In continuation from the Prequel & the Beginning.
End of vacation, time to take things seriously. Even with all the additional household chores, people were becoming anxious about their fitness, kids were getting bored without the school routine, work from home was becoming a pain with all the meetings and status calls, and those who were literally on paid vacation had no clue what to do with all the leisure. Tempers were on the rise and looked like corona was creating additional domestic issues.
End of vacation, time to take things seriously. Even with all the additional household chores, people were becoming anxious about their fitness, kids were getting bored without the school routine, work from home was becoming a pain with all the meetings and status calls, and those who were literally on paid vacation had no clue what to do with all the leisure. Tempers were on the rise and looked like corona was creating additional domestic issues.
The enterprising fitness instructors started posting instructional videos, some started conducting classes over hangout/google meetings, skype, and even zoom. Schools started giving online assignment and soon came up with online classes with a set schedule. TV channels started telecasting old serials like Mahabharat, Ramayan, Buniyaad, etc. Anything to keep people home and occupied. Slowly a trickle of the morning and evening walkers started cropping up. But not in groups only scattered individuals. People were taking social distancing seriously, initially, it was not that scary but with all the new cases, some closer home, people started behaving responsibly. The daily wage labourers returned to their hometowns, by hook or crook, easing the pressure on the police a bit.
Social Media exploded. WhatsApp was inundated with messages. There was no dearth of theories, solutions, and jokes. People became experts - medical advice, pandemic experts, governance ideas, you name it we had them all - some all rolled into one. Quizzes, puzzles, jokes. memes starting making rounds easing the tension a bit. These were the times I realized so much talent was getting wasted. People were scouring through their contacts and calling long-forgotten friends and acquaintances - the standard topics irrespective of age and gender were - how are you coping, are you getting groceries and provisions, are you getting domestic help. With the lack of traffic, we could hear bird calls and all sorts of things that we were earlier unaware of. For example, I realized the wall clock in our kitchen tick-tocked a bit too loud.
Doomsday predictions, conspiracy theories, natural calamity advisories, pralay sagas, you name it and all laid a stake on the virus. My favourite of all - nature reclamation. As most are aware, in Hindu religion we have a belief - whenever atrocities by a man spillover, God takes a mortal form and rids humans of that villain - the story behind dasavatars. Now it was the entire humanity's atrocity against nature which had to be taken care of. That is the reason we are seeing so many natural calamities like tsunami, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, epidemics and now this pandemic. Makes sense, we had taken nature for granted and in our demand for comfortable and luxurious living, we have overlooked the negative impact our inventions and comforts had on nature. And nature is retaliating.
Apart from this, there were other things that Corona was teaching us.
First, personal hygiene. People started washing hands more often, covering their mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing. Washing hands and feet after returning home. Now that we started I hope it becomes a habit.
Second sanctity of personal space. This is proving a bit tough, but people are trying to maintain distance, it will take some time to become a habit but I am optimistic.
Third, most importantly, it brought families together. With nowhere else to go, families were forced to hang out together. They started watching movies together, talking to each other and spending more time with each other. Of course, there was a side effect to it, quarrels also were on the rise. Especially things were difficult for the newly-weds, with no relatives, malls and movies acting as buffers, they were having doubts on their compatibility.
Things seemed to be coming under control, the new cases per day dipped and things seemed to be getting better. Then the bubble burst. Cases spiralled due to one unfortunate incident and the age-old fear and dread for cops. One incident triggered a spike in the infections and fear of cops and authorities led to those infected into hiding and prevented timely action. The once hopeful situation of nearing the end of Lockdown now seemed to be a distant dream. Where will this lead to? When will this end?
First, personal hygiene. People started washing hands more often, covering their mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing. Washing hands and feet after returning home. Now that we started I hope it becomes a habit.
Second sanctity of personal space. This is proving a bit tough, but people are trying to maintain distance, it will take some time to become a habit but I am optimistic.
Third, most importantly, it brought families together. With nowhere else to go, families were forced to hang out together. They started watching movies together, talking to each other and spending more time with each other. Of course, there was a side effect to it, quarrels also were on the rise. Especially things were difficult for the newly-weds, with no relatives, malls and movies acting as buffers, they were having doubts on their compatibility.
Things seemed to be coming under control, the new cases per day dipped and things seemed to be getting better. Then the bubble burst. Cases spiralled due to one unfortunate incident and the age-old fear and dread for cops. One incident triggered a spike in the infections and fear of cops and authorities led to those infected into hiding and prevented timely action. The once hopeful situation of nearing the end of Lockdown now seemed to be a distant dream. Where will this lead to? When will this end?
It will end surely. Sooner, hopefully! -mummy
ReplyDeleteUnable to know the reason for complete lockout many are feeling boredom. Checking by health authorities is not only for our own welfare but for our locality also. Kovid is curable. As a patriot we should help our nation with this simple home quarantine.
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