A teenager's memories of the lock-down : Part 02
Welcome back everyone! Hope you all are at home and are keeping well. You know, nowadays if we fall ill or something like that, the whole family starts fretting. So, it is absolutely necessary to keep ourselves fit both physically and mentally. Actually, it's nothing new right? The doctors and other experts have always told this, ever since the lock-down started.
But, how many of us have been following those rules and taking those precautionary measures, that too accurately? I will talk about this today, though of course, I will also write about my mid lock-down memories in this post itself, as I had promised you earlier.
Well, so Lock-Down 2.0 began, as far as I can remember, on the 15th of April. The virus had already started raging in many parts of the world : Italy, China, the USA, Spain, etc. India's figures were then still a 'molehill', when placed beside those 'Himalayan' figures. My God! The stories, circulating then on WhatsApp, were simply horrible (if they were true). I simply pray that this type of crisis does not come back in the lives of many generations to come (though many scientists predict that the COVID-19 virus will become a yearly nuisance like the flu virus, etc.).
I quite clearly remember that I had given up on the reopening of schools during this time. The virus was slowly crawling to greatness, with patience. I don't think even MS Dhoni has ever shown that type of calmness!
Now, one thing I would like to emphasize upon is the issue of masks. One of the many reasons, behind the tremendous upsurge in India's figures in Lock-Down 2.0, was ignorance about the importance of masks. Yeah, I must accept that I have seen many people wearing masks. But, that is cause for little cheer. The number of people who are not wearing masks are overwhelmingly more! People have to realize that wearing masks is essentially important, not only for themselves, but also for their near and dear ones (and for many other people, too!). There's no other alternative to wearing masks--it is one of our primary Brahmastras, to fight this Duryodhana of modern times. Also, merely the presence of masks will not save us from the virus. I say this because I have seen many people do not wear masks properly. Yeah they wear masks, but they do not cover their noses and mouths! If they had worn masks, the spikes would not have been so high.
Oh yeah, another thing I also saw back then, on TV, was that many people were gathering in local bazaars and tea shops and everything of that sort! Well, I have a few things to tell them. One : It's true that the Government allowed vegetables, fruits, etc. to be sold, but that does not mean that you have to go and flock at the bazaar to buy your necessary items. And if you have done that, only God can save you. Two : That you do not live in a big metropolitan city does not mean that you won't be affected. The virus neither has eyes nor brains : it only knows how to affect people. And as I had told in my previous post, a little bit of tomfoolery can give the virus a new vehicle, on which it can travel quicker than ever.
I also remember that our online classes began during this period. A unique experience, right? Well, it may be a unique experience, but certainly it was, in fact is, one of my most boring experiences till date. I quote William Blake here:
"How can the bird that is born for joy Sit in a cage and sing?"
Of course, the poet writes about the monotony of going to school. But, to me, the 'joy' lies in going to school, not in staying away from it. One more new experience I had (and would like all of you to have) was watching an online Rabindra-Jayanti celebration. Who would have imagined that a year would come, in which nobody could organise a programme, even on the occasion of Rabindra-Jayanti !
Well, I know I have written a lot today. So, let's bid adieu for now, until we meet next time. Take care.
P.S.- As always, do reach out to me if you have any comments or suggestions. Here are the links to my school's online Rabindra-Jayanti celebrations. Enjoy!
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