13th April 2020 – 20th DAY OF COMPLETE LOCK-DOWN OF INDIA

31st DAY OF MY SOCIAL ISOLATION

9240 POSITIVE, 331 DEAD (3.58%), 1096 RECOVERED (11.86%)

General Feeling: “I am not in touch with my feelings of late. I am kind of bored, tired, annoyed and sad all rolled into one. Also not so scared of COVID anymore. Experts say we’re bound to catch it sooner or later. So, whatever”

So bored that I clicked meaningless selfies and also put a white-black filter!

PS: “If we’re to catch COVID one day or the other and it’s only a matter of time, it’s best to delay the infection for as long as possible. As the virus burns through human population, it evolves to become less hostile and in the end causes only very mild infections. BTW, viruses evolve thousands of times faster than humans do. For them, evolution, mutation and cross-breeding can happen in a matter of weeks. Imagine that!”

It’s supposed to be the eve of the last day of our nation-wide lock-down. Several thoughts race in my mind today regarding this situation. First, that it’s starting to get on my nerves. But then again, I shouldn’t be complaining. Second, I really wish this was really the penultimate day of this lock-down saga and life was about to go back to normal once again this week. The cook would start coming in, I could order Pizza and take an uber to a salon!

Third, our benevolent PM is making a speech once again tomorrow morning at 10 AM. I wonder what the poor, un-educated, aloof might be thinking about it. Maybe he’s celebrating in his mind waiting for it to be all over tomorrow and he could get back to earning his living or going home to his village. Maybe people in their minds are finally relieved that it’s going to be over tomorrow, and those who’ve managed to survive are looking to find some respite in the lift of this lock-down.

However, what we hear is this ain’t happening. The lock-down has already been extended in 7 states. With the single highest death rate (#51) in one day, it’s highly dangerous to abruptly conclude the lock-down. Especially when our Indian authorities have finally hinted at evidence of community transmission (which btw, as per many experts had started about 5 weeks earlier in early March). Early feelers tell us that lock-down will be extended or if it isn’t, there’ll be a watered-down version which is going to stay for who-knows-how-long.

But honestly, are we mentally prepared to go back to the so called ‘normal’? If Modi Ji were to announce tomorrow morning that we could all get back to the drill 15^th on wards, would we be thrilled to resume where we left? Or would we say, umm, "I need some more work-from-home"?

We’re all tired of staying indoors and curbing so many of our activities. We’re tired of cooking & cleaning. We’re tired of not meeting friends and going out clubbing.

But perhaps, we’re not tired of getting enough sleep. 
We’re not tired of finally finding ‘me-time’. 
We’re not tired of getting time to spend with loved ones, either for real or virtually. 
We’re not tired of avoiding all the stress-causing traffic. 
We’re not tired of a to-do list that’s not hyper-demanding. 
We’re kind of okay. We’re kind of relieved. 
Even though we are anxious, we’re kind of okay. 
We’re kind of happy to have a break.

Now these are naturally mixed feelings. And mixed feelings usually lead to a state of being confused and being ‘blah-ed’. However, one thing is clear. While lock-down is difficult, it’s also a state of rest. Rest that we all needed. Not just to give ourselves a break. But also to be able to reflect.

And re-direct our energies towards what really matters. And everyone, is actually being compelled to do this. God-damn virus, what did you do?

I hope, the ones suffering find relief. I hope Modi Ji announces a universal basic income for the poor. I hope the cases go do down. I hope we save all lives. I hope Corona goes, but leaves back important lessons.

Not much today. Mondays are still Mondays and I want to chill and laze in my bed.

Until tomorrow, peace!

Personal Opinion: If you are willing, donate to smaller funds. They are probably doing more good than big-ass sparkling advertised funds. (If you know me, you know what I'm talking about).