The pressure
cooker could relate to the pressure that 12th graders undergo! “Board
Exams” is something that everyone spoke about for almost all my life. When I
was in my 12th grade, I could feel the gravitas and expectations
that everyone and I had put on myself. I wanted to treat myself once I am done
with “The Board Exams”.
My friend
and I started saving up money to go on an international trip to Bali, in the
month of April 2020. The money that our elders gave during festivals and other
occasions were our main source. We started spending our pocket money in a more
responsible manner; spending a lot of money on eating momos, pizzas and burgers
had to be sacrificed; this was the greatest compromise we did in our lives! As months
passed by, we saved up more money, simultaneously we focused on our studies
too. Finally, it was the time that we all were dreading- “Board Exam Time!”
Around
January 2020, the news about a novel and dangerous virus- COVID-19 was
spreading like wildfire. This virus had taken lives of many. During the month of
March, word of a few cases detected in Bangalore was floating around. However,
we were so stressed about the exams that we did not pay much attention to this
tiny little virus; little did we know that this tiny little virus would change
our entire lives! We had only one exam left! After we clapped and slammed
dishes for 5 minutes at 5pm in our terrace during the ‘Janata Curfew’, we came
home to see the news of our last exams being cancelled and a strict lockdown
being implemented. All international travels were banned, tickets got cancelled
and we were confined to the four walls of our houses for months! Bali beaches
seemed like a far-fetched dream!
My friend
and I were heartbroken. All the money that we saved up and all the crazy
adventures we wanted to have in Bali went down the drain. For days we kept
ranting and cursing this virus, praying to God to make this end as soon as
possible.
Slowly as
days went by, life got difficult; sitting at home became boring and monotonous.
One day, we realized how blessed we were to have a roof over our heads and food
on our plates while there were so many people who had none of these! This is
when we decided to do something for such people. We decided to use the money we
saved up for a noble cause! We donated the money to people who needed it the
most. Holidaying is self-satisfying but helping is heartwarming!
“A little love
and compassion are all you need to make life beautiful!” We were indeed sad
that we could not go on the trip however, the pandemic has taught us that
helping others and the satisfaction that we feel after that is the biggest gift
that we could give ourselves. This was the greatest gift one could ever ask
for- love and compassion towards others!
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