The Mind of an Introvert

Being an introvert, I’ve always been a good companion to my soul. It never mattered to me much, who was there or who wasn’t, I found peace and harmony in solitude and nature. I can sit in a chattering jolly good crowd n’ listen to my heartbeat or I can stand alone and talk away to merriment. Am happy left alone and with people around, I often wander away to a world of colours, paints, soaps, voices or even the cream cheese icing on a chocolate cupcake. 

I seldom fell ill and I truly felt bad for those who did. My heart would go out to them n’ I prayed for them and I asked for their wellbeing in my private conversations with the almighty. To call them or text them, in my mind, the mind of an introvert would be like intruding into their peace n’ privacy. I did my job 3(pray) quietly behind the scene and would genuinely feel overwhelmed when they recovered. 

Though I brim with gratitude for the people who have helped me in times of need, asking for or accepting favour was not my thing till a few days ago when I woke up one morning with this weird looking shiny chickpea like a blister on my forehead. 

Before I could blink I had them all over n’ I began to resemble the polka-dotted curtains in my bedroom. Yeah, right! The Varicella-Zoster Virus … Chickenpox is the word!

In my attempt to protect my child from the ugly virus, I locked myself up in my bedroom n’ lay alone in my bed dedicating all my time to itching n’ scratching.

A piece of paper that read  

’Quarantine zone – biohazard/radiation hazard’ was stuck on my door by my 18-year-old (the downside of passing on the evil sense of humour to your offspring) in an attempt to curb his own temptation for the occasional chit chat with his mother.

How I wished someone, just anyone would intrude into my ‘peace n privacy’! How I wished, someone would ’just pray less and talk more’… How I wished the phone would beep once, just once… N’ how I wished to ask for one favour! 

And it did, it really did… The phone …  but only so that I would be humbled even more…It was my cousin who is fighting hard against all odds to get his blood count to at least a minimal requirement to survive. He was undergoing his 3rd round of chemo …n’ he calls to check on me!!!  Cancer checking on chicken pox!!! I had no words! I was humbled! I was embarrassed but I must say – I was thankful! 

Then came more calls n texts. A good friend offered to pack lunch for my son, to take to school every day…My normal self would have said “no thanks” ….but boy! Weren’t I grateful for that call that day! I jumped at the offer and thanked her a million times. (did I mention I have no domestic help n’ I was wondering how I would manage Kevin’s food with these ‘virused’ hands😔) The cherry on the icing was when the calling bell rang and Kevin opened the door for a dear friend of mine who had brought piping hot paneer paranthas n’ green chutney for dinner. 

In spite of repeated warnings to not visit me and pass on the virus to her two li’l boys, she ensured that I had some delicious n’ nutritious dinner. 

God, ain’t I humbled! Ain’t I brimming with gratitude!!! Ain’t I grateful for these people who taught me so much in so little time! 

Am I going to be an introvert now? Yes, I can’t change that but … An introvert with a difference! 

I learnt my lesson. Not that I won’t pray for the sick anymore but that that prayer will be accompanied by phone calls and warm dinners.  Yes, I will pass on the kindness bestowed upon me!”

~Jeena Rachel