Living in the Times of Corona
My musings about life and living in these abnormal times (read COVID-19 global pandemic).Â
May 3 2020, 03:10 AM, New Delhi
Today, on 3rd May 2020, exactly three days after my 35th birthday on April 30, 2020 and exactly 43 days since the Janta Curfew on 22nd March, 2020, I am writing down this diary entry for the first time to remind me and others what it means to be living in the times of COVID - 19 global pandemic. Not because because I want to remember this rather uneventful time and year, but because I do not want to forget what being free and living without fear feels like.Â
In India, we are going through a period of nation-wide lockdown that has been imposed by the Government of India and all the State Governments in the light of the global pandemic scare - COVID -19, that was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and which quickly spread to over a 100 countries within a span of just 3 months.Â
I have been in lockdown for over 45 days with my mother who came with me to New Delhi on 7th March of this year. I am not writing this because I want to be reminded of these 45 days and probably a few more moths living this under lockdown in a two room house with limited access to open space and roof tops. I am writing this because I want to remember the things I loved doing and feeling during so called normal times when life was normal and I was free to travel anywhere.Â
I loved the auto rides to my office. I loved the wind in my hair and the feeling on cool breeze caressing my face while I pillion rode on a bike with my friend or when I rolled down the windows while I traveled in a Ola or Uber cab. I loved the casual chit chats with strangers while buying groceries or waiting in a queue to pay my bills. I loved browsing through the magazines at the book store in SDA Market before deciding not to buy anything and walking away smiling. I loved stoping at the office stationery store thinking I would just look at the new collection of fountain pens with black ink and notebooks and actually coming out with a large envelope full of them. I loved catching the whiff of French perfume of a beautiful girl who would walk past me at the mall and whose fragrance would linger on for a while reminding me how beautiful she was. I loved my caffaine fix at Coast Coffee, SDA Market and Barista Cafe, Priya Complex where the barista at the counter would know exactly how I wanted my coffee. I loved looking at old monuments and dilapidated buildings amidst a growing maze of concrete jungle. I loved the laccha paratha rolls, the Kathi rolls, kebabs, the mouth watering street food, the yummy burgers and pizzas and the eagerness for it to arrive on the table while I waited with my friends and colleagues. I guess I even loved the crowd and the chatter at the restro bars, pubs and restaurants. I loved my Cutty Sark, Black & White, Jemeson, White Rhino Lager and Wit, Bira Blonde, sangrias and the occasional Glenlivet and Glenfiddich nights. I loved walking around in desolate Delhi streets after a long and hard day at work. I guess I even loved the idea of getting up, getting ready and going to work. I miss all this and a lot more that was part of what used to normal life.Â
Given the current situation, my best guess is we will have to live in this 'new normal' life for probably the next 36 months. Don't be surprised if this lockdown keeps on extending in some form or the other for the good part of 2020 and goes into 2021 as well.Â
One of things that I have come to realise during this is the importance of family. And the second things is the importance of having a companion in this journey called life. I am not just talking about a wife or husband whom you have married. It could be anyone with whom you decide to set out on this journey called life. But I am so glad I am not alone during this lockdown. I have my mother’s company and I am grateful for everything that she has done for me and keeps on doing for me every single day. I am grateful and blessed to have a mother like you.
A lot has changed for each one of us since March 2020. If anything, the things that we all took for granted now feel very precious. I hope that when this global pandemic is finally contained (will it be 2022 - 2023), we won’t take for granted the changes that this pandemic has brought about around us. I hope we won't take for granted the clear blue sky that we are witnessing now, everyday. I hope we won't take for granted the flowers that are blooming in full bloom and the green cover that we are witnessing for the first time in our lives thanks to less human intervention and reduced pollution levels. I hope we won’t take for granted our families who are now happier than ever because we finally have time for them. I hope we won't take for granted the smile of strangers and the 'Good Morning' of our colleagues. And I sincerely hope we won't take for granted this life we are living and the countless blessings that come with it. Let's love it, cherish it, enjoy it and nurture it.Â
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