Delhi NCR's smog-bound lives: A mom-to-be and an Army aspirant fight daily battles they didn’t choose

GURGAON: Pregnancy is a phase when the body needs routines, nutrition and care. Chandni, who is in her second trimester, was advised to take walks, get sunlight, and most importantly, stay relaxed and happy. But for the 32-year-old Noida-based software engineer, most of it has unfolded within the confines of her 2BHK flat in Sector 76, where she and her husband make plans for the arrival of the baby, but have also become more and more anxious about the hazardous Delhi-NCR air quality.From the 12th floor of her housing society, Chandni has spent the last month and a half looking out at a skyline shrouded in smog. Born and brought up here, winters in recent years, she says, have been nothing like those she spent in her childhood. "The gloom seems to be deepening," she says. Pollution brought on allergies, like throat and chest congestion. Pregnancy added a layer of complexity because doctors advised Chandni not to take anti-allergic pills or antibiotics, cautioning that it was best to let her immune system manage the symptoms naturally."Left with few options, I relied on home remedies such as warm water, ginger, pepper and herbal teas. They offered only mild relief but are no substitute for medication. They don't work as effectively, but that's all I could do," she says. And with that came another caution from an inner voice. "Even a short walk outside my building feels wrong," Chandi says. "It's like I'm forcing my child to breathe dirty air. Whatever toxins I'm breathing, my baby is breathing too."The consequences of prolonged confinement have been both physical and mental. Pregnancy loosens pelvic joints, and the lack of regular movement has led to joint pain severe enough to disturb her sleep. "And without the rhythm of stepping outside, time begins to blur. You move between work, your phone and the television. It takes a toll mentally," she says, adding grey days and evenings are a mood downer. "There was no sunshine during the day to lift your mood. I was genuinely worried about my mental health."Feeling the strain on lungsWhile Chandni has chosen to limit her exposure by staying indoors, Rudra Pratap Singh, 20, has no such option. He moved from Uttar Pradesh to Gurgaon with a single aim - to prepare for recruitment to the Indian Army. Training, he says, cannot pause for polluted air.Rudra lives alone in a rented room in Khandsa, on Gurgaon's outskirts. His day begins at 4.30am. By 5am, he is at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, starting the first of two daily training sessions he has followed without interruption for nearly a year. "Back home, the air is much healthier," he says. "But if I go back, I lose training time. I can't afford that."His routine is rigid. He trains at dawn and again around 4.30 pm, each session lasting about an hour. Running, long jump, high jump, shot put and speed drills are repeated daily, all measured against strict benchmarks. "Army physicals are about discipline," he says. "You can't be casual even for one day."Rudra rides his motorcycle to the stadium morning and evening, adding to his daily exposure to foul air. Until recently, pollution was not something he had thought about. Now, he says, it has become impossible to ignore.In recent weeks, he has been feeling the strain. His throat often hurts, and breathing sometimes feels tight during runs. Training is entirely outdoors, with no filtered spaces, and protective masks are impractical. "Try running with a mask," he says. "You won't last even a few minutes."Rudra has not returned home in months. In Feb, he is scheduled to appear for his second attempt at the Army recruitment exam in Lucknow. The first time, he cleared the physical tests with full marks, completing the 1,600-metre run in five minutes and 30 seconds and maxing out his chin-ups."Physically, I know I'm capable," he says. "What worries me now is the air and what it's doing to my lungs." There will be no change in his routine, though. "This is my dream. I want to wear the uniform. Pollution is there every day, but my exam date won't change. I have to prepare in these conditions."