Excursions

I am really surprised by the sheer amount of heartfelt tributes pouring in for #IrrfanKhan from his fans all over the world. He never attained the conventional “stardom” - he had no quality to do so. But all he focused on was to master his craft and excel doing it. He just sincerely did what he loved. I remember he had said in one of his interviews - “just avoid getting bored with yourself”, doing what you like to do and you shall achive that you want”. Yep, I guess that is all it takes to be recognised. And loved. Sincerity.

We lost a brilliant artist very early today — this is a big, big loss to the film industries all around the world. There is so much that we missed to see from this man. The world was just starting to appreciate what he is capable of. #RIPIrrfanKhan

I recently came across this brilliant article at Quartz at Work suggesting to “move beyond “how are you doing?” and get more serious about the questions we’re asking our colleagues, friends, and family”. It presented a list of questions that one should lead with while talking to others.

I thought I will try and attempt to answer a few of these myself. Maybe you can give it a try too. And if you do, I would like to read how you are dealing with this challenging moment. Here’s my attempt.

How are you taking care of yourself today?

Listening to music — spending some time with myself. It’s been some time that I did that. I used to do that very often. Of course, it was a lot easier to find some lone time. Not that easy any more.

What part of your shelter-in-place residence have you come to appreciate the most?

The corner with my study table, I am happy that I spent some significant time designing it while I was renovating my home. And another room I like to go relax in now and then is the bathroom.

What surprising thing have you been stocking up on (that isn’t toilet paper)?

Body lotion — I do not know why, but I have got many of them now. And biscuits. I never knew I liked biscuits so much.

What’s a story — from a book, a movie, an article, a conversation — that you’ve been gripped by recently? Why did it capture you?

All the stories of sacrifices that get published every single day — when the humans have behaved just the way they should. It has been rare to read about recently.

What habit have you started, or broken, during the quarantine?

I have fallen out of the habit of writing the morning pages. I know I shouldn’t have. But for some reason, there isn’t much that’s different that every new day dawns with.

I have fallen into my old habit of listening to the music — lots of varied music.

I am not listening to podcasts. Or Audiobooks. I am reading lots of books.

Which specific place in your neighborhood are you most looking forward to visiting once this is all over?

Every part of the neighborhood. Everything that’s outside. That’s crowded. The streets. The restaurants.

What’s the easiest part about the quarantine?

Finding stuff to idle the time away with.

What are some things you have realized that you don’t really need?

Air conditioners. Cash.

What’s something you own that feels useful?

Internet. Kindle. Plants and Garden.

What is your COVID-19 nickname/alter-ego?

The chatty, social one. I have been part of many zoom meetings, few even those where I knew no one on the other side.

What problem—either yours, or something more global —do you wish you could solve?

Illiteracy. Stupidity. Rebelism.

After Trump talked about medical usage of UV light exposure and injecting disinfectants in his press conference, Dave Pell says, “Stop live-broadcasting these batshit political rallies masquerading as press conferences. Stop the crazy coverage”. I agree.

I always wondered why the leader of the government, in turn a country, needs to drive these press conferences. Sure, it gives press a chance to question the government. But I think US is a live example of what a shitshow this can turn into.

I somewhat like how it is done in India. The relevant ministry officials and the assigned experts lead the press conference - experts doing majority of the talking.

Politicians better be kept away from mics in these trying times. They tend to get into their old habit of addressing their vote banks.

I read this brilliant tweet from Evan Greer highlighting how cynical the techies have been left as the result of the last few years.

Medical experts: we need testing, PPE, & social distancing

Tech bros: so surveillance, right?

Medical experts: testing, hand washing, masks & ppl staying home plz.

Tech bros: got it, fever seeking drones

Medical experts: TESTING! PPE!!!

Tech bros: facial recognition?

I understand, all the efforts that the governments all over the world are rolling out towards containing the spread of virus can potentially affect our privacy. Or the way we are used to control our privacy. But I believe it is not just this issue that we will have to live with and fight against after this pandemic has passed.

Summer is setting in — stays too hot throughout the day. And is equally bad in nights too. It is going to be a trying May ☀😰 — especially so without the regular niceties of the months of summer 🏖🍧🍹

I watched a few episodes of the new Netflix miniseries Hasmukh. Only because there was Vir Das associated with it. But it was such a bore. Das didn’t fit the character - he is too posh to pull off the role of a small-town guy. Plus as a comedian on-screen, he just isn’t funny.

I realize that I have so much time at hand by not doing the activities that I always wanted to avoid. Like those long commutes. Or needless trips to shopping malls. Or attending those guests that I didn’t want to.

So much time at hand. So much that I could do, that I could create potentially. Potentially.

However, I find that my mind wanders off. It can’t concentrate for long. It can’t be creative. I keep staring at the blank screen before I give up and reach out for something to read. I stare at those words that should mean something. But then I again give up. Finally and unwillingly, I land at those apps. The apps that I had carefully spent the last few months on getting into a habit of avoiding.

Wish this wasn’t difficult. But the fact is today everything is. Wish I could better control my mind. But the fact is today I can hardly control anything.

When this all passes over, it is not this helplessness that I want to remember these days for. So it is my photo gallery that is most happening.

It is full of snapshots of everything different that we have been doing together as a family. Cooking. Playing. Singing. Dancing. Not just the photos, it is full of videos now. I am creating movies out of these moments of togetherness. At least, am learning now. The pictures, the movies, they need not be perfect, as long as they bring out the underlying, momentary happiness, hopefulness, that I lived through.

So some years down, when I get a notification for new memories in my photos app — saying “5 years ago” — it is that feeling of togetherness, happiness, hopefulness that I want to personally associate this pandemic, this lockdown with.

Maybe that’s very selfish of me. But that’s the least harmful vice this pandemic could live behind within me.

“But dad, why is 14 spelt as fourteen while 40 is forty? Why can’t they keep things simple?” Asks my daughter. I guess when you don’t go outside, you can spot and question even the trivial things that you usually neglect. Or maybe lockdown hasn’t affected the curious minds?

I understand now why the post-apocalyptic fiction tends to focus on the aftermath of an apocalypse - especially of a pandemic. The period when the world lives through, fights and struggles gets tiring, I guess. Though this is the poignant period, there’s nothing dramatic.