To keep d’ kid, out of her visual field

Father gripped her hand,

hurriedly hauled d' kid out of d' area

then lifted her to his chest,

the three-year-old,

weeping, sobbing, struggling

to free herself, tried her best

Unwilling to leave d' scene,

wants nothing, only to go to her mother,

mother heeded from few meters

from d' balcony of d' hotel's first floor

Being a staff nurse,

got  COVID duty in d' red zone

her freedom curtailed,

in off-hours even, can't go home,

Has to stay in isolation

away from the family members

to avert d' risk to pass on d' infection

Abide by the regulations,

as stated in medical ethics

must follow routine protocols,

like other nurses, doctors, paramedics

From a distance it was audible,

mama, mama… she mumbled

noticed d' child's restlessness

with sweet talks,

no scope to give solace

She was incapacitated, nonplus,

saw d' child after a week and sobbed

stood like a lifeless sculpture,

eyes flooded with tear

Father too in an awkward position,

can't discern his role in d' situation

powerless, clueless

unable to allow their union

Interim split-up from d' only child,

made her quite restless

has to spot d' affected in d' society,

and save d' life of Corona patients

Exposed to d' virulent virus,

making own life vulnerable

maybe a doctor, nurse, safaiwala,

pressman or a police constable

D' noble job, goes uncared for

and rather on return,

few behave in a freaky manner

pelt stones at police, spit on doctors

hinder d' service, ill-behaved sisters,

on d' road throw urine bottles

it's all inhuman and absurd

Intend to spread d' pandemic

in this country, like wildfire

why this erratic attitude

no one is aware

She screamed from d' balcony,

from d' other side of d' road

signaled her husband with a finger,

her voice feeble and muffled

"Forthwith take d' kid home,

it's no right place for her

even if parted for a year,

I just don't care"

Her heart got torn into pieces,

can't hug, can't love, can't caress

forced to hold back d' urge,

in such cruel circumstances

Can't lift her to her lap and kiss

can't even ask her," how is she,

taken food or feeling hungry?

how stayed so long all alone,

without her mother

now also she behaves naughty,

and annoying her father?

Tear poured out from eyes in silence,

to bless her from far, d' only option

saw her husband and child

gingerly vanished in oblivion

Absence of mother for so long,

no child on earth can bear

she cried her heart out, and

bent upon to go to her mother

Father faltered to decide,

if to take d' child to d' hotel,

but a glance of her mother,

if can console her, not able to tell

Father and daughter got dressed up

in front of d' mirror

put on homemade masks

vowed to keep a gap with others

Reached d' hotel, mom's rest place,

d' receptionist told them to wait

on d' other side of d' road

d' lounge is shut for visitors

In a wink able to see her mother,

waving her hand

from 1st-floor balcony's front end

Mom- daughter faced each other,

for a brief emotive period

a tear trickled down nonstop

from the eyes of both

A wish bloomed in her

to instantly rush, cross d' road

nothing less is acceptable

than to tightly grab her mother

Mom sobbed and sobbed,

stood like a concrete pillar

utterly motionless

since nursing d' corona patients

to embrace her dear kid,

her hands are restrained

patience crossing limits

So hurting a detachment,

she stood upright, rigid,

but crumbled down from inside

yet signaled her husband,

to keep d' kid

out of her visual field