Stranded in Italy, why a Kerala MLA's wife chose not to take evacuation flight

Covid-19 had killed as many as 368 Italians on the day we talked earlier this week. The last flight to India had taken off from Milan a day before. Shafaq Kasim, a PhD student in the University of Camerino, Italy, was all alone in her apartment. Both her apartment mates had left the campus. “I feel so lonely. More than fear of the virus, it is this loneliness that is affecting me,'' she told THE WEEK over phone.

Shafaq, a native of Balrampur, UP, is the wife of Muhammed Muhassin, the youngest MLA in the Kerala Assembly. Belonging to the CPI, he represents Pattambi constituency.

“Life has come to a standstill. There are no shops, restaurants. Roads are vacant. People are scared even to open windows. It is so eerie,” she said. Shafaq reached Italy in 2018 to pursue her PhD in Material Physics.

“Life was all good till this month. Even when Covid-19 was spreading in the rest of the world, Italy did not expect this turn of events,'' she said. “Now the Italian government is doing everything possible to arrest the spread of Covid-19. But if they had acted a few weeks back, the situation would not have come to this,'' she said.

Shafaq stays in an on-campus apartment which she shares with two other students. Now she is all alone as both—an Italian and an Indian—have left the campus after Covid-19 broke out in Italy.

Italy, the country most affected by the coronavirus outside China, reported a further 475 deaths from Covid-19 on Wednesday, with the death toll approaching 3,000. In an attempt to contain the outbreak, the Italian government imposed a lockdown on March 10.

Apart from loneliness, Shafaq has newer issues to worry. “I had stocked food items for two weeks. Now it has started depleting. I will have to go to the market soon. Wonder how many shops will be open then,'' she said. Even if one reaches the store, not more than three people will be allowed inside at a time. Also, one has to maintain one and a half metre distance from each other even in a queue. Then there is also the issue of prices shooting up for all commodities,” she said.

Even in the midst of panic, there are others who are nonchalant about the situation. Shafaq said: “While most of the people are very careful about the spread of Covid-19 , there are some who are least bothered. They roam around in groups as if nothing has happened. They can spread the virus easily,” she said.

Had she never thought of leaving Italy as Covid-19 started spreading? “Muhassin had been asking me to come back to India ever since the first case was reported in Kerala. But I did not want to go on leave as I had returned from India in January only. Asking for leave the very next month did not look like good idea to me then. Also, this is my last year of the PhD. So lot of work need to be finished. So I decided to stay put despite his calls everyday urging me to come back to India. Now I regret my decision,'' she said.

Talking to THE WEEK, Muhassin said that Kerala's tryst with Covid-19 made him realise the threat involved. The state had reported the first three Covid-19 cases in the country. “Witnessing the whole issue surrounding it and the way the state government tackled the threat had been a great lesson for all us,” he said.

Shafaq, despite the helplessness and the loneliness, said she belongs to the privileged lot. “Those who are getting fellowship are privileged lot. There are many Indian students who work part-time to earn their living. They all are suffering now and I am worried about them. There is no way of meeting them either,'' she said.

According to her, governments asking for health certificate has dashed many people's hopes of returning home. “All the hospitals in Italy are flooded with Covid-19 patients. Doctors do not want anybody else to come near the hospitals. So it is almost impossible for an able person to get a health certificate at this juncture,'' she said. Many, including Indians, are hence stuck in Italy.

Shafaq said she has no regrets in not opting to take the special flight India had arranged from Milan earlier. “There were already many people waiting in Milan airport for that flight. They were desperately waiting there for days to go back to India. So we decided that it was wrong to jump the line just because I am the wife of an MLA,” said Shafaq. “Though I do feel frustrated at times, I have no regrets about the decision.”

Her only complaint is that Muhassin does not take all her phone calls. “He is always with people. Even now,'' she said. “She calls me up at least 15 times a day. I know she is all alone there but I will be in some meeting or public function and may not be able to take the call. This upsets her. I understand her plight. But what to do...,'' said Muhassin.

This exactly is Shafaq's worry. “I know he is a public servant. But does he have to be in the midst of crowds all the time? Please tell Muhassin to stay at home till this fear of coronavirus is gone,'' she pleaded, adding that she was more worried about him than her health or safety.

The duo had met when Muhassin was pursuing his PhD in JNU and Shafaq his M Phil in Jamia Milia. They got married in 2018 after years of courtship. “She is a very strong girl. We will survive this together,'' said Muhassin.

Staying in a country which is one of the most affected, Shafaq does have a piece of advice to all. “Please do not take this virus lightly. If one's immunity is strong, one may not show any symptoms. But he or she can pass it on to others who have weaker immune systems. So for the sake of others, please avoid all social gatherings,'' Shafaq said.

“This too shall pass. But till then, we all have to be very careful,'' she added.