A crazy thought has suddenly risen in my idle, convoluted mind (a devil’s workshop?). It could very well be it was this article on Sara Gilbert that gave rise to it. I thought, what if a cure for the demonic virus was suddenly developed in of all places, in China, the epitome of evil and the unquestioned source of this malaise. This is well within the realms of possibility if one thinks about it. There is, as we all know, a frantic search all over the world for a credible cure. Some have claimed the success is almost there (but not yet!).

Now to China, about which we have learned so much in recent weeks. There have been reports that it was generated from bats there who imbibed the virus in them. There have also been speculations that the virus may have escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan, suddenly a household name. We have come to learn that Wuhan is the home of some of the most elaborate and sophisticated biological laboratories in the world. Speculation is rife in some circles that it is from there that the dreaded virus has been released. Some have claimed that it was released consciously by China as part of a grand plan to subdue and dominate the world, particularly USA, their major nemesis. Nothing could be proved conclusively. But that did not stop conspiracy theorists from making it a heyday with their tales and takers for their theories were not wanting.

Now, if China has committed one grave sin, it was their reluctance to come out open with it. And this has drawn the ire of the whole world with strong potential repercussions of big damage to their prestige and perhaps, more importantly, their economic stature. The situation is surely not lost on the Chinese who are putting up a brave face and making a major effort to atone for their transgression, deliberate or not. They are going about it full throttle, trying to redeem what they can. And part of it, I am sure is putting a major effort into their famed laboratories. We have also learned and it was discomforting to most of us that USA has a major contribution to these laboratories both in dollars and in manpower, making them highly effective in their line of work. It will therefore not be a surprise if they beat the rest of the world to the finish line in the race to develop the much-needed drug that may cure us from Covid-19 virus and save the world from the continuing disaster.

Now if I may speculate on the aftermath of this imaginary Day of Deliverance. I can see the vast majority among us changing sides overnight regarding their impressions about China, now their Devil-incarnate. They will gloat about all the great virtues of the Great Nation, without which we would have been consigned to the world of Eternal Damnation. The country’s stellar history from 10000BC (really?) will be recalled ad nauseum and will be showcased as a big impetus behind all this success. I can see the country suddenly growing by leaps and bounds with all the businesses back and the people overflowing with confidence. China could become Heaven on Earth.

Finally, I would feel sorry for those hardy souls to whom there could be nothing right about China or the Chinese. They would not give up easily even with all the tide against them. They surely will have some handy negative conspiracy theories to broadcast. One such comes immediately to mind – “Chinese government had it all planned all along from Day 1 or even before when they set up these ‘weapons of Mass Destruction’, the laboratories in Wuhan. They let the cat (the virus) out of the bag intentionally in time to overwhelm the whole world. And when they had rendered the world totally despondent and hopeless, they would come out gloriously brandishing their wonder drug. Some would perhaps even claim that they all had it fully tested and all ready to go when they ‘introduced’ the Covid-19 virus to mankind. They just held back, only to release it at the opportune moment, when all seemed hopeless for the rest of us. That way they could extract the maximum benefit.