Not All Roaches

Nayan woke up on another dull morning. He could have bet that nothing extraordinary would happen that day. Except when at exact 4:54PM his phone beeped with a custom notification. His heart sank. Impossible! he thought. Nayan could feel losing control of his body. His mind was racing with gazillion questions; how could it be? After all this while?  But in his heart he knew, he always knew. 

He picked up his phone, desperately hoping all this mind work was actually worth it. After a few relentless gasps, he finally got hold of himself. His phone rang again, this time with the only person who could mirror his feelings.

'Did you see it?' 

'Is it true?' 

'I was going to ask you the same!'

'I don't know, what if it isn't?'

'Its from his official account'

'These things can be hacked'

'I know, I know, but the timing is about right, he said till the situation is better'

'The situation has been better for a while now' 

'Still! For what it's worth, do you think we can drive up till the venue?'

'I think we can'

***

Onset of the pandemic.

Rishi Vaid aka Ratzer was riding high on his new record of 100 million YouTube subscribers. He had just become one of the largest YouTubers in the country. He came from nothing, so this was a proud moment for his loved ones.  The celebration was hosted across town at a luxurious villa with swimming pools, free flowing champagne, and unlimited buffet. Later that day, Rishi was informed that his very healthy parents had been admitted to the hospital for some respiratory issues. This itself was enough for Rishi to have a breakdown. 

He somehow managed to collect himself and go to the hospital. The attendants sternly asked him to wear masks at all times. This was bizarre, he thought. Later he got to know, it was COVID19. 

***

Rishi's parents survived but unfortunately the disease unleashed itself on Rishi in a very different manner. All the information and scare led Rishi to believe that COVID19 was unbeatable, that it was in all likelihood, the end of the world. He didn't even meet his parents after they were discharged as he thought their bodies still carry the virus. The fear of the disease infected the deepest corners of his brain. The condition has a name, nosophobia. 

***

Rishi shifted himself to a remote location and started to live all by himself. He was convinced human interaction would be the reason for his death. He did routine calls home, checked up on his content and streaming business. He thrived alone for a while until it struck him, he was alone. So he decided to get a dog. Carefully managed business which involved zero human interaction. In fact, he was adamant not to touch the puppy without rubber gloves for the initial ten days. Things improved, he felt responsible and secure but one day the puppy died. Rishi was driven mad for days, losing all objectivity and focus. The puppy just lay there; lifeless. That day he quit YouTube. 

***

A long time after the end of the pandemic.

Rishi had aged a thousand years, last he checked he was 24. Now, he felt like having served an entire life sentence. He stopped making calls home, home didn't call either. People knew he was fine because there was regular activity(something he managed to make untraceable) from his bank account. Living in forced exile made him crazy. One day he was visited by a cockroach. After a very long time he felt inspired. He quickly grabbed his pen and wrote few verses. 

'Roach hoon mein roach, Koi kar na paya mujhay poach' 

After so many years, he called his manager. Ex-manager was the case but this was just as exciting for the both of them. 

***

Present

Everything has worked out perfectly. Ratzer was making a comeback in an event with his single, Roach, to perform. The teaser had over 1 billion hits in 21 days, fastest for a solo creator. The fanfare was extraordinary. The stage was set. He performed. And for the first time in years, he felt alive. Nayan and his best friend had the time of their lives, they blew their entire savings just to see Ratzer LIVE. They even got backstage passes and got to see him up close. They wanted a picture, they shouted for him. Ratzer went for it. He was on a new high. Just as when someone from the crew was clicking, Nayan coughed. He coughed and didn't bother but Rishi's face went pale, like he had seen a ghost.

'WHY ARE YOU COUGHING?'

'Nothing, it was just cold' 

Rishi grabbed Nayan's collar but realised he was close in contact. He stepped back and was shouting 

HE COUGHED, OH MY GOD, I AM GOING TO DIE

People came towards Rishi but he pushed them away. Don't touch me said, DON'T TOUCH ME! he screamed. There were crowds everywhere, his brain was scrambled, he wasn't looking where he was going and people were telling him to stop, they were telling him to stop moving. Rishi wouldn't listen and just then, he slipped.