A WALK TO REMEMBER

COVID 19, the scariest nightmare of all time. Till the time you are inside your home, nothing bothers you. You might freak out by the misery outside but deep down you know you are safe. You are in a protected environment with a preconceived notion that nothing will happen to you and your loved ones. But the moment you realize you need to step out of your comfort zone to face the real world, no matter how positive you are about life, trust me you shiver a little. You fear about the outcome...what if???

I recently got a chance to board a flight from DELHI AIRPORT. It was an opportunity to experience the "new normal". The insight to enter into a crowded place these days pours you with unending loop of thoughts. You prepare yourself for the "D day" just like a warrior gathers all the arms and ammunition to fight the enemy. You have to rely on the new set of COVID sponsored arms like gloves, mask, hand sanitizers, face shield or may be PPE if you think necessary .

The arrival at the airport fills you with anxiety. You are all prepared to face the reality. A check list pops up in your mind before you enter. Your first encounter is the thermal screening at the gateway. A gun is pointed towards you by a man cladded in all white costume (PPE). You feel like a criminal about to be shot.The green signal given by the person declares you a winner of hurdle 1 in this video game.

Talking of video games,getting the boarding pass safely is the hurdle 2 of your journey. Distant circles made on the floor grab your attention. Your task is to get to the counter without touching a single human or surface else you loose a lifeline. You feel confident and safe when you see the airport staff taking all the precautions to avoid contact and make the process hassle free. Simultaneously, you also witness people who are so carefree as if corona never existed for them. Their ignorance and overconfidence ends into you doubting the ability of corona virus.

The biggest surprise element in this journey is your flight ride. The vacant middle rows, the PPE dressed staff, the face shield borne passengers, the frequent use of hand sanitizer and social distancing norms like avoiding the use of toilets seems a complete different world. The whole set up may remind you of a series named "Chernobyl" where workers were wearing similar suits to avoid nuclear radiations. Fortunately, reality is still better than those times. Everything looks quite strange but obvious, for which you slowly get acquainted. By the time you reach the destination you stop fearing and get settled in the strange atmosphere.

Ever played "lifeline"? Travelling during pandemic times is just like playing lifeline, you have to save Tailor who is the only survivor on the lifeless moon.Your decisions will influence whether Taylor lives or dies a lonely death on a strange world.

This relates to the last section of the journey which elevates your emotional turmoil. You see your loved ones but the inability to hug them or show all the loving gestures just to protect them from yourself is hard to digest. (Remember of saving tailor!) You don't know whether you have contracted the virus or not?  Your decision to stay in a 14 day home quarantine may not be appreciated by your loved ones. But your determination to keep them safe, keeps the entire universe motivated to get going.

In words of NELSON MANDELA "it always seems impossible until its done." Together we can beat the pandemic provided we stay alert and positive. Every individual needs to take their responsibility to make this new normal more compatible with our lifestyles. Loosing hope can never be an option because it is always brighter on the other side. 

With the growing need to open the economies and desperation to bring back the world order, home stay won't suffice in the longer run. We need to be prepared for all the challenges of future. For the time being the most relevant tagline would be STAY HOPEFUL, STAY VIGILANT & STAY SAFE WHEREVER YOU ARE !!