21st March 2020, on my way to Mumbai Airport, I was feeling very nervous. I had not been able to sleep and eat properly for the last 3 days. The tension was high those days, because of the rumors of Covid-19, Public curfew was announced, and I had to travel by Air. I purchased masks and sanitizers 2 days back to take precautions during travel.
Finally, there was no delay and I left home at 4am. The plane took off from Mumbai at 6:25 am. I landed at Kolkata Airport at approx 8:30am. The scene over there was pretty scary, the crowd was less. Most of the passengers wore masks. Others were just staring at people who wore masks. Since I had to just to collect Eashan at Kolkata airport, I wasn’t carrying any luggage. But I had to wait for him till 4 pm in the evening.
On 18th March I had received the news that the camp is being terminated due to Government guidelines and children coming from the vicinity of Aizwal had started leaving the camp. Eashan was the only child coming from Maharashtra. Since the last day of the camp was on 25th I had booked my tickets on 22nd to reach Mizoram. Now the scenario was such that Eashan would have to wait over there till I reach. I never left him alone since his birth other than Goa tournament where I was present in another hotel. He was more than 2000kms away from me at Aizwal.
I tried every possible thing to reschedule my tickets in order to collect him. I kept calling the Airlines continuously, but their phone lines came busy, maybe because most of the passengers like me, might be calling up to reschedule their flights. I tried for 2 days. Finally, I gave up rescheduling and booked new tickets.
Those 8 hours of waiting at Kolkata airport were the toughest hours of my life. I felt restless and had just a cup of coffee during those 8 hours. I just kept walking almost 12-15 km between the passage of domestic transfer.
In the afternoon when I came to know that Eashan had boarded a flight from Aizawl, that was the moment when I felt a little relaxed and had a cup coffee. There was a little relief to my nervousness. Now I just had to wait till the flight lands at Kolkata Airport. I was fortunate to have few good friends at Tata Trust who informed me to take away Eashan soon before the Janta Curfew. They suggested me to prepone my air travel. They arranged Eashan’s travel from the camp to Aizawl Airport and helped him to board the flight.
Eashan landed Kolkata at approximately 4pm. It was a great feeling to see him which could not be described in words. Then we had to wait for another 3 hrs to catch our flight for Mumbai. And I didn’t even realize how that time passed in the company of Eashan. We drank another HattiKaapi and discussed airport operations.
Finally, we landed at the Mumbai airport. Again the scene was terrifying, saddening. My brother Sanjay was there to pick us. We reached home. Had a hot water bath. I had 2 dry vodka shots, to sum up, the day. Next day we celebrated it creating noise as requested… Didn’t sleep with kids for the next 14 days… AC was not working in that room but I was okay… managed self quarantined days…
Thank you Malsawma Renthlei. Biswanath, Colm Joseph Toal, and the entire Tata Trust Centre of Excellence for Football team. I am truly grateful to you guys. I am able to make these lockdown memories along with my kids, only because of you. I was very much sure after I reach home, there would be togetherness during the lockdown. And that came true, and I have captured all that in the past 4 months.
#footballl #soccer Indianfootball
– Ajay Sartape
thanks, very interesting 🙂