Grief in Pandemic

Last month this time when we are basking in the cheer of celebrating N's birthday over a zoom call with family and close friends.. little did we think next month this time a similar zoom call will bring us together to say goodbye to a loved one. A virtual condolence meet. 😔

There are not enough curse words for this disease but alas that doesn't put together broken hearts. 

Neither does it wipe the uncontrollable tears of family members, nor does it console helpless family members sitting miles away from each other. 

From the time when people used to travel hours together to be with their loved ones during difficult times of death and loss, we have come to the point where all we can do is see and hear them over screens ...barely controlling the urge to go and hold them close & console them with all our might. Just in the hope of reducing a little bit of hurt and pain. But this disease has taken away that basic privilege from us too. 😢

Not able to be present physically during happy occasions can make us humans feel bad and helpless. But the helplessness of absence during such trying times is unfathomable till you actually go through it. 

As we all stared at the screen to pray for the departed soul today, all I could internalize was - "nobody should go through this". No family should lose their loved one with such helplessness and despair. There are already insufferable, incurable diseases in this entire world. Let's pray the list doesn't keep getting longer. 

Let's collectively pray for all the families who are left behind to bear the pain and loss. 

Let's hope they get the strength to keep moving.

Let's remember the good times we had with the ones who left us for a better - Covid free world! 

🙏