Life in Lockdown

My City of Joy has never been so quiet before. Being one of the citizens of the 1.3 billion people in lockdown, I am scared, I am restless and I am worried. The virus has threatened our lives and livelihoods and making us paranoid. Even after so many days of lockdown we are on the edge of uncertainty, unable to plan for the coming days. I cant be fearless, undeterred and unbiased anymore for whatever happening around us.  

Our life has changed since the emergence of the virus, sometimes it makes me feel that time has stopped for us. Days are passing by, but we are still on the same lane, neither moved forward nor backwards. 

Being a parent makes the job tougher. The sudden shut down of schools due to coronavirus has led the parents quarantined at home with the kids for an unending period and keeping them engaged & amused through out the day is indeed a big challenge. Though its a lovely opportunity for kids to spend the whole time with their parents, yet its not so easy to keep them boosted up all the time, when we know that we are going through a pandemic.

Since online classes have started, everyday after waking up I keep on watching my watch so that my son doesn't miss his classes. Above all the poor internet connection is an added stress to these online classes. Every kid I am sure becomes irritated if he cant join his classes on time and get distracted with the disturbance of network. 

Besides, giving the whole time & energy to the kids, since morning we are busy doing the various household chores. All our schedules have changed within the four walls of the house. Washing our hands and sanitizing the things are playing a major role in our life. The daily scene of my neighbourhood has changed. Instead of people going out for schools & offices in the morning they are now busy buying fruits & vegetables from the trolley standing in front of their houses, storing the groceries, medicines and other essentials with the fear of shortage of anything at anytime. 

I miss my work, I miss those noise of Court Premises, I miss wearing my black coat, and I  am desperately missing my busy schedule of the day. Spending so much time on social net working sites has become no other option left when you are stuck inside the house. 

I miss the loud sounds of various television serials coming from the nearby houses in the evening. It seems they too are keeping an eye on the screen for virus updates. The only topic that we are discussing at home is about covid19 and the only channels we are watching at home are news channels which are becoming disgusting day by day. In order to take any sound decision, the society must require a consensus of truth and for common people news media is the only gateway to know the truth. Unfortunately the biased & unfair news sources these days are making us more panic-stricken. I believe polarized news are more dangerous during an emergency situation, that we are facing right now. When the politicians of the country are more worried about their political future and profits, even during such a pandemic, I doubt, how secured we are in this country. Our future is in great danger. Unaware of the actual data and the present scenario.

Since childhood I have heard that in times of need, when we are in danger, when we are in fear, we should stay together, but this vulnerable disease has made us apart from each other. We keep on maintaining social distance with each other when we need each others support the most. Some are  unfortunate enough of not being able to say the final good-bye to their loved ones on their death beds. 

Amidst all these, I am borrowing my strength from the doctors and other health workers who are fighting in the fore front, I am gaining strength from those people who are associated with essential services and going out everyday, I get my strength from the sweeper whom I see everyday cleaning the neighbourhood and above all with the hope that someday we will get a way out to fight with this stupid virus. Perhaps God is testing our patience & tolerance of being human, but I am eagerly waiting for the day when we will wake up one day without the fear of getting infected and will be back to our normal schedule of the day.