Despite relief in curfew, their problems are only getting real

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 14

Even though the state government extended the timings of opening of shops from eight to 11 hours (7 am to 6 pm), residents in the city are still finding it hard to get some items.

The most common demands include getting specific hair colour, car mechanics, repair of spectacles and footwear, new pajamas, fiction books and painting stuff. Since barbers, salons, spas and parlours are not open yet, many of them say they were feeling uncomfortable without the look they desire.

Says Amrit Kalsi, deputy director of training and counselling at CT Institutes, said: “I am regularly taking video sessions with people in stress due to the lockdown, for which I need to maintain good looks. I am very fond of maintaining good hair, but spas are not available as of now. Finally, I arranged the desired colour and brush from a chemist whom I knew. He came to our society to deliver the stuff. Then, my friend in the neighbourhood and I helped each other by applying the colour. That’s how we are managing for now.”

Principal of HMV College Dr Ajay Sareen, too, said barbers for boys and parlours for women remain to be the most needed facilities, which may take time to open. “As of now, I am taking to some home remedies. I wish parlours open at the earliest with all hygiene and sanitisation facilities,” she says.

Additional Public Prosecutor Rishi Bhardwaj says: “My car has broken down as it remained stationary for days together. Now, I am unable to find a mechanic. I have to go to courts on alternate days and there is no cab facility. So, I have to walk down with my files. Since it was raining today when I was to come back, I got stranded in the court for sometime before I could start homewards.”

Rana Preet Gill, an author from Hoshiarpur, said: “Since Amazon has not restarted its operations, I have not been able to order books for reading. I have been re-reading my old stock. I desperately want to buy ‘Difficult Daughters’ and ‘Home’ by Manju Kapur. I recently read two of her books ‘The Immigrants’ and ‘Custody’ which I really liked.”

Artist Kimi Juneja says: “I ran out of canvasses and some paints recently. Finally, today my husband managed to arrange canvasses from the home of a manufacturer on Garha Road. I also need some loose paints, which I used to get from a shop in Model Town, but it is now lying closed and I really do not know how to go about it.”