My Antibody Against T20 Virus

Late February: Scrolling down the newsfeed on Facebook just went past the virus that had created a state of tremor and tragedy in China. Clips of children dying, doctors fighting in a strange plastic attire (PPE kit, unknown to me then) lockdown in the entire country and a minuscule virus threatening to destroy humanity and economy of the entire world stuck me no differently. Holi was awaiting and I believed we Indians would not be bowed down by such gloomy news. Afterall, we Indians live for these festivals!

But...strangely, this year there was a sensational slowdown in the enthusiasm of my brethren.No..there was not the usual craze for colour gun or the festival itself. Avoiding Chinese good was ok...but festivals! Unexpected. It happened. Then the spread of the pandemic grew momentum. Channels would not tire of showing the misery of Mussolini's state. One of the best medically competent countries. Now ,it became a concern for me. If such a country could not curb its spread who are we ...India! A land of ever exploding population still with minimum sense of hygiene, education and medication. And then the day came of hearing "Mere Pyare Desh wasiyon" and the rest is History. India was at a standstill. We were stunned, baffled, irritated and what not but the inevitable had happened. I and perhaps my country experienced its first lockdown. Initially, there was still some excitement with the Prime Minister leading us in lighting diya, banging utensils and some other assignments but after few such errands there was nothing but the desert of lockdown. 

Totally a desert..no not for me! Since my marriage it was the first time I spent three months with my hubby, daughter and my parents together which was earlier unimaginable! The day would begin with tune of Ramayan...a cult serial of my childhood, followed by Byomkesh Bakshi followed by Mahabharat. I had always wanted my daughter to watch the two scripture based serials and never dreamt that it would ever be possible, but it was. Now, I don't know if it was right on God's part to fulfill my dream at the expense of thousands of lives and jobs or not but that was it. Personally, I enjoyed every bit of it. Inspired by my friends I too ventured into the kitchen to try out new recipes! It was so unlike me! 

Then came a never thought of act...online class. Being a teacher always believed teaching is a Human Resource job and in it the most important aspect is the Human touch. How could one do a job of humanity without the human touch! But the heinous virus taught me that too! Now, I was beginning to hate the lockdown a bit. Yes, I was enjoying it till then. Me being the Queen of Indolence loved to stay at home, sleep late, dive into the world of the characters of fiction and watch movies on Prime. Yes, after God knows how many years I was getting to do the things I loved doing the most. I would have almost thanked the virus had not its fatal sting engulfed more than half the globe. In India, its effects were still restrained.

But now...with the ever growing outspread of the pandemic a shrill of shiver runs down my spine. That spineless creature 'dost thou want to break the spine of the entire humanity?' Thou shan't ever succeed for I believe in Gita, where in the Great has himself announced that whenever humanity is tested he would come as a saviour ...and this time too he has appeared wearing a white robe, gloves and masks working relentlessly in hospitals and laboratories. And Dharm Sthapna is not not faraway. U better watch out Duryodhana of Kalyug from China.