Vande Bharat Mission 2020 | Covid-19

13^th May – 25^th May 2020

Today, I am going back to India in this pandemic Coronavirus Covid-19 via Vande Bharat Mission. I never thought that a virus generated so far away from me could uproot my life in such a manner. Corona has disturbed my life, my dance company, and my future plans as of now.

No problem! Life is all about the same, Ups and downs…

I applied for the Vande Bharat Mission online a week before and received a call from the UAE embassy saying that I will be booked on the next flight home.

On the day of my flight, I got up at 08:00 Am, took a walk around my home area, and visited the Dubai Creek one last time before I left Dubai. I had my breakfast, meanwhile cross-checked the list of things which I am going take. All my friends came to drop me till the cab and they wished me for a better life ahead in the future.

Dubai’s Cabs are smart and well-featured; drivers are well qualified in traffic rules, as per corona guidelines this cab has divided into two parts from inside with the plastic see-through sheet. But there is one small squire cut to give the instruction to the driver. The cab driver’s name is Mr.Hamza from Pakistan. He was really polite in a way of talking, alert, and focused on his job.

Hamza told me how corona has affected his life as well these days he is getting less number of passengers and not enough to survive himself in Dubai and his family in Pakistan.

Weather is really pleasant today, roads are clean as usual, date’s tree looking so beautiful, meanwhile, I am going through with so many feelings like sad, scared due to corona and how the arrangements in the airport would be during coronavirus, overall I love this morning and I m trying to make myself comfortable to say Bye Bye to DUBAI…

The driver parked the cab in the parking and trying to help me to get off the baggage from the cab and the good thing is he also wished me May Allah Bless You.

NOW… I REACHED THE AIRPORT!

Once I entered the airport… In beginning only one of the officers guide me to the passport & embassy paper counter to get the verification then the second officer told me to sit and wait for a blood test. after five minutes a doctor came and asked me to get the blood sample. After that, she told me to wait for five minutes more, and again another officer came and told me to get the report from the report counter.

That time I got scared, I thought maybe he will say that you cannot go to India and many more …

So many negative feelings came.  But…

Suddenly the doctor look at my face and said Allhumdulilah!

You are fine … and start laughing then he put one sticker (ok to the board) on the top of the passport and wishes me.

Then the baggage counter and then immigration and then finally flight boarding.

Each and everything was so smooth and well organized from the beginning till the end. Many people were there to guide and support. The entire process was completed within 2 hours like a well-oiled machine.

Mr. Karam Jeet Singh and Ms. Sheetal Agarwal were the crewmembers from the Air India flight number 787 aircraft Dreamliner. Once I saw them I thought that I am going to enter some kind of bioweapon laboratory or chemical chamber. Because of their attire (PPE Kite) once I saw their faces they were looking so uncomfortable, but still, they were helping and guiding everyone. So I took one selfie with them. Ms. Sheetal guides me to my place and told me to wait until the next instructions. All the safety precautions were in place on the plane. Luckily I got the window seat and it was so comfortable, spacious along with entertainment screen.

There was one big box of fresh food, two water bottles, two masks, four sanitizer pouch, and a facial plastic shield to protect your face. Crewmember announced that please be seated at your place and do not talk or discuss with anyone, that’s why who are traveling with the family they got the seat with other random people, Not with their family members and avoid to use washroom accept emergency.

Once I reached the Delhi airport the officers guided us to follow the social distance during all the procedures. Officers divide all the passengers into many groups according to state wise and each group has to be a maximum of 20 people. There were people from three states UP, DELHI, and Haryana in the same flight.

My group name was A1. We have to be together during immigration and collecting luggage. Finally, I went for the washroom after 9 hours, once the group reached the luggage collecting area.

At last, we went for temperature checking and the choosing quarantine venue area as per government guidelines. There were three options for the venue like; Free of cost government quarantine center, two-star hotel 2000 per night as quarantine center, and a five-star hotel 5000 per night as quarantine center. Everyone needs to choose one of them from these options only, for the same all of us have signed one confirmation letter at Dubai airport. I have selected a two-star hotel 2000/- for 14 days quarantine period in Ghaziabad. So UP Police officers bring three buses for all of us to take to the respective venue as per the selection of each passenger, according to his wish.

Finally, the Police bus dropped me at the venue around 02:30 am. I just took my room keys from the reception and went to my room to take a bath and a good nap.

Once I woke up in the morning I saw that room was so nice, clean and really big room. I was happy to see this room because I did not expect these room services before since I had seen many videos on Facebook about many people who came from many countries and they had shared horror stories of their experiences.

But now I’m so happy and satisfied, today is the first day of the quarantine period and I got the fresh breakfast this morning then lunch and dinner, in the same manner, all 14 days. Every day was the same.

The only thing that kept me sane was the end goal in mind…reuniting with my family…safe & sound!

Day – 10 | Covid-19 Test!

The receptionist called me and asks me to come down to meet the doctor.

Once I came down to the reception I saw that doctor wearing PPE kite and there is a single chair in the big space in front of reception. And doc ask me to set on the chair so I did, then he ask me to face up and head bend down so I did, and before I think anything about this situation doc took six incises long coronavirus tester equipment put it in my nose.

It was so painful that I could not imagine, after a few seconds he asked me again and then he put that equipment on the other side of the nose. After that he asked me to open my mouth then he put other equipment stick in my mouth. As I told you that this procedure was so painful and it was more then I expect.

After two days I got my report results (Negative).

Today is my biggest festival called Eid-Ul- Fitter and I’m going to meet my family that’s why I’m so happy and excited to meet my son. Mr.Gajender arranged a cab for me from GZB to my home Meerut, and I paid 1400/- for that. Around 09:00 pm I have reached my home and meet my family. Everyone was so happy to see me, even my neighbors.

Especially, I want to say thanks to the quarantine center/hotel’s staff and Mr. Gajender (Officer Quarantine Center) they all are so humble, supportive, and positive people.

May Allah Bless All Of Them…