In 2003, Vipul was diagnosed with dengue. His platelets were dropping at a frightening rate and we had to admit him immediately. He was in the hospital for ten days. Each morning and evening we tracked the slow arduous growth of his platelet count. It was slow but finally he was out of danger and returned home fine.
Our boys were 1 year and the little one was all of 4 months. What both of us missed the most while in the hospital was seeing them. Holding them. Obviously kids aren’t allowed in the hospital so mom and dad got the boys under the hospital and we saw them from the 8th floor window. Little specks of light. Twinkling stars of our galaxy.
Got reminded of that yesterday, when we went to drop groceries to my parents building.
I hadn’t seen them since 16th March. Besides an occasional video call or sharing pictures yes but that’s it.
Yesterday I called them and asked them to come down in their building. We stood outside the gate (7 feet far). They came down and I finally saw them. My dad who isn’t someone who would initiate a hug except for the boys instinctively moved towards the gate to come out. Mom raised her hands to welcome me into an embrace and said “no hug?” And I laughed and said no. All across a locked gate. We checked on them if they were ok and needed anything and that’s it, came back.
We couldn’t even see each others faces(because of the mask). The kiss I blew was filtered through the mask too.
It wasn’t great to see them from such a distance, minus hugging them or kissing them or even being on the same side of the barricade but it was better than nothing. I had to see them. And more so I knew they had to see us.

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