234. #Coronavirus Curfew Notes: Day 2

#Coronavirus, #SocialDistancing, #CurfewNotes

(Well, Day 1 notes don't exist)

Though my short stay in Afghanistan was kind of 24X7 Curfew, it is amazing to note that it is my first experience of a Curfew in India. I am old enough and I have known many Curfew occasions, but somehow, I was never in the area where the Curfew was imposed. So, it is my first time to experience what a Curfew means. Given the situation of #Coronavirus, I was expecting this Curfew. So, it is not sudden. I was mentally and physically prepared for it.

It is not a Curfew which is imposed after riots or terrorist attacks etc. So, there are no security issues. No stress about what will happen next moment. The city Administration, Police, Medical team, and so many other invisible people are doing a great job. I can't express my gratitude in words.

I am in a privileged position. I have a home to stay. I have cash in hand and cards to use if required. I am in my hometown, so language is not a barrier. I have friends. I know doctors in the city. I have good neighbours. I have a good mobile range and data pack to access internet. I know whom to approach if I have any problem.

For last ten years, whenever I am home, it is on vacation. So mostly I stay home, read books, listen to music. Sometimes I go out, eat local dishes, meet friends. So, I am used to staying at home. I always look forward to it. #SocialDistancing suits me 😊

However, when there is a Curfew, I am forced to stay at home. It is not my choice (though my choice would mostly be to stay at home!), so there is a feeling of suffocation. It is like I am made to follow somebody's orders and I am not used to it. Intellectually I know it is in the best interest of me and others that I stay at home - so I stay at home, but I don't like it. I have a sudden urge of going out. That is a rare internal conflict. And I know this is just a beginning.

Another aspect is seeking information. As internet is easily available, I tend to check the number of Coronavirus cases. It is kind of obsession though I can’t do anything about it. I don’t have to take any decisions about the situation. But the habit of looking at the data, processing it, inferring from it – that is an intellectual obsession. It has to stop. If I am not looking at the data, I am spending more time on Social Media and reacting to people’s posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter. Generally, I access social media, but hardly react to it. I always have been fortunate enough to be able to work with people. I discuss with people face to face: sometimes we agree; some other times we don’t. I never seek online interaction – I seek online information, online entertainment but never online interaction.

But today I found myself responding a lot to people’s posts and comments. I also spent considerable time in reading some of the comments.

I have realized that I have to learn to switch off internet for some time. Take a break from it for couple of hours at least. I need to pick up one or two interesting books from my collection and enjoy reading.

I don’t have Refrigerator at home, never wanted it. But that means I cannot purchase items in bulk and store. For example, I had only enough milk to make a cup of tea. My young neighbor when he was coming home, called and asked me whether I wanted him to pick up anything for me from the grocery shop. I asked him to purchase milk. But it turned out that milk was not available.

Again, I am not very fond of tea and coffee. I drink it only occasionally. If some guests are coming, I purchase milk, otherwise I don’t.  Since my Myanmar days, I mostly take green tea. But now there is no milk, I suddenly crave for typical Indian tea with sugar and milk. Mind is funny, that is for sure.

Let us see how it goes for the next ten days. I fear it is not going to end on 31^st March. But if it is going to control the spread of Coronavirus, I am all for it.   

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