“COVID-19 Quarantine time-pass”.
When we shifted from Singapore to New Delhi, we had to undergo mandatory quarantine.
Had carried two leftover onions from my Singapore kitchen. They tempted me to tell this tale! And I played with it :-).
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‘Kanda’ and ‘Manda’ were born in the land of bravery and valour, known as “Maharashtra”.
When, Mahadu, the farmer, plucked them out from the ground, he immediately sensed that they were unusual.
Don’t go by appearance, they were looking just like any other onion born in the region, dark pinkish transparent skin and of medium size. But deep inside they were different. kanda and Manda had spirit or will to be different, to follow their heart, their dreams!
That year Mahadu was very happy as the monsoon was just perfect for crops. And there was more than expected produce of onion.
One sunny afternoon while having his lunch under the tree, Mahadu told his wife, “ I am going to sell extra produce to the middleman, kantilal. He will give us good cash. We might be able to save some money to repair our house and if god wills, for our kids better education too!
While Mahadu and his wife were discussing future plans, kanda and Manda heard that. They too started to discuss their future plans. They started dreaming of getting exported !
The onions around them started laughing at them, they even started scaring them. “They keep us in the cold storage so we can last longer. It will be too cold to bear, in the storage.”....”You will have to be in the airplane, you might die if it gets crash.”.......”You will be with other type of onions in the market. People might not appreciate you there in another land.”....And what not!
But, Our friends, kanda and Manda were wise while choosing their company ! They decided to keep a safe distance from the onions who were pulling them back. They knew, they need to follow their heart. And their heart was telling them to venture. They started planning. Manda knew they need to take precautions. And Kanda knew they shall have patience.
After the lunch, Mahadu and his wife started keeping surplus onion in the shade that was outside their house.
Most of the onions got shaken with the thought of leaving their comfort zone, the thought of going in another land. They started hiding down so their chance won’t come. And our adventurous duo started pushing themselves up so they can go in the bags which were destined to get export. It was easy for them to do so.
Mahadu, made a point to keep the onions in a best possible way so kantilal will be happy to see such a fine quality produce.
Next day, early morning, after breakfast Mahadu set out to meet kantilal, the middleman in the town nearby.
When Mahadu met kantilal it was easy to convince him to see the produce himself. Since Mahadu had the sample of onions, our friends kanda and Manda, with him.
On the same afternoon they came back to Mahadu’s village and fixed the deal. Mahadu got his cash immediately and the middleman took the onions bags in his lorry to his town. This all happened so fast, that our friends even didn’t get a chance to say proper goodbye to their fellow onions.
Kanda and Manda were very excited and a bit of anxious too , Having two feelings at a time type!
Their lorry journey was good one. It was a cozy feeling to be around with the onions who were going through the same feelings.
Once kantilal reached the town, he asked his assistants to arrange the onion bags in his godown with at at most care and safety.
And he headed straight away to call his brother who has earlier sent his produce abroad and have known people who could help out. Since this was a matter of fresh produce there was no point in wasting time.
Kantilal’s brother took immediate action and got the information that after five days there is a cargo flight to Singapore which is in need of few more bags of fresh produce.
Singapore is an island, which has to depend on other countries for imports of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Not just this but these were those times when Covid 19, had caused havoc all over the world. The corona virus was spreading its wings and humans were unable to stop its menace.
There was scarcity of onions in Singapore market. This was all happening like pieces of puzzle coming together to fulfil the dream of our onion friends.
Without further delay, the bags were send to the state capital, Mumbai by train.
It was too much of a travel. Kanda and Manda started feeling exhausted with the speed of the city life. Thoughts of quite, simple life of village started giving nostalgia to them. But then, they had dreams too! Their heart was still tuned to their dream.
Train journey was certainly not easy. They were thrown from one place to another. They started missing the love and care of Mahadu and his wife.
Here on railway station, they were just a commodity. Their body and mind were tired and as the train started taking its pace kanda and Manda dozed off.
As the sun came out, the train stopped at Mumbai station. People from international air cargo were there to receive them.
“It feels better when the dark night has gone and a fresh new day light is around.” Said Manda to kanda.
“Yes, finally that movement and noise has stopped. I too feel better”. Said kanda.
The onion bags were moved in the air cargo flight along with the other fresh food supplies.
“It feels great”
“yeah! finally we are flying”.
They shared their excitement with each other.
For both of them, it was quite a memorable experience to be in the airplane.
While the flight was landing rapidly on the Singapore airport, all the bags collapsed on each other. Our friends were holding each other tightly. This was going on for few minutes and then it slowed down and stopped finally.
They were on one of the world’s best airport, Changi airport. They got such a caring treatment that Manda and kanda felt relieved.
Soon after they were moved to a supermarket chain named Fairprice. And they were immediately placed in the onion section with other onions from China.
Those Chinese onions were different. They were really big and round, with orange pinkish skin.
Sitting nicely besides our friends, they started talking with them. They shared their story.
Chinese onions were from South China region. These onions were speaking the same language, onionish! Not Hindi nor Chinese, as you might think of 😀
Chinese onions started telling the terrible stories of panic buying, shortage of food supply and empty shelves in Singapore in the covid-19 times.
“Hmm... that’s the reason we were asked to come to Singapore!” thought Kanda to himself.
Our friends were sitting scarily at one of the corner of the shelf. They were feeling homesick for a while.
“Where we will end up? We didn’t wish for this! What a destiny! Did we make a mistake of choosing this path? “
And suddenly they heard familiar language.
“Kande pan ghyaychet” ( Need to buy onions too).. Someone from their land was around.
They both started jumping with joy. They again pushed themselves up and came in front of the arranged onion bags.
Onions around started thinking, “ what on earth wrong with these guys, why are they so much pushy, are they crazy or what? “
The lady who spoke in familiar language came close. And she picked up the onion bag. Kanda and Manda were overjoyed.
“At least we will end up being used for ‘kanda pohe’! “
The dream of doing something different seemed like being ended up in kanda pohe in another country !
“After all what fate onion can have!” Muttered kanda to himself.
“At least we are in comfort zone” said Manda.
Hurriedly they sat in the basket and landed in the house of the lady. They were placed in the three storied rack with potatoes and garlic. Onions were at the bottom.
They always have a special place in Indian kitchens. Rather, Indian kitchen can’t work without them! A pillar, foundation stone.
They again had mixed feeling. It was sure, the dream of doing something unique was going to be a “dream” only.
So the disappointment was there but at the same time they felt relief of ending up where there roots were, in a familiar surroundings!
The next morning Manda heard some hustle and bustle in the house. She overheard the conversation.
“The people in the house were moving back to India in next week.”
She shared the news with kanda. Kanda couldn’t believe his ears.
They were overjoyed. They thought we can fly back to our motherland again. We can share our singapore story with our onion friends.
They both made a plan again. They placed themselves at the bottom of the onion bag. So that in remaining week they won’t get a chance to sacrifice themselves.
Their willpower seemed really strong. The day of movement come. There were only two onions left in the onion bag, need not to tell, they were Kanda and Manda.
Happily again they accompanied the moving family from Singapore to India.
They were all set to fly once again. In a worried tone, Kanda asked Kunda, “Shall we also wear a mask, face shield and gloves?, “what if we get coronavirus?”.
“ Don’t worry my dear! this horrific virus affects only animals and humans.” Explained Kunda.
They were finally sitting quietly in the food bag. Due to the coronavirus situation they too had to undergo quarantine with the family.
They landed in the five star hotel Taj! They were amazed to see the posh ambiance n decorations around.
“How lucky we are! We got to experience this all!”
There was feeling of gratitude in their eyes. The quarantine was of fourteen days. They were watching the life of quarantined family from the Tv table,where they were placed.
“Where and how we will end up?” “Will this family use us or will they throw us in a trash once we get sprouts?”. Manda questioned kanda.
They started praying for the fulfilment of their dream. The prayer was nothing but gathering of hope and positive energy.
As the days pass by, quarantine too got finished. The family moved back to their new home.
Since Kanda and Manda were with the family for such a long time, they too in a way became part of the family.
The family decided to plant them in the ground to start a new breed of onions, who sailed from the land of valour to the land of dreams!
The onions who dared to believe on their dream The onions who fulfilled their dream! A new breed of these risk takers is in blossom now.
🧅 🧅
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