One day, I learned more about Radha from one of my shop workers. She lived in a working women's hostel and worked as a nurse in a government hospital. What struck me deeply was that she was an orphan, yet she spent her time and money buying sweets from my shop to distribute to the children at a nearby Mother Teresa orphanage. Learning about Radha's kindness and compassion moved me to tears. It made me realize the challenges she had faced and how selfless she was despite her own hardships.

Filled with admiration and love for Radha, I decided to take a chance. On the day I discovered it was her birthday, I gathered all my courage. When she visited my shop, dressed in a yellow saree with a long braid, I seized the moment. With a bouquet of flowers and a box of specially made sweets, I poured my heart out and proposed to her. The moment hung in the air, each second feeling like an eternity of uncertainty. Finally, she agreed, and my heart soared with joy.

With Radha's acceptance, my happiness knew no bounds. I celebrated by sharing sweets with my customers for free and giving bonuses to my staff. I couldn't contain my excitement and immediately called my family in Rajasthan to share the good news. Though they were initially hesitant, they eventually gave their blessings for our marriage, adding to my happiness and sense of fulfillment.

On February 25th, 2020, while tending to customers in my sweet shop, I overheard a conversation about a new virus called Coronavirus. Apparently, it was causing deaths in China and spreading rapidly across the world. Initially, I didn't pay much heed to it, focusing instead on my work. However, within just 15 days, everything changed drastically. The government announced a partial lockdown, and the situation became more serious. Fearing tougher times ahead, our staff expressed a desire to return to Rajasthan. Understanding their concerns, I arranged for them to board a train to Jaisalmer.

With the shop closed due to the lockdown, I found myself at home, grappling with boredom. The once bustling streets were now eerily quiet, with many businesses shuttered. Meanwhile, my wife, Radha, was fully occupied with her duties at the hospital, attending to emergency cases amidst the growing concern over the virus. Our lives had suddenly been upended by this unforeseen crisis, and we were both adjusting to the new normal.

As the days dragged on, the monotony of staying at home weighed heavily on me. I missed the lively atmosphere of my shop and the interactions with customers. However, I knew that staying indoors was crucial to curb the spread of the virus, so I tried to make the most of the situation.

While I found solace in spending time with Radha whenever she was home from her shifts at the hospital, I couldn't shake off the sense of restlessness that lingered within me. Despite the challenges we faced, we supported each other, finding strength in our bond as a couple.

As the world grappled with the pandemic, uncertainty loomed over the future. Yet, amidst the chaos and upheaval, I held onto hope, knowing that together, we would weather the storm and emerge stronger on the other side.

P.S: This story was dedicated to one of my reader Maheshwari who requested me to write a story about role reversal. Please do not share this story on other social media platforms without seeking my permission. All rights reserved to Meghana Dixit.