Covid Era – those were strange times, unlike anything we had ever experienced. Everything that was normal – meeting people, having guests, going for outings, shopping – suddenly became scary. The thought of meeting or talking to someone outside felt unfathomable.
And there I was, inside our apartment with two kiddos, just trying to get by. My family — my siblings, in-laws, even my husband — were all worried about me. They kept wondering how I was managing everything and felt helpless that they couldn’t be there to support me.
But I didn’t have the space or luxury to be scared. My only focus was my kids — how to keep them, and myself, safe.
They say mothers find the strength to face anything when it comes to their children. I think that’s true. I somehow found the courage to walk through that dark and uncertain period, one step, one day at a time.
Buying groceries, vegetables, sanitising them — that became part of our daily rhythm. Cleaning home, cooking, playing with Adi and taking care of the kids became my priority.
In the middle of all that, I even learnt to bake breads through an online course. What a joy it was to learn something new, and get it right in my very first attempts!
Schooling had shifted completely online, so my daughter was busy with classes until 3–4 pm every day. And all Adi wanted was to play with her. He would lie down in front of her closed room door, calling out to her, trying in every way possible to get her attention.
To keep him busy while I finished my chores, I started playing music on YouTube. Out of everything, he grew fond of two Assamese songs and two very quirky, funny English ones. Those four songs became my savior — playing in a loop, filling our home with his happy giggles and bounces.
Looking back now, I realise that even in the scariest of times, joy found a way to sneak in — in the form of bread rising in the oven, music playing in the background, and Adi’s laughter echoing through the walls. Those little pockets of happiness are what kept me going.
Those simple, happy moments are the ones I’ll hold on to for life.