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Summing up 45 days of Lockdown

I remember the day vividly - it was a Monday and I had decided to inform my manager that i need to work from home (owing to my prior health issues) and accordingly I would leave for my hometown as there was a growing air of uncertainty with respect to travel, food and healthcare services in Bangalore.A situation akin to this awaited me at office and by the time I was there, the management had already taken a decision to allow employees with sanctioned laptops to work from home.
There was a sense of excitement. After all, i had longed for an opportunity like this forever - to be able to work and yet spend time with my family.Without further adieu, my tickets were booked and overnight i had landed in my cocoon in Goa.
The next few days were a blur, wherein I struggled to work with an erratic internet connection. I feverishly scrounged for a stable connection by barging into my brother’s office on some days while landing uninvited at my neighbor's house on other days. The perils of staying in a non - metropolitan city, i pondered.
On bad days, I even contemplated returning to Bangalore. Lest, better sense prevailed and i dropped my idea eventually.Who would want to return to a home-alone wherein I’d have to cook? Duh!
While all have been rightfully arguing about the pitfalls of this lockdown, i can never forget that it gave me a much needed break to get back home and allow me to witness the mischievous antics of my lovely 30 month old nephew.
Ever since he was born, I remember coming home hardly for two or three days at a stretch. This as you know is not enough an amount of time to absorb the nuances of a child growing up.
But now, i have actually have the opportunity to revel in each of these moments. I saw him graduate from wearing diapers to potty train. I saw him upscale to singing “Yellow colour yellow colour, Where are you?” from “Jonny, Jonny.. yes papa!” Moreover, i have had the sweetest opportunity to wake up to the sounds of his giggles everyday from the nooks of our backyard.
I have never believed in capturing moments through a photograph. Reason being, I always felt that one loses the opportunity to witness,feel and bask in the moment while making an attempt to capture it frantically. However, thanks to this lockdown I seem to have captured innumerable memories albeit this time in my mind.
As far as being housebound is concerned, there hasn’t been much of a change for me. In Bangalore, my weekends were mostly spent indoors either reading or sleeping. I cringed at the thought of venturing out even for shopping for essentials and would seldom move out in order to visit the salon or gym at the most.
This lockdown has in fact got me working more and resting less. However, in an attempt to get the best out of this situation i decided to get back to doing what i always wanted - to add value to myself. And hence, i decided to read each book which i always wanted to but never got a chance to.I have managed to complete eight books so far and i endeavor to finish another two.
They say we fail to achieve our goals not due to lack of time but due to lack of discipline. Hence, I have also endeavoured to slay a full body weight push up! For a person like me who has always lacked upper body strength for a major part of my life, this is quite challenging!
However, i hope to emerge victorious on the other side of this lockdown.
I also long to walk down the shore against a lovely orangish skyline with the balmy wind against my face and the sound of waves across my ears.For now i am extremely happy to be in the warm company of my loved ones at our humble abode.
I have nothing but gratitude to express to the universe. Thank you!


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