It was just about our families, their love and togetherness. Like many others, we also couldn’t pacify ourselves in this hour of paranoia.
The suffering, the pain and the feelings were mutual, unlike those who were fortunate enough. The ones who are privileged to have a roof, be with their families, cook and privileged do so many things that are delusional for us.
Covid-19 didn’t knock at my door first, nor did I knock at its. It was brought by some elites from far off lands and we had to compromise with hunger, grief, agony and pain.
A virus that left thousands of migrants like me jobless and compelled us to begin the journey to our lands of eternity, but not all were fortunate enough to reach their destination.
Though the horrifying stories were still haunting, they couldn’t deter us. Thus, with little courage and a lot of hope, we began our journey to be with those who matter the most.
An earnest desire to be with our families was worth every mile we crossed. Our hearts thumped, but the weariness seemed insignificant.
Wonder how naïve we became to sleep on the tracks, why did we do that? Seems the longing to be at home overtook the discretion to judge the plausible danger.
I left home when I was 12. They said child labour was prohibited, but I got the work. I’ve been working since then. I dreamt of making a better life, but here I am, a daily wager who just earns enough to make ends meet.
20 years of harsh work has only given my family a house with a thatched roof and a small piece of land on our ancestral property. I really couldn’t add much to make our lives better.
All I earned was an unfathomable distance from them, but a strong desire to fight abject poverty continued this trivial cycle.
Nothing was perfect, neither here nor there. Wonder why I toiled day and night just to accomplish the worthless? Covid-19 had removed all ambiguity. I understood that my family was all that I wanted and the feelings were mutual.
Affirmed, I was to not go back to the city for the trivial treats. Determined to unite with the family, we had walked almost 250 miles already.
Just little was left and the moon appeared. It wasn’t the fear of darkness, but assurance to reach our destination, so we thought to rest.
We laid on the tracks for respite, how foolish it was of us to not realize the hazard.
The journey that began ended forever.
No more masks, no more quarantine. I am in a better place now, adieu poverty.