My Lockdown Story

As I woke up in the morning I looked around from the window as the rain was lashing down from the rooftop and I could smell the soggy soil and witness small droplets on the window pave. I could notice the city was still as if someone has turned the humans into statue mode. The air was pollution-free and the clouds were blue, not grey and there was no hustle-bustle of transports even one could not hear the horns of the vehicles as the city was silent and peaceful only one could hear the natural sound of the birds chirping. I will never forget these three awful months doing nothing only taking deep breathes and surviving the day now I realize how animals most likely feel the same way in the zoo. It’s the mid of may as the lockdown began on 21st March 2020 due to novel coronavirus and now it is still going as lockdown 4.0 version has started a few days before. As the lockdown rules are scheduled to be relaxed but it is still lockdown or “QUARANTINE” as they called it. The international spread of COVID-19 and the measures are taken by the government to halt the transmission of the virus is happening at a scale unlike anything seen in our lifetimes. We all are maintaining social distancing that is the only option left as no vaccines have been introduced till now. Lifting lockdown could result in the rapid spread of the disease whereas extending could make the economic condition even worse As every coin has two faces so is the same with lockdown. The whole world is at a halt some are enjoying and some are facing a lot of challenges. The country has plunged into a great economic depression as a result of it poor people are suffering a great deal with no work no money no food. As all work is shut, the majority of the workforce is from the agricultural background no workers are there to work on a crop field, tons of crops are not able to reach the market and getting wasted and that’s why the farmers are not getting money to even fulfill their basic needs.

The government is trying hard to provide basic needs such as food to the poor but how long will the government support the nation on reserve stock of foods. Covid-19 tragically killed many people worldwide. As we are there in our house watching tv, surfing the net, having food of our choices, the worst sufferers are those innocent poor people having no wealth with them and they are dying on their way to home as they are away from their family and due to lockdown they have to walk miles on their foot to reach their destination. Many laborers died while walking millions of kilometers to meet their loved ones. labors said that “ If I have to die, I would rather be near my parents when I die. I don,t want to die here” Please help out these people’s families, let humanity win over this infection. We are tired of sitting at home and those laborers are tired of walking miles and eagerly waiting to come home and sit with their family. Everything is awful. This virus is awful. The immediate choices are awful even the future may be more awful. As the government has ordered for closure of schools, malls, gyms, cinema halls it has affected the economy badly. Trains and flight tickets have been canceled, hotels are vacant. The main driver is consumption and demand as the commercial sectors are closed means people are not spending so the GDP has reduced and the industry owners are more likely to cut off salary or lay off staff. Coronavirus has an exponential growth rate so even one carrier person unknown could be a potential source of transmission of the virus. Some people are making this a religious issue. Please don’t make religion the core issue during this sensitive time. Nevertheless, religion should not be the issue ever. I urge people not to make this a political or religious dispute and show cooperation towards health care personnel. Even if we perish tomorrow, even if the earth falls into pieces, even if we starve to death, till our last breath we will continue to fight and disgrace ourselves in the name of religion. While the situation is bad and beyond our control, the positive side is I smell like a sanitizer now. My food is now so non-tasty that it has to be healthy. I spend my day making up goals for the next day and sleep and you know this what I am doing is actually helping the nation because I am not wandering at streets and transmitting viruses I am actually following the lockdown “STAY HOME STAY SAFE”. In short, my routine is Eat > Sleep > Repeat. I am doing nothing but sometimes it is essential and absolutely fine to not do anything. It’s good for health. Basically, I am writing my observations on lockdown which you people are currently reading. This lockdown has helped families to live together with joy and prosperity. Those who stay away from families like students who stay away from families got ample time to spend with their parents. People are getting quality time to spend with their families. Chit chatting about old memories is complete bliss. This lockdown brought back the childhood memories of playing on the terrace, singing your heart out, dancing like nobody is watching you. People are trying to learn new things during this lockdown. Some are cooking new recipes and posting on Instagram like the new trends which are going on during lockdown are dalgona coffee, pizza, jalebi, gulab jamuns, Pani puri, cakes, pancakes, white sauce pasta. I think after lockdown you all will see a Chain of people standing in a queue waiting for auditions in master chef as this lockdown has made everyone a Masterchef. Some are reading books and some are writing just like me, working from home, doing courses online upgrading their skills, making tik to videos in this pathetic time is also a new trend. I think now it’s time to change one’s lifestyle - travel only when necessary, stop going to malls just for window shopping, spend time with family at home, avoid eating junk foods, read books instead of watching movies at a cinema hall, restrict weekend outing, attend to personal hygiene more. The economy may slowdown but such a crisis opens up new opportunities. As there is a saying you only miss the sun when it starts to snow likewise you now become more cautious about your health and hygiene when the virus has come all around you.Health is wealth as money has no power or value when you don’t get the essential items. Luxurious items are now during this time of lockdown are of no use only essential items are in use. Are your BMWs are helping you to survive or your food items? Now it doesn't matter if you are poor, middle class or rich everyone needs is same only one thing and that is food and shelter. This lockdown has made people realize that there is a difference between want and need that is called self-control. All the things which seem to be attractive we are chasing are worthless jewelry, wealthy cars, big resorts all are fake. The inner happiness is all that you need not all what your greed. Realization is the biggest teacher in our lives. People realized during lockdown the importance of cooking, it has made us realized that we are too dependant on housemaids, no priest, pujari, an astrologer could save any patient only Doctors are the real lifesavers, physical exercise and meditation help us to remain sane and manage anxiety issue.Lockdown has helped us to learn and unlearn certain things and transform into a new human being. This period has offered us space for growth and changes to develop inside us.At last but not least we all human beings irrespective of wealth, religion, age, caste, creed we all come together with a common purpose to fight this disease until our last breath. Spending initial time on the lockdown was difficult but made us learn many things.