The new normal:CORONATIMES
And now it’s the 127th day since the college has been closed due to the COVID 19 outbreak. Even though it made people panic for the first few days but of course after that there was a short period in which the people enjoyed the lockdown period as a vacation. Some of the people who were busy being busy took it as an opportunity to spend time with their family, mending the relationships. May be, this is the first time many of the people spending such a long time with their family. May be, this is the first time many of the people got a time for their own to understand themselves to identify and nurture their own skills and interests. Social isolation made some people painters, musicians, film makers, planters, chefs, designers etc.
But as it got extended longer and longer, majority couldn’t afford that. Many of the families began to starve due to unemployment. Some people were pushed into the abyss of depression. As the days pass by, that 6 pm news which gives us the updates on COVID statistics is becoming more and more disappointing as the number of positive cases increasing from ones…tens… hundreds… now it’s more than half a thousand. Yet the people have to adapt to it as the world has to move forward and majority tried to go with the COVID emerged situation as the new normal.
Governments started the unlocking process. People started to move out. Masks became one of the most important accessories for everyone irrespective of the caste, gender, politics, social status… It even obviated the need for lipsticks and made available in huge varieties. In different colors… in different prints…in different fabrics…
The education system and many of the jobs resumed through digital platforms. And of course the online platforms could give us only a dead lecture room. The 2-D profile pictures of peers in it never gives us the vibes of lively friendship. Late logins failed to give us the joy of late rush to the class. Ignoring the meeting links couldn’t give us the spirit of class bunks. The WhatsApp chats can never replace the classroom whispers. The social media status fights give us no thrill whereas classroom water fights did. The online birthday wishes just can’t give the warmth of surprise birthday celebrations. I have never thought of such a situation and never thought that I’ll miss my college. I have never identified the pleasure that I have been enjoying from the morning ride to college. I have never realised that I’m in love with the life which allows me to roam around and have fun and love; but now, I really do and pray for the normal days to be back.
Don’t know that how much we should pray, hope and wait for everything to be fine; but still, we have to. Yeah, let’s wait… hopefully…
