6th of April, 2020;
As usual I turned on the mobile data early in the morning without even getting up from the bed. Then the message popped up in the STAYING BACK GROUP of the students in the WhatsApp group. Most probably because the discussion would irritate those friends who have already flown back to Bhutan, the ex-president created a separate group for those students who remained back in Sri Lanka.
“If in case, the Bhutan is willing to send us a charted flight once again, who all are willing to go? Are you all going?”, Hridaya, ex-president of Bhutanese Students Association in Peradeniya has sent a message in the group.
The First batch of friends, a total of 93 students from Sri Lanka had already returned to Bhutan a week ago in the first ever chartered flight from Bhutan to Sri Lanka by the students’ parents. Ever wondered why such a huge group of students are returning to Bhutan? COVID-19, a well known pandemic, has been affecting millions and killing thousands of people around the world and everyone is in danger. The world is in lockdown aiming to prevent spread of COVID-19 by quarantine and social distancing.
I have never doubted the health care system of Sri Lanka and remained firm with an idea that the country would fight against the infection easily. I was with the mindset that COVID-19 cases would not spike in Sri Lanka. Having the trust and Faith in the health system, I have strongly decided not to head back to Bhutan in this critical time.
I have almost forgotten that a huge group of friends from five universities had already returned to the home country until I saw that Message from Hridaya early in the morning. Since I was stubborn with my own decision, it made me to think about why is she starting it for the second time.
Dorji, Chimi, Kuenga and Lhap know that I would not agree to the decision because just a week ago, whatever messages popped up, I was the one responding ‘I am not going’. These friends have also decided to stay back in Lanka no matter what. It was not a bad idea to stay back as there were many friends decided to stay back. I was firm in my decision.
However, there were some friends who desperately wanted to return but could not catch the first chartered flight. Indeed, they created the second wave of discussion. Frustration boiled within me.
Even though the COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka is gradually rising, I didn’t think of agreeing to the decision. I didn’t respond to the message yet. My friends also didn’t respond to the suggestion as well.
Later that afternoon, another message appeared in the group. “Hello, those who are going, please, add on the list’’, it was from Hridaya.
‘1. Lhachey Dema, 2. Dawa Zangmo’, the list starts with these two friends. We just have to add on the list if we are willing to return to Bhutan. The WhatsApp group remained active the whole day. The lists are increasing gradually. Nine of the friends have decided to fly back home.
Dorji, who is my roommate for few years, has decided to stay back. Kuenga and Chimi would never decide. Lhap will be soon doing his internship in Colombo. On top of that, Pelzom, Kinley and Khado are not on the list. They are going to stay back.
I was doing my regular workouts when I got a call from Somnath, a friend from Ragama Medical Faculty. He wanted to tell me that everyone in his faculty is going home, Bhutan. He wanted me to join them, explaining all the disadvantages of staying back and advantages of going home. I didn’t say anything to him.
Neither the group discussion nor the friend’s call changed my mind to stay.
In the night that followed, I thought thousand times why I should stay back and thousand times why I should return to Bhutan.
Until that night, I was thinking that staying in Sri Lanka has more advantages. I thought Bhutan government has to spend so much if I return to Bhutan and be in quarantine for 21 days. Sri Lanka has better management of any health condition, even if COVID 19 targets me I will be alright in Sri Lanka. I also could not imagine being locked in a room for 21 days in Bhutan.
I didn’t have a single thought that it would be safe in Bhutan in the time of global crisis. Lockdown was started a week ago and it’s difficult to get the basic requirements. It took few days just to get our orders even if there is online shopping and delivery service.
I was scared of one thing at that time. If I stay back and COVID-19 cases happen to worsen, what will happen to me? There won’t be another flight to take us. By the end of the group discussion, only few friends are surely not returning home, rest have decided to return. Even if the flight comes for the third time, it will be a heavy duty for the government and the parents, so better to go this time.
Another worry in my mind, I believe that my immune system is so weak and I can catch the infection too easily. My friends who are remaining back are strong enough to face and fight the combat while I believe I am not. I was scared that my corneal ulcer would be reactivated if I fall sick with COVID-19. I have HSV dendritic ulcers for so long which keeps on threatening me most of the time.
It’s been almost three years I haven’t been to Bhutan. I haven’t met with my family since 2017.
Considering all, it’s never too late to decide, I dropped a personal message to Hridaya, “I want to go, can you put me in the list”.
“Are you sure, Acho?”, Hridaya replied as if she didn’t believe me saying that.
“Yes, I hope you won’t mind it”
And it was done.
Soon I found myself in another group which comprises of all the students from all five universities willing to return home. This time, it’s a messenger group. Felt like I was in a new world in the little group.
It was not too easy to decide on coming to Bhutan but finally I took the majority. I didn’t want to be the fish out of a pond and wanted to act like a Roman while in Rome.
Thank you and follow me…
©️Tshering Dendup
