Lock down!

Lock down stories-

It started and people thought ‘oh what could an unseen virus do to us?’ See how the WHO went- first it said worry little, then worry more and then it went on to declare it a pandemic. It is an epidemic of epic proportions. And people were suddenly stranded at home! Nobody saw the lock-down coming. We thought the government and the doctors and the scientists would manage it all and we could go on living our happy carefree lives. Corona did what no war could, bring all mighty nations to their knees.

Slowly but surely the gravity of the situation began to sink in when the figures from Iran and Italy began to come in…this was bigger than we thought. And then came the lockdown…shops shut, roads deserted and life came to a grinding halt. At home we stayed banging dishes and lighting Diyas and hoping this unseen virus would go away, that the curve would flatten, that exercise and immunity could prevent it, that washing hands and covering faces was the only solution. We did it all and yet it stays… an unseen fear in the hearts of everyone. We look at each other with fear and doubt no more hand-shakes and no more hugs. Social distancing is the new norm. ..

Yesterday a strange sound filled the air which had been silent for almost a month now. After what seemed like years I heard a hawker calling everyone to buy ‘hare angoor, laal tarbooz and mitha kharbooz..’ It was an odd sound as these small fruit vendors/hawkers had almost vanished from the scene ever since supermarkets and weekly markets had come up. I ran to my balcony and there he was, not with that old push cart but calling out from his auto. I felt like a child and almost hoped that the kulfi wala would call too. But I guess Kulfi is not essential service in a lock-down. Wish it was, specially in this hot summer. Small joys replace fear for a while.

Yet there is hope a light at the end of this deadly tunnel as most people recover and flash the victory signs like after a battle. Yes it is a battle with an unseen enemy. Sometimes I wonder if we brought this upon ourselves? Too much work, too much traffic, too much pollution, we had too much of everything and nature decided to bring us to a full stop as if saying, ‘all your powerful weapons and super charged brains cannot combat this.’ Let there be pollution free air for a while let the rivers flow and let families stay together …for wasn’t that supposed to be the purpose of life to live harmoniously with nature, to work a little and rest a little and spend time with the family.

This epidemic also brought home two more things.. humility and a realization that the super power above us will always balance things out. Even if it seems impossible and undo-able He will stop the juggernaut. Too much of anything and the higher power will interfere. When the cloud becomes too heavy, it will rain. Waiting for this home bound summer to end.