Part 3
On the citizen’s home
front, the Pandemic taught the world many things that we knew but did not
follow or value or bothered in our daily grind to earn –learn. Initially 1st
lockdown was fun for many as it was thought it is temporary. People enjoyed
togetherness, playing household games, watching movies at home, cooking (poor
housewives had no respite as demand for snacks- nibbles increased)......it was
a Khao Piao Aish Karo phase. Romance bloomed with the couples, families bonded,
parents found time for their children (a great factor in today’s life).
New normal of
washing hands for 20seconds, using sanitizer after hand wash, spraying
sanitizer on ant material received from outside, wearing face mask while going
out, in some cases hand gloves were also worn while going out. Societies
sanitized the premises one to thrice a day depending on severity as per media
news.
Then came the 2nd
lockdown for 31days and reality started sinking in. Fun factor reduced and
worry was just beginning to show its face. No work left many people bored,
frustrated. Husbands started helping wives in their household work (Big Change
in many families), kids still enjoying their holidays while mother toiled. As
there were no markets open, home delivery of groceries, vegetables, dairy
products was the in-thing. The new normal was of allowing the material to rest
near the door for 4 hours after spraying with disinfectant. It was a huge
exercise as one had to wash vegetables, fruits in disinfectant solution, dry
them and then put in fridge.....a job spread over 3 hours. This job plus the
daily household chores were keeping people busy at home.
Students were now
put on online education mode. This was new to all (teachers, students &
mainly parents). The exams were online. The daily classes were online and it
was one sound constant during this lockdown /unlock period that was spot on at
930am and went on till 3pm. I learned many things that I ignored during my
school days, with the conversation –teaching of teachers falling on my ears. It
was fun initially but then after few months I got bored of studies as usual.
The worst part was all mothers had to compulsorily sit thru the classes to keep
track of what teacher instructs and then take the homework after that. Some
fathers did take part. I am sure parents will be more educated (refreshed
education) after this Pandemic ends
As the lockdown
kept extending the frustration increased. There were frequent tiffs among the
family members, irritation between couples (one is not used to see the same
face 24/7) due to each other’s habits that came to fore front during these 68
days (1632 hours of continuous togetherness...ufff), kids glued to mobile
phones and no one bothered to shut out as there was nothing else to do
(nowadays digitalization has kept away books, card or board games), talking to
each other is thing of the past with family members chatting on whtsapp within
the house....ridiculous culture.
I remember Gurus say
" self motivation is best motivation".....fck it sucks ! See how
Covid destroys the saying. They say:
Try socializing: Covid
cuts it off.
Go for a walk: covid
restrictions cut off your oxygen.
Do hobbies: i have done
them to death in lock down.
Cuddle: tried doing it
by remaining 6ft away.
Smile often: behind
mask ? No one notices. Your cheeks ache.
Be positive: this word
is dreaded in covid period.
Talk with people: all
on mobile so no conversation.
Do what you like:
nothing can be done in social distancing…
Listen to music:
finished listening from 40's to 70's. After that no music its mostly noise.
Ab batao kuch hai self
motivation ke liye ?
The Covid19
patients were increasing daily and control was not happening. Vaccines were
nowhere in sight. With the economy halted, government opened up certain sectors
from 1st June’20 Unlock 1. These unlocks kept on happening phase
wise till today 11th Unlock on April2021. Many industries limped
back but Hospitality & Travel trade were totally ignored by the government
and the tourism industry that was in the first 5 earners for the country lost
its bearings and the people related to this trade were jobless, penniless,
working as vegetable vendor or delivery boys, executives looking to alternate
work with not much of success. Professionals & Vendors connected with this
industry were helpless. Almost 60% units closed down, travel agents just shut
shop as no business. Imagine plight of people with EMI and other financial burdens
/liabilities, families to feed and no solution in sight. The industry that fed
the country had no one to feed them!
The “Unlock11” or
“Break The Chain” as it is named was done to arrest the growth in number of
patients/ In this pandemic the public in general has been very irresponsible
when it was required at later stages of the Pandemic. People gathered, crowded
in markets, wore mask on their chins, some did not wear mask, social gatherings
like Kumbh Mela, Prayer meets, Election meetings are happening, SO how does one
expect the COVID19 to go away ?
As of April2021
the total Affected people number stands at 1.59cr with recovered number at
1.34cr. Still active cases 22.9lakhs. Long way to go.
To end this article my
advise “Mask Up”
For fun sake & to end on lighter note, Because of
mask I have:
1.Stopped eating raw onions
2.Started drinking 30 ml less as after drink vapour is
good enough for the road.
3. No worry of yawwwning in a meeting
4. No issues about growing or removing mustache.
5. Freedom to twitch my lips while listening to some
nonsense advise.
6. Freedom to smile at someone's stupidity without
offending.
7. Started talking loudly sometimes to the point of
sounding rude
8. At the same time lost the fun of whispering sweet
nothings to someone.
9. Lost facial identity….it has its pros & cons
though !
Mask up guys !!
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