It was on 30th April 2009, a 39 year old Mexican woman became the first victim of this, now a global pandemic disease, called swine flu. And honestly speaking, i never heard of this particular disease name, swine flu before that. And i was wondering at how the whole world, including US, had reacted to this disease when it erupted like a sleeping volcano out of nowhere. And i couldn't imagine how deadly and monstrous this could be at that point in time. From newspaper reports or media reports, it seemed like as though some kind of monstrous alien had invaded the whole earth, like we do see sometime in the sci-fi movie. To me it was no more than watching an alien movie at that time. I couldn't get to imagine at the core of the gravity that the Mexicans and Americans were feeling at that point in time.
Now only when it comes striking one by one right here in Mumbai in particular, and in different parts of india at large, i suddenly realized it's not a joke anymore or an alien movie. It's real... really real. Right now it's walking on the streets of mumbai, nook and corners, lanes and by lanes like an invisible monster. Anyone can be next... anytime.
The other day, while i was on my way to work, i was caught by surprise to see almost all people wearing masks at railway station. My God!! And i was not wearing mask. But i realized at that point the gravity of the situation at hand. And i also came to the conclusion that all people don't want to die at any cost.
When the train came... if you've ever traveled in a mumbai local train, u will know what i am talking about... it came overpacked with crowds. When i saw the crowds with masks in the train, i wondered if that invisible monster were onboard the train somewhere inside the compartment. The good thing for me was that i had to travel only one station but then i could take no chance. Even in that one station distance, i knew it could strike me down anyhow if it was onboard the train with me. So out of fear, i pulled out my handkerchief out of my pocket and covered my face. And i wondered if the commuters in the compartment had the same feeling... fear of death... fear of being struck by an invisible monster called swine flu.
And i felt it took much longer time than the usual 3 minutes it takes to reach my destination station.
And when i got down from the train, i sighed a huge relief. I wondered if that invisible monster were onboard the compartment that i was in.
