It's been more than a year in India since this pandemic began. The 1st lockdown seemed like a breeze. The grocery shops were open through the day and after the initial few days of hiccups in getting essential goods like milk, biscuits etc, it was quite streamlined. In fact, the 1.5-2 months of lockdown afforded families to spend quality time with each other. Yes, work was there and in fact, work was busier than usual but we also could wake up a little late, save a lot of time that was spent commuting and we had more time than usual as we didn't have to take long lunches or waste time in useless meetings. Nights were spent playing board games or cards or watching movies. It was as if outside world had nothing great to offer and we had made a small world in our house. Weekends were spent playing multiplayer games over Whatsapp.
I had developed a routine that I really liked. I was able to maintain a time when I would do my workouts and go for long walks. This was a time completely for myself. Initially, lot of it was to think about the China virus, how to tackle it etc. However, once I moved beyond that, I discovered that I was happy with simple things in life. I have not clicked as many pics of sunsets as I have done through out last year. This is not to show people but my thanks to the nature for providing such spectacular views that I seemingly had forgotten about. I loved getting drenched on my walks during the monsoon season and listening to the various Detroit Lions podcasts, music and whatever else I could think of. With air so clear during the 1st lockdown, you could see all kinds of storks, kites, parrots, sunbirds, bulbul etc out in full force and it just made my day. I really did not need a lot more as this gave me more joy than going through the crowded roads to get to my favourite restaurant or a movie theatre.
When the lockdown eased and some normalcy returned in June 2020, I began my cricket coaching and going to Taco Bell with my friend. This Taco bell thing has been going on since 7-8 years at least. My friend & I meet at least once a week. It has become a ritual and we missed it during the lockdown. This is the time earlier where we would discuss mostly everything under the sky except work. It was our escape from the usual.
Cricket coaching is something I have been doing for the past 3 years and the joy I get out of it is something I cannot explain. Clearly, it is a sport I love to play and coach. After the lockdown, the amount of kids that came for coaching was very very less. This gave me an opportunity to work with kids 1-on-1 on some occasions. You get to know the kids so much more - their likes/dislikes, what their thinking is for playing a particular shot, what their approach is etc. This really helps a coach figure out ways to press the right triggers or to figure what works for this kid as opposed to the other.
As things began to normalize, going out for matches, club cricket became more of a common occurrence but I also started seeing a disturbing trend. I saw less and less people wearing masks, forget social distancing. In a country of the size of India with its high density, it is difficult to maintain social distancing however, not wearing mask was like inviting disaster, which unfortunately struck India hard in end of March 2021.
This second wave has eased up a bit but still is quite a force. I don't know of a family who has not been impacted by this virus. To add to the fact, there is increasing evidence of kids getting seriously ill due to this and parents seem terrified to let their kids out of their sights. Whenever you see someone, in the back of your mind you are thinking if he/she is positive. Honestly, the negativity is so, so high that I have deleted my Facebook and Instagram accounts and withdrawn from Twitter. No social media except my friends whom I chat on Telegram. I am back to reading books a lot more, trying to get healed from my Hip Bursitis and looking forward to the time when things are little more normal.
It's a sad situation but every dark period is also followed by a brighter one. While I miss a lot of things that I used to do, the new normal routine is not so bad and I am trying to make the most of it. Lot of stretching exercises, followed by an hour to hour and a half walk, clicking some sunset pics followed by an early dinner and then game of cards is the new normal for me.
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