I first heard of coronavirus when my dad and mum were talking about the danger of the virus and how we had to stay home all the time. I was not as scared of the word ‘corona’ as I was of the changes that this threat was bringing to our life. To me, staying home was a far bigger threat than coronavirus itself.

The first two days at home were okay as we found some activities, but afterwards these activities became boring. I was missing playing outdoor games with my friends, especially my sport favourite football, which needs to be played outside and in teams.

It was the third day of being home when I woke up one morning to hear the charming sounds of birds in the tree outside our home. I went into our balcony and saw a beautiful red bird I had never seen before.

“Where was it in the last so many years?” I asked myself.

“I may not have noticed it,” I replied to myself.

That was the day when Karachi had a little rain after a long time. It was all so strange to me.

Beautiful birds and the rain just after three days of Karachi lockdown!

Isn’t it because of the clean environment, I wondered. I rushed to the computer and searched the pollution index. It was so surprising when I saw the graph. Karachi was now out of the danger zone and its position had gone down among the most polluted cities of the world. The air quality had definitely improved and wasn’t it because of scare of Coronavirus? The people are staying home, not driving cars, spending money on unhygienic food outside and throwing trash on roads, so the environment has definitely become cleaner.

My whole family now is extremely cautious about hygiene. And we try to play indoor sports in our tiny apartment with my brother, mother and father. Unlike three days before the lockdown when everyone was busy in their own lives, we have now started spending time with each other and have plenty of topics to discuss.

When this lockdown will end and we will again be busy in our lives, I wish we will not abandon this routine of caring to not only for each other, but animals also by keeping the environment clean.

Last and the most important thing — during these days of the lockdown, I have noticed a very important person of our family, my mama. I didn’t see her resting like my father and other family members. She is always busy doing household chores and making sure we are all comfortable and happy.

So you know what I do? I have started helping mama in everything she does, even washing dishes, since she has more to do now that the maid is not coming.

I would advise my friends to see the sky tonight and notice how it has become clearer now. You will see many stars that we never saw before.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 11th, 2020