Life: A New Normal or Abnormal!

Rekha takes stock of the changed lifestyle due to the pandemic and reminds us that the new normal is perhaps abnormal. An exclusive for Different Truths.

India is gripped, crippled and grappling in absolute uncertainty and profound fear as the second wave of the deadly Covid-19 has swept millions across the whole world. And this is deadlier and more lethal. I wonder if this kind of panic situation had existed last year, around this time?

As I look out, there is an ambience of an underlined, silent, eerie sense of trepidation and worry that is just so difficult to describe and comprehend, that can only be experienced or felt! It is by far the most uncomfortable feeling, as if a noose tightening around us, am I being taken to the gallows, I think!

I want to so desperately feel positive but I am constantly being interrupted by the incessant blaring of ambulance horns and that drains out all my resolve to stay happy and relaxed! There is a sinister silence that is deafening!

Amidst all chaos and this sorry state of affairs, I can see the birds, chirping boisterously and flying around with a sense of triumph, joy and freedom! And it has been like for the last 1.5 years, a state of ultimate bliss and tranquility – breathing unadulterated air, enjoying the soft lilting breeze and the occasional crystal-clear rain drops as they perch on trees. The skies adorn a more colorful look as if telling us – this is payback time for all the cruelty and annihilation that you inflicted on this beautiful planet!

The pandemic in all its monstrous forms is not a mere wakeup call but loud hammer blows on our bodies, minds and souls. Like somewhere I read, it is as if the earth shouting out that we need to stop treating ourselves as the indomitable masters of the universe. We are not! We are just guests here and we need to realise that we need to be grateful and preserve for our next generation. It is like the earth asking Us-Who gave you this huge sense of entitlement? I think we gave it to ourselves!

I feel we completely forgot the meaning and essence of the word, coexistence! I am certain that all other creatures of this planet may be mocking at us, laughing at our utter helplessness and the way in which we have succumbed to this virus which we boasted of eventually conquering and eradicating. I am certain we will eventually conquer!

Let us not forget that the second coming has been grander, floating in the air like tiny, microscopic soldiers – all set to vanquish the most superior and arrogant of all – we humans! This is what I call as the battle between the humane and the inhumane! it is the duel between need and greed! and it is indeed tragic that we have made a paradigm shift from need to greed!

If we ever thought of listing down all those little day-to-day moments of joy, I feel sad as it is going to be endless. To start with we are masked, and we can’t anymore enjoy the morning walks and we are so scared even to take a deep breath of fresh air! Then meeting friends, going out, enjoying a sit-down meal at our favourite joints, or a picnic outside- all have become a rarity! Where are those small pit stops to have a quick tea and grub while on long drives – all seems to have got lost in the huge wave of the virus.

And where are we now – cooped up, locked in with our families! How greater familiarity is breeding more contempt! Now it is not a choice to be together but we are compelled to! More arguments, more bantering and more moments of frustration; all leaving us annoyed and burnt out! We have simply lost out on the quality of living! Friends and soulmates are now no more real but virtual, via Zoom or WhatsApp, how tragic!

Will we ever return to a world and time when we enjoyed simple normal lives? Those days where we lived without fear and where there was a sane work-life-family balance! It all depends on us how we change and whether at all we want to make that conscious effort to transform into more civilised, empathetic, and humane human beings.

As for now, let us wait with patience and grit when the pandemic starts its downhill journey (whenever that is!) after having taught us some of life’s novel yet very difficult lessons. How this virus forced us to tread untrodden paths and now it is time to take stock of all that we are and we did! This pandemic has taught us that we cannot take life for granted and that we must always be prepared to face and fight the unexpected. This is indeed a time of reflection, introspection, and a rewind of all our actions and behaviour.

Let us not forget that this is Earth’s payback time and this time round she has chosen to be very unkind and unpardoning! So can we all together make one loud shout of apology and pledge to save this beautiful planet from our own cruelties and destruction?

For once at least, we are all united; the whole world on one side and the deadly pandemic on the other! The war for our very survival! For our very basic existence!

If this is not World War III then what is?

Visuals by Different Truths