The Blurb:
On May 13th, 2021, during the peak of the second COVID-19 wave in India, the world as I knew it had suddenly turned upside down. For the next 38 days, I got to experience the treatment given by both government and private hospitals, with 20 of these days spent in a war-room-like COVID ICU. With people dying around me every few hours, I had two options: Go by the famous Sholay line, “jo darr gaya samjho mar gaya” (the one who is afraid is dead), or come up with my own strategy to survive!
My review:
To be honest, I got this book a few months ago, but I couldn’t get myself to open it, wondering what I would find in it. Having had covid twice in a year and losing a lot of friends to it, I was hesitant. But finally this week, something compelled me to start reading.
I had planned to read the book over a few days, maybe a chapter at a time. However, once I started, it was difficult to put down. I read it with a sort of horrified fascination, holding my breath a couple of times in the narrative.
The writing is raw, no holds barred. Rao has spoken of his fears, of bold and difficult decisions which probably saved his life. He speaks of both the dedication of the frontline health workers as well as the lack of facilities that probably led to a lot more deaths.
The story is a fight for survival, not just by the author but by all those who loved him and pushed for him to live. He speaks of the despair, the fear, and the will to fight after seeing so many others give up.
I must say, I was glad to finish the book as it was a roller coaster of emotions and at the end I was fervently thanking the universe, that my family and I had been one of the lucky ones, who recovered quickly.
I have to give it a 5 stars just for the vulnerability and openness that the author has shared.