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love is to be vulnerable, to love is to reach out when the other won’t, to love is to hope that all will be well. And so, I called her, and that 6-year-old fight seems so inconsequential now. And I messaged him, and we couldn’t believe how easily we picked up where we had left off. I reached out to them and couldn’t think of anything to say. But I did. I mustered courage, I made the effort and that was the reward. It would never have happened if life had gone on as it does. Why did I wait, there was no need for hesitation? You couldn’t stop smiling in those Zoom calls. You know the ones I’m talking about - the family get-togethers, the old friends gang catching up, the birthday celebrations, even that engagement you attended. We did that – we formed and forged those connections again! Wouldn’t you say that was our victory over this crisis? I remember many motivational speakers, bloggers, YouTubers were talking about using this time to overcome one’s fears! Fear, you ask. I did too! I thought I wasn’t really scared of anything till I realized I was. Getting in front of a camera, even for Zoom meetings was the most uncomfortable. Did my colleague really need to see me for this work call? What’s the worst that would happen if my camera wasn’t turned on during that review? Sigh! No one seemed to get it, and so I had to force myself to get comfortable. You know what I did? I started a Video Interview Series on YouTube – A whole new experience, I wrote scripts, I invited guests, I interviewed people, and I was on camera! My face is out there… for people to judge and comment on. But no one did! Yeah it really was fine! Just like you’d said it would be. I got some views; I had a good time; videos and cameras became more me! The plan had always just been to keep my head down, keep working, maybe use the extra time to pick up some new skills, try something I’d always wanted to. The goal was just somehow getting through this lockdown, getting safely through 93

to the other side of this pandemic. But it became much more – a chance to reset, to evaluate where my life was going and what I was doing with this precious gift. I made some big life decisions in these months, some that I’m really excited about, the kind that everyone dreams of making but not many do. So… 2020 gave me new perspectives, new friendships, the new hindsight. 2020 bought more lounge wear in my wardrobe than ever before. 2020 taught my parents more about Video calls, Emails and Technology in a few short months than I ever could. 2020 granted me so much extra cuddle time with my husband. 2020 taught me how to cook, how to handle more pressure and stress 2020 helped me grow and gave credibility to my skills, my strengths, my talents, my perseverance. ISHANI BEHARI 94

SHEILA BHATTACHARYA Sheila Bhattacharya lives in Mumbai, with her family of charming free-spirited individuals. She has been teaching English for what seems forever. She seems to survive on daily dose of ‘theatre of the Absurd’ classroom drama, this provides her with both inspiration and a great deal material to work with – fiction, as you know, can never beat life in interesting coincidences! She loves all forms of literature, particularly the ‘snarky’ ones that tickles one’s mind and makes one smile. 95

PANDEMIC –NATURE’S JUMANJI GAME The Pandemic, is like an imaginative essay topic, that, through some strange twist of fate has come true! You know, those essay topics that English Teachers [that includes me] struggle hard to create – write a 300-word essay about a time when you were stuck on an island with your friend! I have done this quite often and now Karma is paying me back big time! And I dare not complain, instead I play situation like Jumanji, hoping the next turn I will throw the exact number on the dice and wake up in the world I knew so well which was … Rushed breakfast, almost missed the bus, traffic and pollution all around and of course the excuses for home work undone… Not now, not anymore, the pandemic has changed the pace and quality of my life and has taught me so much more: 1. Time is what you want it to be - Earlier, it was these new-fangled diners and cafés that had an all-day breakfast menu, well, post –pandemic so do we! For instance, I discovered one of my much loved flesh and blood, very bleary eyed in the kitchen at noon, or near about that time, staring intently inside the fridge. ‘is there something you have lost?’ I asked with caution, not wanting to bruise young egos I got a predictable answer ‘HuH!’ Now don’t get me wrong, he completely capable of conversation, in fact his teachers tell me that he excessively articulates in class! but I guess, my parenting skills or maybe the questions I pose are not worthy of his discerning intellect, so I normally get – ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and sometimes just before he erupts into explosion of huffs and puffs, he says ‘Mom, I have no idea what you are talking about!’ 96

To get back into the issue of time, I gently asked what was it that he was expecting to crawl out the cool interiors of the fridge at 12 .00 in the afternoon, to which I got a prompt reply ‘Breakfast!’ ‘It’s lunch time, you know, so why…’ I couldn’t finish my lesson on suitable meal times ‘maybe, but I just woke up …so it’s breakfast when you wake up, which is why I am wondering what to eat for breakfast’ He beamed at me and gave me a messy hug, hoping that would help me understand the complex time and food connections- And it did! I realized that just because we live in the same space doesn’t mean we live in the same time frame. In fact, living in the same space has probably forced us into different time- zone! Since we no longer have to sync our time with the rest of the world, we are free to float in any time bubble we want. A Monday is as blue as a Friday which is as red as a Wednesday. Our sense of time is now synced to the Bio –clock within. I have learnt to master the inner urge to contemplate and procrastinate- it has been a difficult learning curve, but I have been able to chart out a course. I do bump, nudge and find others in the same time frame, we share a precious moment together. But the pandemic has made me aware of time, how I spend it and the way it affects my life and relationships. 2. Space is not a physical entity- Physics is really not my thing- quantum physics and the string theory sound fantastic in class but I don’t claim to understand the nitty gritty of it at all. Of course I know, like everyone else, that the universe works on a theory of relativity which is represented by the famous equation E=mc2 but how does all this fit into my Miniscule Mumbai Flat? 97

Space is a single word that can explain this paradox perfectly because it so ambiguous by definition – it could refer to my tiny desk which is the only place I can truthfully claim as my own Or It could be the vast expanse of twinkling stars and planets that I can see when I stare out from a tiny window of my flat on a gloomy night during the pandemic. In other words, it adds a very a physical and a metaphoric dimension to in our lives. Perfect inner peace can be achieved through a careful balance of these two aspects of space. That has been the most incredible learning of the pandemic. Physical space is limited in cities; the pandemic has made sure that we are stuck in our small places with people we love. Too much love at close proximity is like in drowning in sugar syrup- you are so confused about the situation because you are supposed to be enjoying yourself but you are choking instead! As Shakespeare puts it very neatly in his play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ ‘they are as sick that surfeit with too much as they that starve with nothing.’  Act 1 scene 2 There is a simple solution to this just shift your existence to a metaphoric space- and you find that you no longer find that yourself staring at dirty dishes in the sink or spiders in the balcony corners. Even the books and devices scattered in rooms take on a more pleasing appearance. All you have to do is set your mind free to wander through the universe. Go on journeys that you have always wanted to- I have blended my fantasy to my reality so perfectly that I have a shopping cart of clothes on Amazon that I used on my trip to Antarctic for a private expedition, all by myself, to see the penguins! 98

We have never been so bonded as a family as when we bought a telescope! It was magical moment when we unwrapped it and set it up and stared up at the universe – at space- we all felt a rush of freedom from our petty existence! The most incredible thing is that smaller the physical space, quicker and easier it is to escape into another world. The pandemic has broken the magic spell time and routine casts on us. We do not have to rush around trying live within plates of time, with ladles of allotted functions being dished out to us – we can float free, sail with the thermals of the mind and gently fall to a soft landing wherever we want. I have learned to weave my life into new patterns, where space is not limited the three dimensions, but an ever expanding one; where parallel universes exist people are compassionate and wash their dishes. The pandemic has actually allowed me to experience the relativity of time and space, I have learnt a lesson that all those physics classes couldn’t teach me! It has opened my perceptions and set me free to appreciate the world without boundaries of work to done and space to be lived in. I may throw the dice at this massive JUMANJI game and wake up but I will never be the same again. SHEILA BHATTACHARYA 99

MADHURI GODBOLE Mrs Madhuri Godbole, born in 1955, is a graduate in History of Fine Arts, and in English Literature. She has a Masters and M. Phil both in English Literature.Experienced in the field of education for 30 years, she has worked as teacher, as a lecturer in Junior College, and as Head Mistress. She has been bestowed with the ‘Best Teacher’s Award’ twice by Rotary Club of Ulhasnagar,Midtown.She has also been one of the awardees for ‘Shreshtha Mahila’on Women’s Day organized by Ambarnath Municipal Corporation. She is known to be creative and enthusiastic. She has a penchant for writing. She has authored one poem and six articles/stories for The Impish Lass Publishing House. Social work is her second nature. She has won prizes in Inner Wheel Club at the National and District level for her articles and poems. Her mantra is, “Keep Evolving, Keep Inspiring! 100

MUSINGS……Pandemic Part 2 ‘The World is beautiful outside when there is stability from inside’. This line caught my attention and I pondered about Lock down 2. One has to be tenacious from within to face fate and adversities. During Lockdown 1 we encountered something unimaginable. It was not easy reading about multitudes dying. Neither was it comfortable to hear about our near and dear ones going through the trauma of Covid swab tests and testing positive. Worst still was to learn about the large amounts the patients had to pay. As we keep track of how many die, how many survive and how many are affected, we feel positive to see man progress with a 90% survival rate. Hopes of the vaccine getting introduced by July 2021 boost us. Nearly one million Indians have recovered from Corona Virus. With half the tunnel crossed bright rays are visible in the sky with a silver lining. Shelley’s line rightly says it all, ‘’If Winter comes can Spring be far behind?” Man has come a long way. That eternally imprisoned feeling of Lockdown 1 is being replaced by a forthcoming release. Just as stars change in one’s life, stars have changed for planet earth too. We now move to a better period. History repeats itself; there has been a similar pandemic in 1819 too, when influenza was the cause. “Time present and time past Are both perhaps present in time future” muses T.S. Eliot. And Kitty O’Meara’s excerpt from ‘In the Pandemic’gives us hope: “..When the danger passed, people joined together again, /they grieved their losses and made new choices…./and created new ways to live and heal the world fully as they had been healed .” 101

Covid 19 has brought forth to us loud and clear that health is a prominent factor which stabilizes the country socially, economically, politically and above all emotionally. Economically the whole world has had a set back and we are paying a huge cost for it. Poor people have suffered immensely in trying to make both ends meet, especially daily wage earners. Their gloomy faces are being replenished by a smile. Economy shows a slow and gradual upward curve in some sectors. Some have seen opportunity in this crisis. FMCG does not show a set back but stability. Pharma industries have had a good growth. Astrologers are flourishing. Soap sale has an upward surge. The sale of Home made food is on perpetual demand. The wedding sector has started picking up with 50 invitees permitted. The tourism sector has is planning according to the changed scenario. Goa with very few Covid cases is back on track as a destination for holidays. Staycations ie change of workplace and also enjoy a holiday is becoming a trend now. Gyms have opened up. Movies and plays have started their shows with limited audience. Textile units are not doing well, but have started putting earlier stock on sale. Sale of Leather goods is looking up. Online educational apps are flourishing and E commerce is excelling. The IT, the ITES and tele-calling show stability. Many have been fired from jobs or their salaries have been reduced; while others are getting themselves equipped with further skills. Man is trying to come to terms and changing his ways as per circumstances. He knows that having faith in oneself is the solution. Joe Biden has very aptly said, “Faith sees best in the dark.” Though the fear of Corona lingers and is written all over, outside the comfort zone of our homes, in our personal lives we have reconciled. Wearing masks, maintaining a distance, and washing hands with soap and water has become a part of our 102

daily routine. Keeping away from coughs, colds and building immunity has become a way of life. Earlier meeting friends and relatives was a part of our routine, now there are restrictions of physically meeting and distancing. Touch deprivation, not allowing hugs and handshakes, is said to impact mental well being, but we are coping with that too. The pandemic may never have occurred had we taken care of climate systems, the quality of air, land, water, and biodiversity. Attention towards animals, birds, global warming, and identifying with nature, might have controlled the situation. It is amazing to see great poets like Wordsworth reiterate way back in the 19th Century, ‘Have I not reason to lament, What Man has made of Man.’ We need to continue being a HU man and realize that our battle is with the virus and not each other. Let us empathise and be there for one and other. Let us discover the power of serendipidity, and how this phase has become a blessing in disguise in innumerable ways. Slow time rather than a fast life needs to take precedence. It is very important to appreciate, and be devoid of expectation and judgement. Let us be spiritual and think about the power above. We have understood the value of work in our houses. The Indian male is becoming aware of his own role in the daily chores of the house. Helpers show silent gratitude for being shown sympathy, and being paid for three months without doing work during the lockdown. Children are benefitting by having their parents close to them. Parents are more aware of their childrens’activities now. Though education is devoid of the physical presence of, the teacher and the taught, in the online school, there is a well chalked out time table with yoga, elocution competitions, tests and more. Games like chess, or coding can be learnt online. This make shift school may lead to the return of the Gurukul System as a superior alternative for schooling. 103

Calamity is the best leveler for man. Happiness quotient, which is a mind set, whether rich, poor or middle class is the same. Anxiety levels, suicides have reduced in number. From worry and stress we are reaching positivity. Less is more; if we ask, what it is that we require to live reasonably well, the answer is - not too much because we priotise on need rather than greed. In this semi-fast life many have found their poetic muse and inspiration for writing, learning skills or doing things for which they didn’t have the luxury of time earlier. Those who are artists have become better artists now. On the whole art and craft is reviving. With technology becoming today’s survivor apps like Star maker has made better singers. People are singing on you tube also. Members of families and friends meet on video calls. Relationships are being maintained differently. Reading books, playing a game, or even meditating together, all are being worked out. “Friends remain friends when they do something together.” Ruskin Bond We should adopt changes,and avoid a third Lockdown. With the onset of winter and people becoming lax in preventing Covid, another phase may trickle in and spread. Uncertainty still prevails, albeit we should be the master of our fate. Ford Madox Ford analogises between weather and the phases of life… “Sometimes wind and sometimes rain / Then the sun comes back again; Sometimes rain and sometimes snow/Goodness how we’d like to know why the weather alters so.” May we overcome this phase of Lockdown 2, and successfully defeat Carona soon. MADHURI GODBOLE 104

KOMAL GUPTA Komal Gupta is an Indian poetess and writer based in Gurugram, Haryana. She writes under the pen name of tejaswiniaura. She is an avid reader with a penchant for the extraordinary and mundane aspects of life. A keen observer of life, words to her are an extension of perceptions. 105

THE WAY AHEAD From lockdowns, all four, here comes Unlock Town, opening quite a few doors, things are changing, while the virus is out there raging. Stay safe, stay brave, this is not the end, we strive on to fight, together with all our might. Victory will be ours soon! Isn't that right? We, a whole, write scroll and drum roll, steamroll, gamble gambol, upon rows of words stalled as they crawl on lines, answering the perpetual call, how to tackle time's lengthening reign. We sigh, we sing. Things are never to be the same again, we resign to life's new normal stinging sting. We play with the days, Rubik cube like, trying to get all colours onto the right sides. We laugh, we cry, do chores, sometimes wrong, sometimes right, we manage okay. The new normal is another ballgame, new rules, not to be taken lightly. We push forth day to day, ready for what might come our way. KOMAL GUPTA 106

BHAGVATI RAMAKRISHNAN Bhagvati Ramakrishnan is a post graduate in English. She began her career as an English and Humanities teacher in Mumbai and retired as the Head Mistress of a prestigious school with rich experience in teaching. She has worked with students writing and directing their skits and historical plays. She has worked as an examiner and moderator for the SSC Board. She enjoys reading, writing with a special interest in poetry. Bhagvati has written for several anthologies of the Impish Lass Publications. 107

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING Gautam and Rani were working executives. They were both hard working and held senior management positions in their respective jobs. Their life was really very busy, right through the day, from morn to night. Gautam worked for an international IT firm while Rani worked with a leading aviation firm, as a product designer. On reaching home every evening, they would rush with their two kids to the play area of their complex. It would be different games at different times. They really enjoyed this time as they could relax, meet other friends, and monitor their kids at the same time while they enjoyed their play. The evenings were no less than an obstacle race for both the parents, jumping over the parapet to catch a ball, rush after kids while they tried to run down the stairs, save two colliding, kids from running into each other, so on and so forth. The children were both boys, aged eight and four. Oh my god, a naughtier pair has yet to be discovered. There was so much commotion and pandemonium in the house which the boys thoroughly enjoyed! It was only the grandmom who was terrified when they got excited or when their friends arrived for a 'small' get together. It was then that the decibel level rose to intolerable levels. But the loving mother, Rani and her friends tolerated it as they wanted the kids to have a nice time, a change from the week's routine. These minor problems never hassled them, they realised how tiring a ten to five, office day for the entire week was. They wanted the kids to play, enjoy and snack. They all had several maids to help them out. Our Rani had three maids working in her house. A cook, a lady who did the dusting, sweeping, swabbing and a third one who acted as a nanny. The cook would stay back to help the nanny till the mother arrived as it was difficult to handle two over excited boys. 108

On normal working days, they came home tired from school. Their Tiffin and milk time extended into their various activities like drawing, music or just relaxation with some TV time. However by evening, they were all set to play cricket or just cycle with other children. One of their parents was expected to be with them. This evening play was so important for them, that its cancellation could lead to all sorts of regressive behaviour like tantrums or simple screams. You could gauge how much they enjoyed this time. Though they kept the parents on their toes, the kids were very intelligent and exhibited skills beyond their age. They learnt their routine quickly and did extremely well in school, which incidentally was one of the best in the city. The teachers were all praise for the 'well behaved children and their good manners' in school. All this was possible only because of the well educated and cultured parents and the good routine they set for the kids. The three maids who helped to keep the house spick and span and cooked and took care of the children, also played an important role. But then came the debilitating pandemic! Gautam was in fact in the US, on official duty at that time. He could only come back in March and himself went into voluntary quarantine, as advised by his office. India had still not gone into a lockdown then. But soon it was severely clamped down, and with it came work from home. Schools closed without conducting annual exams. Children simply had an extended holiday. Soon people realized that this lockdown was not meant for a short period and would carry on much longer. There was total confusion as life came to a standstill. Children enjoyed their closed schools. But parents, especially those in the IT field, had to work full day, and the children too had to be kept engaged at home. Their international calls extended up to eleven or twelve in the night. The maids were asked to stay away from work. So it's unthinkable how a full time working mother could do the work 109

of three maids, besides keeping an eye on her kids during office time. Kids would demand special dishes seeing their mom at home. Rani would feel overwhelmed as she was not there to cater to their demands on other days. She would quickly finish cooking in the morning and then sit down in front of her computer. During lunch break, she would quickly heat up the victuals and ask her kids to hurry up with lunch. She had to get back to work quickly. The kids had to be given suitable assignments to keep them busy till five. After shutting down the computer, while Gautam engaged the children in games, Rani had to do the sweeping. She forgot about swabbing everyday. They changed roles some days but Gautam also had to get the grocery and veggies as the vendors were not allowed to get things at their doorstep. Then there was the problem of sanitizing the grocery packets. The vegetables were to be washed, sanitized and dried before storing inside the fridge. But the children being used to constant attention from the grand mom and maids became cranky. They were not allowed to socialize or meet friends. Lack of play and physical exercise in the evening left no opportunity to release their pent up energies. All this had a cascading effect on the parents. Added to this were horror stories of covid 19, which had spread all around and also reached their posh complex. Whatsapp posts spread news like wild fire and people didn't know what to believe and what to set aside. But medicines for treatment, immunity, drugs, exercises and a lot of information regarding this unheard of disease were floating around. Some of it did good, while the rest was harmful as it spread fear amongst people. Rumours of non availability of hospital beds, ventilators, ambulances and scarcity of drugs built up a terror against the disease. The denial of rights to mourn a loved one’s death was distressing and added to the pathos of people suffering. There were shortages in the supply chain, 110

people resorted to rumours of non availability of goods and added to society's sufferings. The labour force returning home to their own state was a sad scene and was also partly a result of rumour mongering. Finally they were sent back in special trains amidst fears of a virus spread in rural areas too. All this created mental trauma in the minds of the society resulting sometimes in severe mental health issues. Rani and Gautam along with their mother decided special prayers were good for every one's physical and mental health. Every evening at seven, the entire family gathered around to learn and recite many powerful shlokas and mantras. They also included a tiny meditation session every day. This lockdown period was useful thus for some spiritual activity for the family. Even the children picked up many beautiful prayers and recited them perfectly. This helped them to develop certain calmness over time. The kids joined some online chess training, along with music lessons. Gautam helped them with art and craft work just to keep them busy and happy. He looked up the internet to learn about various projects for kids. Schools too started on line classes and even conducted games to make it interesting. Bhagvad Gita classes were held online and grandmother found it a wonderful opportunity to upgrade her knowledge. Rani and Gautam continued with their routine and refused to call even a single maid for help, considering the fact that there were small kids and a vulnerable senior citizen at home. Their resilience and regular pursuance with late night official conference calls was commendable. When they hit the bed at night, their hands and legs ached from all the physical work. But in bed, Rani was thinking about a new breakfast to entice the kids and Gautam was planning about new interesting games and activities to keep the boisterous duo busy. They also worried about their scheduled office meetings and projects that 111

needed to be completed. One realises that the wise Almighty above, gives all of us special inner strengths whenever needed. They are our hidden talents and abilities which we must learn to use to the utmost to lead a peaceful and successful life! Family playing games together. 112

FERVENT PRAYERS I was terrified, the corona was everywhere. I had never heard his name, but he was visiting. He was detestful, entitled, unkind and corny! When will you leave us to our privacy? Our hospitals were full, there were heavy queues Huge bills accrued but what could we do? Fright led people to strange Whatsapp rumours. Corona, when will you leave us alone? Offices closed their doors and so did schools. People stayed home to be safe, what'll kids do? Work from home it was, and online classes too. Corona, when will you leave and go? Thousands died the world over and so did here, Terrified, all followed the rules, washed hands, Distanced themselves, hoped and prayed That corona would be driven away! Prayers were held collectively, online, Hundreds joined fervently for spiritual strength, Physical, emotional, and a Vaccine too. Corona, we've had enough, please, just go! BHAGVATI RAMAKRISHNAN 113

DIVYA VENKATESWARAN Divya Venkateswaran works with a renowned education services company as a part time test administrator and lives in Mumbai. She is passionate about music and reading. She has learnt Carnatic classical music and has won several awards. Writing is her newfound passion. Her articles are published in Times of India (Internet) under the Soul Curry section. She has contributed her articles and poems in many anthologies by the Impish Lass Publishing House. Whenever she finds time, she loves to listen to old Hindi movie songs, Classical Music and read Indian authors. 114

VOICES OF THE PANDEMIC A diary is the most intimate thing anybody could have. We record our innate thoughts, concerns and pain. In short it is what we are and how we feel. As the pandemic and the lockdown have left a deep impact on everybody’s life, people are scared about what the future holds. Amidst all of this panic, fear and confusion, I decided to peep into everyday experiences of the people during lockdown. THE HEALTH WORKER Nita is in her late 40’s, a nurse with a renowned health care institution in Mumbai. Like many workers she is also juggling family life and caring pledge. Nita foresaw the struggle which the health industry would go through these tough times. On her shift, the previous weekend, before the lockdown was announced, it became apparent how unprepared they were. I was working on a ward which had three infected patients. There were indications that they were infected on admission and were treated without PPE for two days. All the staff members would have been exposed, to the much suspected COVID-19. It shocked them even more when the doctors refused to enter the ward without masks, the blue gown and the visors. Fortunately, the doctors did respond to the patient and made him stable but the whole episode was worrisome, especially the surgical masks and the aprons which were provided to us. I was annoyed about the fact that, the staff was told there is no PPE, when clearly there was. A lack of information was creating a situation of panic and fear among staff members. It seemed weird that they weren’t testing the staff unless they were symptomatic. THE STUDENT Pranay, 21 studies at Delhi University and is in his final year. A normal student life came to an end for him when the lockdown was announced, causing my roommates to leave the shared house. All the three housemates left for their hometowns 115

one after the other. The landlord was kind enough to not charge the rent of others on me. I along with some friends and the landlord collected money and started distributing masks and sanitizers to the much needy. THE TEACHER Kalpana is a teacher in her late 30’s. She is trying to school her children during the lockdown and being a parent and a teacher is proving to be a very challenging task. They began with an English lesson for the little one. We managed to login through the application which was suggested by the school. We comfortably were inside the virtual classroom and waiting for others to join in. But the attention span of my little one is like goldfish and we couldn’t go according to the plan. He was smiling to his friends who were not even able to see him. Most of them struggled to understand what needs to be done till the teacher instructed. Though it was a total chaos, but as everyone switched on their videos the happiness of seeing their friends was evident from their facial expressions. It took me, more time to adjust with the application as I was not so tech savvy. Teaching and addressing children online didn’t seem to connect well with me. THE WORRIED MOM Poornima, 36 is a mother of two young children who lives in a bustling city. In the earlier days of pandemic, I hid my fears from my children. I didn’t sleep well last night. After putting my children to sleep, I switched on the television. It was full of Corona news and cases and the announcement of lockdown by the Prime Minister was running across all news channels. The news of the cases seemed scary and serious. I felt disturbed and scared for my family and felt the future was bleak. I rang my parents who stay in another city to check on them. I was adorning a role of a mother; the daughter in me was less prominent. After a good chat with my mom, who reminded me that we are all well at this moment and we need to focus 116

more on the present and not what the future holds for us. The next day my son hugged me tightly, to which I asked “What happened?” He asked “Are we all going to die?” to which I answered, “Everything is well.” This made me realize that I need to be brave and I should have the courage to assure my children safety. I was thinking too much, how stupid of me, we were all safe anyways. While this pandemic and the lock down is undoubtedly impacting lives across the world, but we are all experiencing multiple crises in our everyday lives - the old, the young, mothers, fathers, grandparents and different classes. Different lives are facing the dreaded pandemic in the most challenging forms as the numbers surge ahead across the globe. DIVYA VENKATESWARAN Light amidst darkness 117

DOMINIC ARIVARASU MATHIAS A teacher by profession, Mr Dominic Arivarasu Mathias [MA, BEd, MPhil (Eng), MS (Psychotherapy and Counselling)] had spent a large part of his youth in North East India, before settling in Mumbai in 1994. Besides being an editor, he has also published several articles, short stories and poems. He is passionate about skilling the youth and empowering them through the English language. A Teacher-Trainer and a Mentor trained by the British Council, he has co-authored several guide books for Std XI and XII of Maharashtra State Board. He is the recipient of several awards for his contribution to education. His Instagram pages are @ domarasu, @learnenglis_h and @thedonquotes. 118

PRACTISING BEING PRESENT IN THE PRESENT If someone offers to teach meditation to an Indian, the latter would possibly scoff at him: yoga and meditation are a part and parcel of the life of every Indian. During my hostel days in Shillong, we used to have what was termed as a ‘Retreat’ which lasted for half a day once a month and seven days once a year. What all of us had to do was to literally retreat into the bygone days or, sometimes, delve into the distant past, even as far as our childhood days, and examine them with a magnifying glass, as it were, so that we could reverse our faults, heal the wounds and avoid repeating the pitfalls in future. Primarily, it was a spiritual journey into the past to restructure our future – a proactive step towards spiritual edification. Meditation and deep contemplation played a significant role in it. So, during the lockdown, when I read about a Certificate course on ‘Maintaining a Mindful Life’, I did not expect much out of it, dismissing it as another form of meditation not alien to Indians. But the fact that it was offered by one of the top universities of the World, Monash University, Australia, got me thinking. Once I enrolled in it and started the course, I enjoyed it thoroughly. A veritable eye-opener, it was one of the most useful things that I have learned in recent times. Learners are taught to practise ‘Mindfulness Meditation’ as a means of attaining psychological wellbeing. Since the psyche has a domineering influence on the soma or body, many psychosomatic illnesses, as well as our reactions to serious and debilitating illnesses can be controlled, regulated and tackled through Mindfulness Meditation. Mindfulness Meditation (MM) is all about paying attention to and being aware of the present. The practitioners of MM develop a non-judgmental attitude towards their experiences and practise being present in the present. It is as if we come out of our selves and observe our very selves from a vantage point, 119

without passing any type of judgement at all. We look at our ‘subjectness’ objectively, treating it as another object, distinct from the observer. Mindfulness Meditation is aimed at attaining Mindfulness, and not vice versa. Since our attention is regulated during an MM, we arrive at some sort of ‘choiceless awareness’ of the present. Hence the present becomes a real present to us, presented on a platter. I was so overwhelmed by the course that I was itching to share its relevance and significance with whomever I knew. I felt that teachers need to not only practise mindfulness but train their students too in it; sick patients should indulge in MM in order to alleviate their agony; and everyone ought to have a go at it for their own psychological health and stress-free life. The opportunity to spread the word presented itself in the persona of a friend who wanted to organize some webinars on an international level. I leaped at the offer, and my session was live cast through Zoom and Facebook, amidst rave comments. There were more than 600 registrations from round the world! The resounding success propelled me to conduct another practical session for teachers and enlighten them so that they could cascade the learning to their students. The hour and a half session was telecast live on Zoom, Facebook and YouTube for the benefit of the teaching fraternity spread all over India and elsewhere. One of the key concepts that fascinated audiences is the use of ‘punctuation’ and ‘full stop’ during the course of the day. A ‘punctuation’ refers to a short pause from whatever one is doing and engage in a brief Mindfulness Meditation lasting about one to five minutes, depending on the circumstance. The ‘full stop’ meditation is meant to be practised for a longer period a couple of times during the day. As I have already had an initiation into Reiki and Pranic Healing, MM has given me an added advantage of reaching out to the suffering, with phenomenal results. I practise MM 120

every day and this has made my life stress free. Every morning I feel that I am a new person brought forth into this world by the Almighty with a purpose in mind. This lockdown has really turned out, among others, to be a boon to me at personal, spiritual and social levels. DOMINIC ARIVARASU MATHIAS 121

DIPIKA NAYYAR Dipika Nayyar was born in Allahabad (Prayag) in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. She did her schooling from St. Mary's Convent, Allahabad and Bachelor's in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College, Masters from Hindu College in New Delhi. In 1994 she immigrated to Canada with her husband and children. She has worked in a Hospice for 13 years and is very passionate about palliative care. She continues to work in the non-profit sector in the field of finance. She currently makes her home in Toronto, Ontario with her husband and three adult children. 122

A NEW LEARNING, A NEW NORM A spark of excitement, a little joy, a glimmer of hope, a glimpse of normalcy, only to be quashed down by Phase 2 lockdown. A term so foreign a phase unreal, behaviours unheard of, an economy that could no longer bear the atrocities of shuttered shops and cancelled events, no social gatherings or wedding events. The truth was stark, naked and strong and stared at us, so bold and proud. But then, alas, all hope was not lost. My garden beckoned. We were in the prime time of our very own harvesting season. I furtively engaged myself in tending to my garden. Gardening is a hobby. It is part of a culture very different in North America where it's a love affair between the richness of the dark rich composted soil and your physical effort. None of the Indian माली can be found here. Often the fruit of this labour is an achy back. The joy of four months of organic eating have benefits for the body, mind and soul. Nature is kind and considerate. I have often been humbled by my harvest offerings from my meagre strip of kitchen gardening. My apples trees swaying down to plant a loving kiss as I pass under or the leaves lovingly caress my face or often a playful branch getting entangled in my hair or clothes lovingly call me to stop and smell and admire the fruit laden tree. Such is the unspoken joy of nature. An experience unrivalled but a gift of these special times. Hectic routines, long work hours, we (my dear spouse) rolled in bed on either sides and would fall asleep. Fast pace of life in the first world, we spun at a giddy pace. Forced to stop we started at each other, it felt strange we had to learn to communicate. That night we rolled in bed but looked at each other, paused and smiled, held hands and said goodnight. Another gift of the times. TV dinners, frozen entrees, tasteless casseroles and haphazard wraps, this was what we termed as cooking in pre covid times. 123

It was very pathetic. Change came. The Lockdown! Our health and nutrition blossomed. We researched walking trails and hiking paths, we developed interest in walking fast. We counted our steps and applauded our successes, felt burst of energies due to the subtle mind body connection. We stopped and stared and mused and cared as a beautiful red maple leaf waltzed in front of us gently carried by a light breeze. The lilacs blossomed, the birds chirped, the squirrels and chipmunks scuttled tirelessly, hiding food for the bleak snowy days. Zoom comfort is a new zone. Every evening has an activity scheduled for social development. Zoom yoga, circle time, meditation, bollyfit dancing, book club, OT posture correction sessions and much more. Mornings started with spirituality, unparalleled guidance of Vedanta teachings brought to us by our Guru. Zoom Karvachauth fasting, now that's an extreme reality. Of course following closely are virtual Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas celebrations. With the prospect of holidays, there is a whole new frenzy of activities – team events and group activities all in the overarching framework of virtual environments. Family events, friends and a colleagues all are part of our social quilt, a web of interactions each fulfilling a little need in our complex personality. Virtual Gingerbread house making and decorating event, cocktail mixing event, decorating office backdrops and much much more – endless possibilities galore! This Lockdown has catapulted us into a digital world that was initially a healthcare offering but slow to be accepted and adopted. With no choice, the world has embraced technology. Work from home environments are now following observed and structured breaks with exercise routines and walking meetings. We have come a long way in such a short period. The isolation of seniors and palliative patients is heart wrenching. Dying alone, feeling abandoned but being brave about accepting it is extremely sad. For the safety of their 124

family the sick and those with compromised immune systems, become stalwarts of silent suffering. Virtual visitations and funerals! Alas where and when will all this end? The tireless work of healthcare workers and their selfless giving is a living proof that Humanity exists. Then there is the joy of owning a robotic team that came to my rescue - an iRobot to vacuum and mop our home. Whew! What a relief. With a dedicated team of these gadgets, life was bearable, tolerable and doable. It would be amiss not to mention the loyal dishwasher every night washing and sanitizing dishes and ensuring a great culinary experience and a sanitized kitchen. Unfortunately, lately, covid fatigue seems to be setting in. Not meeting with family or being on high alert all the time is exhausting. We miss our boys coming home and just relaxing. The new norm is distance visits, sitting on opposite sides of the deck with a patio heater to keep company. With weather close to 6 degrees centigrade and lower, outdoor visits are becoming difficult. I still indulge the kids by cooking for them, however have to be content to leave it on the porch for the boys to pick up their comfort treats. The surprise engagement of one of my boys was a delight, a new covid surprise but also a reiteration of our resilience and need for adopting new norms even in times of hardships. Life does not stop. Time and tide wait for no one, hence the joys of life also continue. Enjoying and accepting them is resilience and healthy. Seeing an unmasked colleague or stranger on the road is weird. Masks in pant pockets, jackets, office bags, cars, office desk drawers etc. Life is now about mask coordination both colour and style. A careful analysis, a sit back and reflect approach identifies a more cooperative environment, a balanced work life ratio, a healthier population, more cohesive families, bonded siblings, 125

creative individuals and undoubtedly a progressing economy. Some will beg to differ but then healthy opinions are about ‘agree to disagree’. Lessons to be learnt, values to be revived, positivity to be fostered, change will come along. Humanity has a new learning. We will survive as we beckon a new norm, new life and new beginnings. DIPIKA NAYYAR 126

RAMESH MAHADEVAN Ramesh Mahadevan was born in Kerala and brought up entirely in Mumbai completing schooling and up to post‑graduation in Finance. Currently working for an Information Technology firm based in Hiranandani Powai (in their Finance department) and resides in Airoli- Navi Mumbai with his family. He has passion for writing, music, theater and photographing nature and wildlife. He has been writing in editors of leading newspapers contributing views as a reader which has got and got published in various leading newspapers like Hindustan times and & DNA. In the recent past has been associated with the Impish Publishing house and have contributed articles in two books released by them being Lockdown Diaries and Mumbai Meri Jaan. He has also been part of various talk shows held in NTDV and CNN-IBN contributing views on various issues. Apart from this he also likes to watch plays and music shows and takes time off once a year to visit places in India which takes him closer to nature. 127

A JOURNEY DISCOVERING MY INNER SELF The pandemic has changed the way we conduct ourselves in society making us adapt to a new lifestyle of “social distancing” which has reduced the aspect of meeting anyone “in person” and has increased “virtual meetings “. Due to this “working from home” has become the new norm for many and only added to the stress levels and anxiety. Being employed with a global IT (Information Technology) Company, I too have fallen in this new workspace where we are now connected “virtually “and this has been very stressful. Meeting colleagues in office during work and having personal informal chats during lunch and tea breaks used to be a great process of bonding and gives that space to destress. Even the annual gathering of all colleagues which all of us use to eagerly look forward too is not practically possible now with all restrictions and lockdown norms. Fortunately, our company management has looked at this area and the HR department took a special initiative wherein they gave us inputs and guidelines on how to adapt to this new lifestyle and one of the key areas was to destress when we have time off i.e. on weekends. While I was reading this email from our HR department, I found myself accidently doodling in my note pad and found myself drawn towards it as I was amazed with what I had drawn ..it was a caricature of face .Looking as this caricature my thoughts took me back to my school days where I used to participate in drawing competitions and I felt nice that I still can draw.. For a moment I felt nice and to have “created “a caricature on my own and felt happy. I thought I should start drawing again. But I also did realise at that point that I needed someone to guide me on few aspects of sketching which I had forgotten. So, I did a lot of searching on the social media and found some good videos in you tube. 128

I began with the next phase of going through one session every day on sketching to get myself acquainted with the process and started to try out things. When I started doing this, I realised that I am enjoying the whole process. Earlier each day used to begin with a lot of stress thinking of the whole day’s schedule, going through the virtual meeting calendar, meeting the deadlines, but once I started learning to sketch, my whole thought process changed. The very thought that I will learn something new in the aspect of sketching use to make to wade through all the stress during the day as I used to look forward to the evening time where my sketch book awaits my presence! This was something I never released before. The good aspect about the internet is that when you start searching for anything it starts throwing a lot more on the subject and a whole new world of sketching exploded on the net for me. I started referring to difference artists and the way they draw and the materials they use. When I initially started to sketch, I was way off the mark and realised that I would need a lot of help and guidance and that’s when I started researching on the internet to find good illustrators who can explain the whole process in detail. After lot of researching I finally zeroed down one of the famous illustrators and portrait artist from Italy - Giovanni Civardi. The reason to choose the illustrator was because in his video sessions , he would do detailed explanations on the very basics of sketching in detail as would be required by a beginner like me and I found this very exciting. I then brought few of his books on drawing. It was an amazing experience going through each aspects of sketching explained in detail some of which I had never learnt before. Thus, began my second phase from simple doodling to meaningful sketching. I was not surprised to find myself glued to my sketch book till very late in the night and I found a lot of energy even after a hard day’s work! 129

I started spending less time on social media and news where there was lot of cacophony which would add to the stress and the news all around was not very pleasant. There was a calmness in my mind which I never experienced before. Creativity was something which always intrigued me. The immense joy of seeing a completed sketch though in a raw form is a very great feeling. When we create something on our own efforts it gives a sense of happiness, fulfillment, joy, sense of pride and when it gets appreciated by family and friends it’s a very humble feeling. My family was glad to see me off my laptop and mobile after work hours and getting hooked to my sketchpad. I used to get less irritated than before, became more cheerful as family and friends were surprised to see this talent in me and which encouraged me which pushed me further to try more. As I started learning more about sketching, I released that its more about understanding and studying physical features very minutely, and the effects of light and shade on the object as this is what gives life to a two-dimensional sketch. The whole process of revisiting my hobby of drawing has opened a new world to me as I find my self-spending more time reading books on the subject. This has increased my level of patience, getting in minute details of everything and understand and try to analyze the subject before going to the sketch board. The process has also started having impact in my work life as my colleagues have found be more relaxed, cheerful and less stressful. Finding this hobby has also helped me rework on my approach towards my professional life and work colleagues. So, I would say there has been a double impact here. One on hand the lockdown has made be unearth an aspect of mine which was dormant for a very long time and which is giving me a sense of joy and pride and on the other hand this has made me a more calm person and changed my approach to professional 130

life in positive way which has improved the quality of work , time and relation with my colleagues and family This has also made me realise one should never stop learning as the more we try to push our limits and raise the bar the more it leads to creativity and new thoughts and keeps check on the mind wandering into the stress jungle! RAMESH MAHADEVAN 131

HEMA NAIR Hema Nair is a Mathematics teacher by profession and has taught in a number of schools across the country for 30 years. She is a trained classical dancer. After retirement she has decided to settle down in Bangalore. Now she has become a published writer and poet and is totally indebted to The Impish Lass family which has provided a wonderful platform for her to express her feelings. From numbers to language has been a wonderful and fruitful journey. 132

FORTITUDE Never did I think a pandemic would teach, To forget self-pity and strangers to reach, To de-clutter your mind, let positive thoughts enter, To listen, decide, commit and confidently act. Embrace in life what scares you most, Living life on your terms, one can then boast, Be honest with yourself, understand you always come first, Getting away from negative people is truly a must. Keeping your identity intact at any cost, Learn the difference between ego and self-respect, Aiming to please others is quite a task, Taking others view of you is a real risk. What a joy it was to lend a helping hand, Be it food, water or clothes to the needy is sound, Had this not been for this COVID around, Would these thought ever enter my mind?? Understand, learn and discover yourself, This pandemic had its focus found. Love yourself, spend time on a hobby you could, Bother not what others have in mind. 133

Is this not what God’s way of telling?? Be kind and generous to your fellow human beings. But for this we must all attain, Help one another and FIND THE STRENGTH WITHIN. Bangalore during lockdown 134

POTENTIAL UNLEASHED When this Pandemic hit the world full blast nobody realised how badly it will affect the life of each and everyone in different ways. At first the terrible impact was not felt and none knew the seriousness and consequences it would eventually bring. But slowly people started awakening to the awful truth. So many lives lost,so many jobless and in want of food, water and shelter. God’s fury was seen everywhere and the first thing each of us had to do is make peace with oneself and start asking God forgiveness for any mistake committed. We had to forcibly sit at home, unable to see family members and friends. Telephones, mobiles and video calls were the only saviours. It was terribly upsetting and depressing initially. Then in introspection it became clear that we ourselves have to get out of this situation. Help one another and be happy with what one has . I for myself was motivated by a dear friend of mine to start writing. I had been going through a tough phase in my life during the lockdown period. So this friend persuaded me that writing would be a good therapy. At first I was not at all sure I could. I was very hesitant. In fact in my first story it’s quite evident that literature is not my forte. But I didn’t give up as I had started to enjoy writing. I started to look up the dictionary for new words to help me. Though I was a teacher by profession, language was never in my line. But I had been a compulsive reader from childhood. So that helped I suppose. Once the love for writing entered ,the flow of words was never ending. I started making personalised cards with poem for my family members and close friends with whom it did not matter if mistakes were there.I have also encouraged others to write. The pleasure one gets in writing cannot be expressed.It is as though you are in a different world altogether and you don’t need anyone. During the lockdown period this talent of mine which I didn’t know I possessed was tapped and others became aware of the 135

new change in me. Like this there are so many” UNTAPPED TALENTS “ among so many people and they can pursue.Online classes are in full swing for dance, music, chess,c ookery etc which had things been normal people may not have got the time to learn. Gardening is another hobby which brings pleasure. So this COVID did bring about some positive changes too in people’s lives. They could follow their dreams and try to achieve their goals. This does not mean that I don’t want this pandemic to end. It’s done enough damage. I want things get back to normal. I want to be able to see my near and dear ones ,travel where I want to and walk around fearlessly. But till then this writing work of mine will go on in full swing. One can say I am living my life through this. Not a single day goes by without writing .I just write about any topic that comes to my mind ,sometimes an anecdote, at times a poem. And now that I have gained confidence in my writing skills I am not going to stop. I have the full support of lots of people. Positive critics are also there.T hat is needed to better yourself. Who would have thought that this “UNTAPPED TALENT “ was lying dormant in me all these years. I am indeed grateful to all those who have helped me to come out of my shell and make my passion come true . HEMA NAIR 136

PAVITRA PURI Pavitra is 18 years old. She is a student in her first-year bachelor’s in arts. She wishes to complete majors in psychology. Psychology as a field of study has always been something that she has wanted to learn more and more about. She is particularly very intrigued by the human mind, body, soul, nature, and the universe, and trusts that there is a deep- rooted connection between them. She started writing about a year and a half ago. It was very sudden. Overthinking has always been an issue for her, continues to be. Writing gave her a sense of control over the surroundings and most importantly her emotions. Poetry is what she usually writes and prefers too. Although while trying to push herself from her comfort zone, she managed to write one short story and will keep writing more. Until now she has been able to write about 50 poetries, all extremely meaningful to her. Nature, the sky precisely never fails to leave her in complete awe of its beauty, it’s a form of meditation just looking at it. One of the very important reasons she loves writing is because it makes her vulnerable, to herself. One can get in touch with their feelings and let them be when they pen them down. Owing to the popular saying, vulnerability is indeed courageous. 137

HAPPINESS Happiness, the long, forgotten word, Which has the power to make people dance with marvelous bliss, And the power to make them eccentric as they explore it. Although many have already said it, I wish to say it again, Happiness lies within. And that happiness is so strong, so powerful that, No energy, no person has the power to take that away from you, but you. You have the complete authority over it. You don’t realize it until everything seems to be shattering and going wrong, When you bathe yourself in a colossal wave of overwhelming burden, When you need to lie down, some music would be good as you weep, Then it hits, It hits you so hard and it says, Get up, darling, we have a thousand more coming. Get up, for you are stronger than this. Get up for you are the one in control of this pressure, Of the happiness you so dreadfully look for. Get up for its going to be demanding. And amidst all that pressure and crying, you smile, and you smile again and keep smiling as if everywhere around you is flowers and music and food, The air that carries ‘happy.’ Only it’s not and yet you choose to see it, You choose to be happy. It’s funny what just a thought can do. Thinking is, after all, the manipulation of energy. PAVITRA PURI 138

PARVATHI RAMACHANDRAN Parvathi Ramachandran has an experience of over 30 years in the teaching profession. At present, she is working as the Head of one of the leading schools of Delhi. She has a passion for singing and participates in various cultural programmes. Of late, she is engaged in learning Sanskrit and has cleared her first level with a distinction. She is also upgrading her love for music by taking classes in music. 139

LOCKDOWN LEARNINGS The lock down 1 had bound us together with the family and I am sure everyone might have enjoyed the togetherness of dining and enjoying quality time with their families. I used to try my hands at my culinary skills and came out with extra ordinary results. It was as if we got the much-awaited vacation which we all had longed for. But no one was aware that this lockdown would extend indefinitely. Slowly and silently people became morose and subdued with the monotony of life. I also experienced the same feelings. Being away from my children made me depressed. My job helped me to cope up with the depression to some extent. Butmy inner mind was alerting me to do something which would give me intense satisfaction. As an educationist I have envisaged that every child has some inborn talent. The work of a teacher is to extract it from within and help the child to accomplish it. It is the same with adults as well. As we find ourselves entangled in the duties towards our families and society, our talents and desires get subdued. I am sure this lockdown has motivated the people to search for their dormant talents and to express them in their form. From the very childhood I was good at hand work, be it crocheting, knitting or any other work. But due to contingency of time, all these had taken a back seat after my marriage. I used to knit for my children and husband, as staying in Delhi demanded a lot of woollen clothes. The moment I saw anybody's hand work, my heart would pound to do it and my determination would push me to accomplish the same. I remembered the handwork of Shakuntala aunty which she had shown me when I visited her last. Her age was no bar to her creativity. At the age of 85 she would be at something or the other. She was good at making dolls and animal characters 140

using beads. Her inborn talent would make me gasp at her with wonder. She had used the leftover cloth pieces to make a beautiful placemat. The next day I was at her place with leftover pieces of clothes. I had managed to get some pieces from my tailor as he had clothes in a variety of colors. He was more than happy to forward his wastes to me. Shakuntala aunty welcomed me with a broad smile and started teaching me the technique of making hexagonal pieces using a cardboard which was cut with precise dimensions. She constantly watched me and guided me to do my task with perfection. I made a few pieces in her presence and left for home with a strong determination to accomplish my task speedily. I decided to fulfill my ardent desire of making one, though it was a time-consuming art. I decided to spend some time for making those pieces which had to be joined later. I got immense satisfaction while I was engaged on this work. I have completed two of such mats. Another thing I got into was crocheting. While I was cleaning my cupboard, I came across crocheting yarn and needles, together with the instruction’s manual carefully packed. I had started with a table mat but had left it abruptly. My passion for crocheting was awakened and I started picking up the lost thread. I got into working those motifs, which had to be sewn together to make the beautiful table mat. Much of my spare time was spent on my artwork and I hardly got time to think over the situations which pressed me down. Whenever I am on a videocall with my children, I would show them my achievements and would brim with happiness on getting applause from them. I cherish their statement, \"Ma you are simply great. How do you manage to do so many things”? The pat on my back rejuvenates me. 141

My untapped talent resurfaced to make my mind serene and calm. Whenever I get spare time, I would crochet, as my present aim is to complete the table mat and spread it on my table. PARVATHI RAMACHANDRAN Crochet motifs Placemat using leftover cloth pieces  142