A COVID STORY

 

A COVID STORY

Covid came unannounced. Lock Down confined people to their residences. You were punished if you had ventured out. There were arrests. Beatings by the law enforcers. And stiff fines.

Those who had permanent jobs had nothing to lose. Their salaries were promptly credited to their accounts.

Others had it tough. Daily wage earners had their source of income dry up. Shops that sold essential supplies were permitted to operate within a limited time frame. Those who failed to shutter their shops in the given time were either beaten up or were showered with the choicest expletives the enforcers threw at them with gusto. Small time entrepreneurs had no other go but to close down their ventures.

Manoj had a Workshop where he had employed seven workers. He was repairing all kinds vehicles that plied on the roads.

Well, Manoj had to retrench all his employees. He was sitting the hard times out at home.

One day a Civil Police Officer came to his house on a motor cycle. The Police had a broken down Vehicle at the local Police Station that had restricted the mobility of the Police. Manoj  was ordered to reach the Police Station at once and repair the Vehicle.

Manoj rode to the Police Station on his own  motor cycle along with the Civil Police Officer. Fortunately he could repair the vehicle in quick time. The Police paid him his charges for the work.

Manoj was happy he had some money in pocket after quite a long time. He thought he could pick up essential supplies for his people at home. 

As Manoj was riding back to his place the Police from another Police Station stopped him on the road. He was accused of breaking the law by venturing out during Covid times. 

He was fined Rs..2000.00 for the cardinal offence. He explained to the Officer that he was requisitioned by the local Police to repair their vehicle. The Officer did not relent.

Cornered, Manoj rang up the Civil Police Officer and appraised him of the predicament.

The response was in Malayalam, “Avaru fine adichathalle, nee athu kodutheru”. Roughly translated into English, the universal language, it would be, “As they have charged you with the fine, you better pay it up.”

Manoj paid the fine and rode home minus the essentials his wife badly needed.