SHIFTING PARADIGMS THROUGH A PANDEMIC : PART 2 - 8 min read

UNLOCK 

THE LOCKDOWN

             When my office introduced us to WFH (Work from Home) by rotation, I was undeniably happy.  I have no qualms in admitting that the thought of oversleeping, not having to get ready for work, not having to commute and all the add-on’s of WFH enthused me.  I had already thought of all that I could do with the extra time before 9 and after 5.  My first thought was assignments, essays and pending readings of an ongoing post-grad course that I have undertaken.

  Our HR Manager explained the finer points of WFH to us amidst the chuckles and mental replay of all the social media forwards about WFH.  However, being the first time, in addition to the excitement, I was trying to figure out how and when I would need to fit into the larger picture of our departmental scenario.  So Monday 23^rd March was my first day of WFH.  Despite all the plans as above, I found myself waking at the usual hour; but of course, I rolled back into a cosy curl.  "Silly woman, you won’t have to doll up to take a phone call or send mails".

            Late tea, late breakfast but the cell phone on a full charge and with me all the time.  That was the most important instruction.  A decently disciplined me which I ought to be at my age followed it dutifully.  I had only heard about the concept; often with an aura of “puffed-up” air.  So the child in me wanted to experience the same feeling, of course in a smaller dose.  Having announced at home what my WFH would look like, I reiterated with my friends too about no chats, less personal calls, and no browsing.  My cell phone had to be free.  Surprisingly, all of these were acceptable breaks I took in the office.

             Into the second day, I realised it was not for nothing that I stayed on in an organisation for 27 years.  My workstation had plenty for me to do and I missed the ambience, no matter how many times I have felt like hanging my boots.  There was no buzzing of intercoms, laughter’s, sniggers, a harsh word or a frustrating phone call.  A bit of leg-pulling, some counselling, someone being mentored and of course spotting that “harmless gossip” in a corner only to look away like you knew nothing at all.  I missed our harried office boy who was always beckoned in unison.  He perpetually managed to upset at least one of us with his so-called “negligence”, but never failed to make it up with “bhalo[1] coffee.”

            Continuing in a state of mental readiness, I respected the office hours and set myself aside from home chores or hobbies that would interfere or cause any delays if I was needed.  That evening the PM was to make an important announcement; he did and the nation went into a LOCKDOWN from the midnight of the next day.  Social distancing was imperative to delay the community stage of the virus attack.  This would flatten the curve by breaking the chain, lowering cases of infection and prevent loss of life.  Earlier on we were trying to get home a precious friend from Mumbai.  He just had to get back.  Reasonably occupied by gimmicks of the popular airlines, it took up some time till we realised what had struck us.

                        

           

         The next day comprised of crucial decisions, arranging grocery, provisions, and medicines.  There was too much to be set in place.  Too much would be disrupted; just too many issues to sort out.  Recuperating from PTSD[2], stress gets to me first but wasn’t I contradicting myself when I said I will put faith over fear?  There are many beautiful quotes, on fear and faith; though my personal favourite is a line I coined myself, “fear is not an absence of courage but lack of knowledge”.  So for my quick dose of knowledge, I usually turn to some Bible verses.  As I meditated the verse from “The Lord’s Prayer” came to my mind – “Give us today our daily bread”[3].  Daily bread does not mean food alone, but all our needs.  And so if I stay fearless, armed with the information of all the steps and decisions by the authorities add to it my personal faith in God; I am good to go.

            A reality check wasn’t as simple as the plan above with constant bombardment of Whatsapp forwards, news channels, research from Facebook University, tips on YouTube and positivity on Instagram.  Prayer calls, phone calls and video calls clarified nothing for that moment.  How will we get this done?  Despite all attempts a tinge of impatience was rising slowly like the cake does in my oven; with a cherry on the top, three children of the family away from home at Bangalore, Dubai and Paris.  With portfolios and conditions that say, lab research, evacuation flights, and one of the highest hit countries; worry is the least of all ill feelings from the list of thoughts if one is to be truthful.

            One set of aged parents at another part of the country, fortunately with family and another set close by.  It was of some assurance, but all four in the vulnerable category with multiple health issues.  Whoa!  Can that get better?  The only words that came to mind at that moment were inconveniences, disruption, slowdown, price rise, fear of the illness and uncertainty.  Yes, I began to feel insecure, even inside the four walls of my home and complex.  Newspapers had stopped, water vendor, maid, milkman nobody could come up.  The bell would not ring for anything!!  Isolation seemed painful, even though they were just mundane everyday stuff.

            The first afternoon of the lockdown, I connected with my present classmates on a conference call.  In a refreshing conversation; we shared individual concerns and prayed for the various needs of the Pandemic.  I missed Amit’s[4] tea; though it was just an ordinary black tea, there was a bond in that cup.  I missed my colleagues and friends.  I missed the whole routine of life that we had.  Wait, what was it?  Routine did I say?  Ah!!  Aren’t we humans finicky?  When we have it, we want a break.  When we get a break we want it.  This was my point of realisation when I took stock of the situation and mentally rehearsed the next day.

            I drew up a comfortable schedule working around the WFH aspect and merged my timetable with the rest of the family.  Through an assortment of feelings, one word reverberated over and over again, T-i-m-e.  It took me to a line of Gandalf “…all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us”[5] which perfectly matched the verse, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time…”[6]

            Twenty-one days meant a lot of time, even with WFH and all household chores, there would be enough spare moments.  I stood before the multiple shelves and corners of the house where I safely tucked in all the “unfinished projects” due to lack of time.  There was course-work, crafting, painting, mending, filing papers, abandoned knitting, incomplete embroidered pillowcases, saved up junk and many more.  The list was incredibly long.  Not forgetting the many books in my cupboard, movies and reading links I had saved in my device’s to watch and read later.  My eyes fell on my Bible, honestly, quite neglected.  So, if eternity was to be spent with God, I need to learn to spend time with God!

            The voice within prompted me to act, “get moving girl, do you still need time or discipline?  Is it really time or priority?  You have two options; fuss and mope, feeling miserable, or chin up and choose to evolve and grow a little more.

          I smiled as I pulled out my first project, “definitely the second option as long as it doesn’t tilt the weighing scales, I choose to grow".

To be continued :
"Unexpected Crisis - Incredible Opportunity”

Images: Courtesy Google Images

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[1] bhalo in Bengali means good

[2] Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

[3] Verse 11 of The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew Chapter 6:9-13(The Bible,NIV)

[4] The Office Boy.

[5] The Lord of the Rings, Part 1- The Fellowship of the Ring, J R R Tolkien

[6] Ephesians 5:15-16(The Bible,NIV)