First of all, let me introduce myself. I am an only child from a family which you wouldn’t exactly call poor, because my father works in a really big optic shop. But let me tell you what has happened.

We were living a happy life until a twist in the tale came due to this coronavirus outbreak. People are asked by the government to stay at their homes in order to practice social distancing and to only come out of their homes when they absolutely have to. Schools, offices, shops and markets have been closed, including the place where my father used to work.

That optical (a place where eye glasses are sold) shop is the only place where my father earned his living for himself and his family. So due to the optical store being closed, my father is now at home and we have to conserve the small amount of money and food which wouldn’t even last us two months till the coronavirus outbreak fizzles out and everything goes back to normal.

Personally, I’m very scared at the moment and am just praying that Allah, the Almighty, eliminates this tiny microorganism for good since He is the only One who can do it. Allah created this tiny microorganism which we cannot even see, and it can take our life in no time.

At the moment, I am at home with my mother and father, trying to make the most of my holidays. I have started studying so that this situation doesn’t affect my studies. But I still have plenty of time and I obviously don’t know where to spend it.

Like every other kid, I play video games, my family isn’t that poor. I usually play my favourites, COD: Warzone and FIFA 20. My father says it isn’t healthy playing video games all day, so I play football in the terrace of my house. Still, half of my day is left and in that time, I pray for the betterment of the country.

I am very fond of reading and those who also have the hobby of reading books would know that you can spend hours and hours completely absorbed in a book.

Before the quarantine, when coronavirus infection had came in the country but the schools were still open, my mother helped me and my father safeguard from the virus by making us wear a high quality mask every day, which we had bought a pack of, and gave us gloves and sanitisers to protect and disinfect our hands. And she would also give us hot water with salt for gargling every day after we’d come back home.

Now after I’m done with everything, night time emerges and it’s time to sleep. I wish there was a way to fast forward this dreadful pandemic phase and everyone would be free and happy again, we would have the freedom to get out of our houses and meet our beloved ones. Come to think of it, I don’t think I have met my relatives for more than two weeks now, even the ones who live in the same city.

We are not afraid of anything this much, (except Allah, of course), as we are afraid of this virus. Not even the school heads, and the strictest teacher at school frightened us this much.

If someone like your group of friends or someone else comes to meet you at your home, or asks you to come and eat out together, you should not only stop yourself, but also tell all of your friends that the conditions suggest that it’s not an opportune time for a get-together, as it’s dangerous to socialise and become exposed to novel coronavirus. Right now and for some time in the future, I think everyone should just stay at home and practice social distancing.

So stay safe and also keep the others safe!

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