Quarantine is a quality time

‘Oh no! it’s just a third day at home and I am already exhausted with boredom all around’, said Usama
aggressively. Like every other kid Usama also has some plans for the vacations but due to the Corona Virus,
these early ‘Quarantine vacations’ are unable to comprehend by Usama. He was so furious to go out and play
cricket but couldn’t step out. For last two days he was continuously playing games and passing time on
Facebook but now he got so bored that he just wanted to go out and breathe some fresh air. The thoughts of
quarantine agitated him.
He was blabbering anxiously meanwhile he glanced to the half open door of his Granny’s room. ‘Oh wait! I go
to school, I play outside, I use internet that’s why I couldn’t manage to stay at home like this, but how could
Granny be so calm and relax because she used to sit outside and talked with the neighbors for hours. Let me
ask her how she is spending quarantine?’
Granny, who was already busy in making crochet mats for dining table and was not expecting Usama at this
time, got a bit afraid. ‘Usama!! You sacred me’, said Granny while laughing and picking her crochet needle. ‘I
will pick it for you’, said Usama while assisting his Granny. ‘I just came here to see how are you spending your
time in quarantine, don’t you get bored?’ asked Usama with his eyes widely open.
‘Do am I look like a bore person to you?’ asked Granny while she was laughing on his childish question. ‘My
child Usama, today I tell you a secret. This quarantine is basically a quality time and the person who has rich
qualities can spend a quality time. A useless, work-shy person always feels imprisoned because he is not
willing to move. Go to the kitchen, help your Mama, do some exercise, pray, read books, find out some
general knowledge quiz on your phone. You will find a greater yourself after this quarantine. Go my child and
explore yourself because the mental panic is more dangerous than any virus’.
While being with his Granny Usama felt a bit better but still he was too lazy enough to try something to kill his
boredom. He switched on the T.V but the dramatic news reporter and their exasperating news reading style
was increasing his boredom level to the top. Suddenly his eyes caught something flashing on the news ticker,
it was message from Prime Minister to help the daily wagers by sending funds to the provided account
number. Usama rushed to his Granny again. ‘Granny! What about Salma aunty, our maid she is not coming,
isn’t it?’ asked Usama breathlessly. ‘Yes she has not been coming since the pandemic outbreak, but what
happened?’ said Granny with shaky voice. ‘Oh! So how could her family have managed all these daily expenses
during this pandemic?’ Usama showed his concerns for the maid. ‘You don’t worry my kindhearted child, we
already paid her advance two months’ salary and your Mama sent some grocery items too’, Granny tried to
make him calm. ‘But I want to send some donations though I have very little money, I want to help, I want to
do something that makes me feel happy in quarantine’ Usama said in low sad voice.
‘My sweet little boy, that’s truly so kind of you’, said Granny while holding Usama’s hand. ‘You have already
earned a great reward from God with these kind feelings you have, you must ask your daddy for donations,
may be that would calm your disturb little heart’. Now Usama rushed to his father’s room to quench his thirst
for killing boredom by helping others for spending a quality time.
New words: blabbering, pandemic, anxious, exasperating
1. Write down your own definition of quarantine?

Quarantine for me is spending time with a family that is usually busy with their offices, schools and
social activities in their personal space. Now we can spend more time together as a family.

2. Why was Usama Aggressive? If you were Usama how would you behave and why?

Usama behaved exactly the way a child might behave in a situation like this. I behaved just the same
way in the early few days because I never knew what to do to kill the extra time I found on my hands.

3. ‘Usama was exhausted with boredom.’ Has boredom ever been a burden to you? If yes what have
you done to unburden yourself?

Boredom is a killer but my mum believes that it is good to be bored sometimes because it helps us
think and find out my true potential. I unburdened by reading books and teaching my younger siblings
how to read.

4. Why do you think Granny was so calm and relaxed?

Granny was used to staying at home almost all the time so she felt no different from normal days.

5. Why did Usama wanted to send donations?

Usama wanted to send donation as he felt bad for the needy people like his maid.

6. What will you do after Granny’s advice of spending a quality time? How will you explore yourself?

I will take Granny’s advice and will work towards being more useful around the house helping mum in
house chores and teaching my siblings as schools are closed.

7. What do you think assisting means? –ing is the suffix find out two more words from the given
passage that ends with –ing.

Assisting means helping out;

1) sending
2) spending

8. Write down the antonyms of the following words:

a) agitated calm
 b) boredom excitement
c) work-shy hard worker
d) imprisoned free

9. Answer the following sentences with Reference to context:

a) ‘I just came here to see how are you spending your time in quarantine, don’t you get bored?’

Who said: Usama

To whom: Granny
When: Usama asked about her feelings about quarantine
Why: he wanted advice

b) ‘Yes she has not been coming since the pandemic outbreak, but what happened?’

Who said: Granny

To whom: Usama
When: Usama asked about the maid
Why: because Usama looked worried

c) ‘Oh wait! I go to school, I play outside, I use internet that’s why I couldn’t manage to stay at
home like this

Who said: Usama

To whom: to himself
When: when he was bored
Why: he was thinking

10. Why Granny was scared when she saw Usama in her room? Recount a similar situation from your
life.

I believe Granny was scared because during normal days Usama may have not visited her that often. I
once scared my mum by waking her in the middle of the night only to ask her what was the date.

11. Match the meanings in column B with the words in column A:

A B
 blabbering an outbreak
comprehend take a brief or hurried look
explore talk foolishly
glanced search
pandemic understand

12. Why Usama wanted to help others? Why was he so concerned about Salma aunty? If you were
Usama would you help others and how?

Usama seems like a sensitive boy and was concerned about Salma aunty as he knew that life would be
difficult for her and her family to survive if she did not come to work, I would use all my skills to raise funds
and distribute rations and medicines to people who need them the most.