Pandemically Yours...

By Vandana Nagar

The lockdown unlocked

yet another face

of this astounding race.

It surely takes a heart,

a heart so hard as rock,

to do what he did

for his family in need.

Off he went

towards the store

with the least of the lot

this lockdown left for him.

Counting and recounting

the meagre money he had,

If only it did multiply!

His feet went sore,

his face went faint,

throat went dry of thirst

and the mask! Choked him

for the want of breath!

For hours he stood

under the summer sun.

All the while,

all he thought

was, the hunger

howling at his house!

At last, he reached

the swarming store

and happily hurried home.

How he was greeted

with hungry smiles!

The smiles that longed

just for a while…

For they heard the ‘clink’

as he handed the packet

he bought from the store.

To the hungry stares

of his kids,

To the silent snares

of his wife,

Screaming he replied,

“How I longed to

beat the stress!”

By Vandana Nagar