It was a cold winter morning. Chills were running through his house in and out like a quiet ghost silently coming and silently going. They crept into his bed. Then woke him up and penetrated his duvet. Surrounded by them, he found himself shrinking like an earthworm. As I lie in bed thinking of what today will bring, I heard loud thunder of clouds. I could hear the tip-tap pit-pat of rain. Elated, he reached for the window besides his bed and unknowingly helped me to get a clear view of what was going outside. I saw rain drops embracing the leaves and sparrows chirping with jubilation. The trees, the flowers, the streets, birds and everything was draped in a new-sprung colour of rain. It was the purest colour in the world. Everything looked fresh, as if God has pressed a refresh button from his computer. I wished, cuddled up, to be in the warmth of quilt for eternity. However, good feelings do not last long, he was getting late for work. I also had my own work to do.
His name was Jack. Jack was a medium build young man in his twenties. He had curly hair and a very peculiar style of walking. He works at some firm where people sit in front of a screen and make discoveries to earn their living. We met a day before, shook hands and became best of buddies. We have been together since then. We were one body two souls. Ironically, he was incognizant of our new-sprung relationship.
I... Shah! How can I forget to introduce myself? I am a virus. People call me swine flu or hog flu. Epidemiologists call me H1N1. I was born in factory farms at Mexico. Although, my dad is a swine and mother is a seasonal flu, I hate people calling me swine flu. You can call me Stub. Avian flu was my maternal uncle. The Trojans, the Cannabis, the Demons are my distant cousins. I have been all around world and had number of human friends from all parts of the globe.
Jack drove to office in his old dilapidated car. It was drizzling and wind was blowing swiftly. It was an extremely picturesque sight. He was first to reach office. Switching on his system, he waited anxiously for people to join in. Everyone joined one by one. Each one had a promising bright smile, resonating the moment they were cherishing. I was not the only one who enjoying the weather. However, I had a premonition that something worse is going to happen. All my fears came true, when his company officials announced that there is a H1N1 virus outbreak in the facility and two people have tested positive. I know, of them one must be the lady whom I broke up with yesterday. She was a pretty lady, who introduced me to Jack, with a cordial hand shake.
Everyone was shocked from the news. Within blink of an eye, their smiles disappeared, like a gazelle when it sees a tiger on prowl. They were concerned of rueful risk that they were exposed to. My friend Jack was tensed too. Fear ran from one corner to another. People were discussing me everywhere. I know they did not like me. My fear has crept into their hearts. I was not enjoying either.
I have a confession to make! People have detested me, since the day I came into existence. They held me responsible of the havoc over which I have no control. For them, I am a villain of some Hindi movie responsible for a dreadful mayhem; however, this is not true. I am a helpless creature and cannot survive without infecting humans. I have no evil intentions. This is how God as a programmer designed me. I am born to mutate. My heart bleeds when people are in pain. I cannot see their sufferings. I infect humans for my living just as humans cut plant and trees; butcher animals and birds. Mortality rate of people infected with me is meagre 0.007 percent to 0.045 percent. Even a seasonal flu causes more deaths then me. And the irony is that WHO has declared me pandemic. The panic triggered by people has only helped the pharmaceutical companies. Fear takes a lot of energy. It makes much more sense to put our efforts into protecting ourselves and our loved ones, and protection is not difficult. Humans should be cautious and not take mild symptoms for a seasonal flu.
It has been a long tough day. Sun has set and moon has taken over from him. Jack returned from work. It was half past nine. He was tired and retired to his cot after an early meal. The day started with a feeling of jubilation and ended with despair. Everything changed except the weather and I. I am the same old stub, looking for a new friend as Jack’s immune system is now giving me a tough time. Sceptical of what the next day has in store for me, my eye's start to grow heavy as I doze off.
Signing off... Stub the Virus
