Introduction: In December 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China and the World Health Organization declared it as a pandemic on 12 March 2020. The pandemic had devastating repercussions in form of human lives, economy and mental health. Method This article brings in light the experiences, expectations and coping mechanisms of the author during raging 30-days duty in a 250 bedded isolated Covid-19 pneumonia ward. Results While the world stagnated in the walls of their residence, the health care workers, donning the badge of “Duty to serve”, faced a real-time war against the pandemic with sidelines of stigma, discrimination and mental trauma, in their stride with their heads held high. Conclusions The article focuses on helpless, frustrating yet intriguing journey through the experiences encountered in midst of the second wave of the pandemic, ending with a sense of humility, gratitude, resilience and post-traumatic growth.