Arpita Bhuvnesh was 26 and died fighting Covid, a disease she contracted while trying to arrange medical help for her father, who was also Covid positive and on a ventilator at the time. Two weeks later, her father too passed away. (1/n)
Arpita and I were classmates. Last night I opened her Facebook where she had begged for plasma for her father a few weeks ago. The latest post is from a well wisher: “Arpita beta how are mom and dad feeling.” A few days later: “Arpita beta how are you doing.” No response. (2/n)
I can’t stop thinking about Arpita. She was only 26, successful, had a great job at Flipkart, and had so much ahead of her. She and her father were so much more than just a statistic in a deadly pandemic. They meant the world to their loved ones. (3/n)
I can’t stop thinking about her family, what her mother and sister are going through. Her sister sent me this message: “I lost half of my family in 15 days!” How do you even begin to process such a loss, let alone cope with it? (4/n)
Arpita's sister sent this too: “Please warn people, they should not take this lightly.” She's right. But Arpita died trying to arrange resources that should’ve been readily available. Make no mistake, the system failed her and her family, just like it failed our country. (5/n)
Please pray that Arpita and her father’s souls rest in peace. Please keep Arpita’s family in your prayers tonight, who are grieving alongside countless others who have lost loved ones. (n/n)