Lockdown Day 8

Dear Diary,

Today is the 8th day of the lockdown. Incidentally, today is also April fool's Day. But apart from one or two messages on WhatsApp, there was no attempt from any quarter at playing a prank. The virus is already playing the biggest prank on entire humanity. The financial year ended yesterday on a dismal note. Sales figures took a plunge due to the lockdown. However the sales can again happen, the only priority right now is how early the pandemic goes away for good. Today is Durga-Ashtami also. We prayed to the goddess for safety of the entire world.

Looking outside the window from our locked down houses reminds us of the good old days just a few days ago. Mumbai was agog with the Kala Ghoda festival from 1st to 9th Feb '20. The spring air was heavy with fragrances of flowers of many flowering trees. We went to the Kala Ghoda festival on the first day and enjoyed the colorful splashes in the fort area. I attended the literary festival and listened to Jerry Pinto. Bought the book "Leela" written by Jerry Pinto and got his autograph on it. The days were splendid as were the evenings. There was not even an iota of hint that in the coming days the world will come to a grinding halt. However, we can only stay home, maintain social distancing, keep ourselves fit doing Yoga, reading good books or doing household chores and pray for early deliverance from this pandemic.