the western Baby Shower and is performed in Tamilnadu, for the new mother-to-be. It is meant to celebrate the fertility of a pregnant woman and bless her with a safe birth.
“But, Valli’s pregnancy needs to be protected from the evil eye. She must have a safe delivery. What better way than to have the elders come and bless her? Let us restrict the guest list to only fifty in keeping with the advisories and moreover, we can make it mandatory for everyone to wear a mask, including Valli,” says Jayavel’s mother reassuringly.
Both Valli and Jayavel are reluctant to conduct this ceremony knowing very well the vulnerability of her condition and the great risk that she will be exposed to. With a sense of foreboding, Valli prepares for the ceremony.
The sound of tinkling bangles, laughter and merriment fill the air in the banquet hall that has been tastefully decorated for this purpose. Ladies in bright coloured silk sarees with matching designer masks throng the venue with expensive gifts for the new mother-to-be. Each takes turns to apply a paste of sandal and turmeric to Valli’s hands and face, caressing her lovingly, reassuring her to stay calm while at the same time blessing her and the little one in her womb. Then, they adorn her wrists with red and green glass bangles in the backdrop of sacred hymns and traditional songs of fertility as they sprinkle rose water and shower her with flower petals.
Valli is tense and so also is Jayavel. For a split moment they catch each other’s eye across the room and Jayavel sees the fear in hers. He gives a weak smile of reassurance and sends up a silent prayer for her safety.
“Aahhh,” exclaims the Coronavirus as it stretches its tentacles, doubling up in glee and flitting about the airconditioned room like an invisible missile. “What a relief to see so many human prey in one room. It’s been a while since my last attack.”
Corona peeps out from the hands of one of the ladies as she lovingly caresses Valli’s cheeks while applying the sandal turmeric paste on her face and hands. Then, as another lady adorns Valli’s hands with glass bangles, Corona lands on her fingertips. It has a wonderful time moving from one person to another with a few rebuffs from those who are protected by double masks or those who constantly rub their hands with strong sanitizers. Finally, having exhausted its potency, Corona vanishes into the air- conditioner to regain its strength.
The first symptoms appear within four days of the valaikappu ceremony. Valli feels a soreness in her throat as she suffers bouts of sneezing. By the evening a high fever rages through her body and the cough worsens. Her heart sinks as she finds it difficult to breathe. By midnight, Valli is admitted into the best hospital in the city.
Corona which had attached itself to Valli’s face and fingertips now takes complete control. As it enters her system, it comes into contact with the mucous membranes that line her nose, mouth and eyes. It enters a healthy cell and uses it to multiply maliciously, thus infecting every cell nearby.
Corona now prepares for its final vicious attack.
24 May 2021
Around 6am, Valli is wheeled into the intensive care unit of the hospital. As Corona lays siege on the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs where oxygen goes into the blood, Valli’s breathing gets more and more difficult. Her oxygen levels drop alarmingly. Her feeble hands lift slightly and fall protectively over her stomach as if trying to shield her womb from the onslaught.
Corona grasps Valli’s throat in a tight vicious grip, squeezing out every breath of air from her lungs. Gasping for breath, she lets out one last tiny whimper before she is devoured hungrily by the deathly virus.
Dr Jayavel looks on hopelessly at his beloved through the glass window of the ICU and watches his world collapse before him. His blood curdling wail merges with the sound of tinkling bangles of the valaikappu ceremony that still adorn Valli’s hands as she is gently prepared for cremation.