Family sticks through thick and thin!
Last few months have been anything but ordinary for most of us. For Delhi resident Sudha Kiran, it was also about seeking strength in family ties and sticking around loved ones unconditionally.
Kiran, 45, lives with husband Inder Kumar, 50 and two sons – Siddharth, 16 and Samyak, 10.
While the family was following all precautions, it came as a shock to them when three members of the household tested Covid-19 positive.
“Around mid-July my husband displayed symptoms and tested positive, which compelled us all to take the test. My husband was admitted to AIIMS. I, with my elder son, also tested positive. It was a difficult time,” says Kiran.
Indeed, the toughest challenge for her family was
the stigma that came with the virus. “The disease, in a way, brought me face to face with the reality of people. Many, who I’d help a lot, were behaving very oddly. They stopped talking to us and we were treated as if we don’t exist. It shook me more than the disease,” she says.
Help came from unexpected quarters. “The one person who helped us the most was a man who irons clothes near our house. He was always available on a phone call,” she says. Both her sons behaved responsibly. “They acted well beyond their years,” she says. “I helped mum in the kitchen as much as I could. I also had fever initially but I recovered quickly, compared to my parents. So, while mum wasn’t feeling very well, I cooked meals and cleaned the house,” Siddharth tells us, adding, “The virus, I believe, affects everyone differently according to their body’s immunity. With right medical care and diet, I’m sure anyone can beat it.”
Even Samyak rose to the occasion. “He is in Class VI, but he helped a lot. He was the only healthy member of the family. Even after testing negative, we were still weak. He would bring supplies from the market as well as helped with daily chores. He’s a strong child,” says Kiran, adding, “I feel my kids have matured immensely in the past few months. We have come to realise that no matter what, it’s just one’s own family which will be there for you during your worst time.”