Grocery run 
Running 
Cycling
It has been over a month of being home and working within the four walls. Not that I am keeping a count, but I remember when I stopped going to work. Since then, life took many turns for most people around the world.
These are unprecedented times and I had never imagined the life we are living now. Not even in my wildest thoughts. Meeting friends, hugs, daily rides to work, in-person conversations, grocery runs, eating out and travelling feel like a thing of the past. And honestly, I don’t know when the old normal would become the normal.
I read this post by Unfolding from the fog last week and she talks about life around her and her country during this pandemic. Her post made me reflect and think of life around me.
TED asked 23 of their speakers from around the world these four questions. My answers are below. Tell me how are things at your end. Feel free to leave a comment or link up your answers.
Where are you living?
Bangalore, India.
How would you sum up the situation in your country?
As I write this post, we are looking at 16,000 cases and counting. More than 3,00,000 people have been tested so far and the government is providing test kits to states to test more people. With the pace of testing picking up, there is an increase of 1000-1100 cases every day. These cases are coming from almost all states around the country.
India locked down and sealed its international and domestic borders as soon as the situation came to light. We acted in haste but from what I understand, it was a good decision. The part that hurts me was that the move was unplanned. As a country, we could have been better prepared. The economically weak, daily wage workers, migrant workforce went out of jobs and homes in a matter of 48 hours. My people got stuck away from their homes when the domestic travel came to a halt. This would have happened anyways but I am sure if there was more time for people to plan, a lot could have been better.
However, essentials are available and law enforcement is standing tall. Health workers and the municipal staff is working round the clock. Crowd source data is available to citizens and I am grateful. We are in a lock down until May 3 and people are hopeful.
How has the pandemic changed your community?
I live in small house in the heart of the city. This has always been a lively community with everything available at a hand’s distance. Most people around me are working from home. Some families with vulnerable members have locked themselves up for good reasons.
Shops around are open and following the distancing norms. I get what I need. The brands I prefer may not be available but things are okay. People are scared and it shows. Smiles are behind those masks and sometimes I even hold my breath thinking I would be safe this way.
Street vendors have set up shops but there are no customers. Since home deliveries are available, people like me prefer to order at home. The temple in my locality is closed and that feels odd.
Summer has set in so it’s bright outside during the day but quiet. I hear birds all the time and that makes me happy. There are days I love the peace too.
How has it changed your daily life?
I now cook, clean and work from home. In India, we get domestic helps and they are a blessing. I had two helps at home – one to cook and the other to clean. Until the lockdown, they are out and staying with their families indoors on a paid leave. So we are on my own. Most of the house stuff that we are now doing, we had never bothered to do.
On weekdays, I am in this rush to finish work and cook so that we have meals on the table. I also find breaks in between to cook. I have too. Multitasking is the need of the hour. On weekends, we spend times binge watching shows or napping. This new normal has made me reflective and grateful for things that I took for granted.
I now call more people, send voice notes and get on video calls to chat. This wasn’t me. I preferred chats and saved time. Now I want to connect. VT too works from home and post noon takes care of the dishes. I know it is harder for him. We both are now more flexible and forgiving.
Our parents are back home and we make sure that we check in on them frequently. They also need the connect when their own lives have changed.
The uncertainty scares me. I miss the old normal. Simple things like taking a stroll in the park and a hug. It is unprecedented and we are a part of this history. There are some positive stories from these times and some that shook me. Through this blog, I will keep sharing them.
I am hopeful this too shall pass. Let’s stay connected and have faith.
happiness and food 
If anything, this current crisis has given us all more in common. I appreciate this glimpse into your world, so thoughtfully written. So glad you are safe and well.
LikeLike
I was just about to share this link with you. Thank you for giving me the thought starter. Thank you! Take care and see you soon on the other side.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing Parul. We all miss the old normal and hope we will return to it sooner. Cheers
LikeLike
Hey Avinash! Long time.. how have you been? So good to see you back here.. feels like eons 😉
Yes, hope that too.
LikeLike
We are all in this together, and slowly but surely we have started toe are into this new normal.
Yes, I miss my cycling jaunts into nature and those warm hugs from my precious friends and family too. But this too shall pass. In good time. Amen to that!
Take care and stay your radiantly beautiful self, Parul.
Love and light!
LikeLike
Thanks a ton, Natasha! I miss the morning rush too but like you said, soon enough.
hugs and take care!
LikeLike
I hope you stay safe. This pandemic certainly is frightening.
LikeLike
Thank you! I wish the same for you. It is frightening and the part that we don’t know adds to it.
LikeLike
This year I had to cancel all my travel plans and that is my biggest regret. I love to travel and missing out on some really great destination is making me sad. The other thing that is really bothering me is the condition of the daily wagers, whenever I am thinking about them I am going into depression. I am more worried about the collateral damage of this pandemic. Stay safe dear
LikeLike
I think the most important thing for us all is that we’re well and safe – every thing else takes second place. For me, it’s not a huge change, because we do most of our own housework, Jose works from home and I work within the same housing complex. We’re allowed to walk our dogs and go for walks so that’s good. The two things that are troubling me most is the plight of the daily wage earners and the degree of hate people are spewing!
LikeLike
It has not been much of a change really for us apart from a slight increase in household work. As of now we are happy that all of us are safe and sound and trying to take it each day at a time.
LikeLike
Life has changed totally. And it’s certainly unprecedented. I sometimes find it tough to come to terms with the enormity and the fact that this is our new normal. I miss eating out, going to the movies, saloon. Was nice to get a peak of your life especially the blessings to count
LikeLike
Yes, your article such inspiration for how to live in this critical situation.
LikeLike
That’s a great round up post of everyone’s feelings right now. I miss leisure trips, eating at restaurants, meeting colleagues, having lunch with them, my face to face dance classes. We moved to online dance classes temporarily. Iam afraid how many more jobs will go here and how many more people will die or become sick before it’s controlled.
LikeLike
I will have to recalibrate my definition of normal, that’s for sure. The lockdown has shown me many potential changes that might make the quality of my life better.
LikeLike
This is true for many of us. Thanks Apeksha for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
LikeLike
I now don’t get my silent retreats. I am worried about how kids are missing out on going to their schools and playing at the playground. Akku, as such, is not so interactive with others. Now it will take a lot of effort to get him back to his daycare once the virus is gone. I am cooking and cleaning a lot. I am also worried about how lonely would I be feeling once life gets back to its normalcy and everyone goes back to their office and schools. Would I feel lonely then! At least I have enough privileges to entertain such worries as well to worry about those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
Maybe I will try a post like this. Thanks for the idea, Parul.
LikeLike
Same here and believe me we all are going through the same sphere of life. There are some minor tiffs but these are fine and we all are happily passing over this lock down and hope we all come out negatively in this pandemic. Stay safe – stay blessed.
LikeLike