Page 19 - ANUBHUTI

Flash fiction about experience during COVID-19 pandemic

After completing 3 standard annual exams, I, along with my parents and younger
rd
sister came to our native place Mangalore for 2 weeks in March 2020. Little did we
know that, the 2 week trip would be extended to several months due to the lockdown

imposed to stay safe from COVID-19 pandemic. But nobody is safe from COVID-19
which began to rapidly spread from February 2020. We had to take extreme
precautions like wearing mask when stepping outside home, wash groceries and

vegetables before using them, sanitizing the house on regular basis and restrict
visitors from entering the house.

I as a kid wasn’t allowed to step outside home, so I had to play indoor games only.
Even cycling outside the house wasn’t allowed. It was a very boring period without

going to school and meeting friends. Also, we were not allowed to eat outside food.
It was initially difficult to get accustomed to online classes but students have

accepted the fact that safety is of utmost importance than travelling and meeting
others in school. These days, the situation is improving, as, the number of COVID-
19 cases have been reduced in our state as well as our country. I surely hope things

would get back to normal very soon.

- Anusha Rao

4th A