It’s quite scary. The corner store lady is running out of necessities and also she has to get a permit to buy enough, for Hemkunt Colony, to last until the end of this lockdown. I'd appreciate your publication of my writing. You have often published my articles before. This is a CRY from Delhi.

By Brajinder Singh Dhillon

 In the realm of infectious diseases, a pandemic is the worst case scenario. When an epidemic spreads beyond a country's borders, that's when the disease officially becomes a Pandemic.

When I left home in Vancouver, I packed my note book and a few good pens to write my journal. My notebook is staring at me, as the pages are empty. My granddaughter suggested me to write whatever goes through my head. Empty pages of my diary are cursing me. 

There’s Coronavirus in India and everyday it’s becoming scarier and scarier. There’s nothing in my head to write about. We started donning masks whenever someone visits us or we go in a store.

 ‘Buy your groceries enough to last a few weeks. It did not hit my head to buy essentials. We have a vegetable seller, who comes to the door and also a corner store, where we can pick up bread eggs , ghee and rice too. Now the PM has declared a lockdown. First it was just on March 22nd and now it’s for 21 days.

It’s quite scary. The corner store lady is running out of necessities and also she has to get a permit to buy enough, for Hemkunt Colony, to last until the end of this lockdown.

My parents passed through many epidemics and pandemics in their lives. I passed through many too. So did my children and grandchildren.

I like writing, but my mood is off. Can’t even think of anything to write about. We want to go home, but there’s no safe place. All flights are cancelled and those that are available, if they’re available, are dangerous to travel in. Airports and planes are full of people and no one knows how many are infected with this deadly virus.

This virus has no symptoms and no treatment either. We are asked to drink a lot of water all day. Wash our hands often and inhale steam.

We are stuck in India far away from, family and medical treatment, if we get sick. We are Canadian citizens for the last 60 years but haven't heard from the Canada Immigration office. We're in Delhi, no buses, taxis, autos, planes or trains. We can't even think of anything.   

I'd appreciate your publication of my writing. You have often published my articles before. This is a CRY from Delhi.

Brajinder Dhillon is a Vancouver resident currently stuck in at the Hemkunt Colony in New Delhi.