When rising covid cases in India was hogging all the news space, I had no clue I too would be part of the data. When it happened I had no clue what was in store for me. But after spending 17-days in the hospital, including a week in the ICU, a lot has changed. These are my life lessons.

Share: Your society WhatsApp group, yes the same where people get into lot of useless debates, will be most beneficial. Post your queries and someone will help you. I was in a very difficult situation after 3 family members tested positive as PMC smarties had sealed society. It was another covid +ive who came to my rescue and took me to hospital. Remember बात करने से बात बनती है। So pick up the phone and talk. The disease is such even when people want to help, they cannot. But they have connection oops network. So share with your friends as well.

Lessons: It just might be your lucky day. Mine certainly was (only difference it was night ). Got oxygen bed in a hospital close by. I was hopeful I would be out in couple of days but that was not to be. Learnt many lessons inside the hospital and here they come.

Stay positive: Whatever happens around you, stay focused on your recovery. Follow every single word your doctor says. They know the best. Whatever gyan you may have acquired from whatsapp univ or any such place, just delete it.

Fringe benefit: I had no visitors during my entire stay but I benefited hugely from visitors my ICU bed neighbor had. His two sons would share such positive messages with their father on life support that it rubbed on me. Would I be typing this in their absence? YES. Because I was good kid there. Followed all the instructions to T. Which reminds me of the tea served. It was awesome. Next is food. Day 1 in a shared ward, I did not polish off the dinner served. The senior citizen next to me said very simply – eat properly or you will become weak and recovery will take time.

Eat right: After that, not one meal was seen as what is this. Whatever was served was enjoyed and sometimes asked for a second helping as well (mostly daal). Huge credit to my lovely dear Maa. She made us eat whatever was served. That habit helped me get strength. In addition to hospital food, I had very few other things to eat (except some dryfruits by my amazing family friend ). I also had amazing hospital staff who fed me while I was in the ICU. As a vegetarian every morning I would say no to eggs. One attendant saw this. While feeding dinner, she said eat eggs till you are here and once out take a dip in any of the river and भगवान से माफ़ी माँग लेना। With support like this yeh dil nahin maange kuch aur.

Stay positive: The family friend would visit hospital to get update on my condition.The hospital staff started identifying him as my relative. Isn\’t it amazing. It happens only in India. 
Half the battle is won by staying positive and other half by eating right and following instructions and just listening to right things like pep talks to my neighbor. So were there no dark nights or bad days?

Blinkers: Well there were plenty, specially in ICU, but put on your blinkers and focus on your recovery. That\’s all that matters. Since I also had mobile with me, the family decided to censor all the unfortunate news on family whatsapp groups. I also stopped checking Twitter after situation became very bad outside. Fortunately I had couple of books downloaded but in Kindle cold storage. So brought them to life and read them. Huge thank you to Manish Misra for the recommendation. Better late than never.

Friends indeed: I am forever indebted to Suvasit Sinha who coordinated with a week-old first time father Naeem Shaikh to get my medicines. I cannot describe emotions when I saw Naeem from my bed. He was first and last familiar face I will see for next fortnight. Family n friends came together.

Go back to roots: Pranayam is best. Do the basics regularly. YouTube is flooded. Pick who you like and practice. Same for meditation. Couple of days off oxygen support I was to take a 6 min walk test (hope all know about it now). My levels dropped and so did my hopes of early discharge from hospital.But I started taking 5 min walk 3-4 times a day and it helped when I finally cleared the test and allowed to go home. Start small. 15 mins of pranayam and meditation. Plus some walk. Do what works but Just Do It (No Nike money). 

One day: Take one day at a time. Don\’t worry about when will you go home. As the son told my ICU neighbor, you are here for treatment not to stay here. So just focus on getting better.

Thank you all the amazing doctors, sisters, brothers, support staff, cook who fed us nutritious meals every single day. We as a society may never be able to repay what you have done to save so many lives in various parts of the country. Gratitude forever.

To sum up my learnings:

Stay positive
Don\’t panic
Eat proper
Read positive books
Watch hobby videos