Hit pause

Divya Dutta

We have only seen this in movies. The catastrophes that they show in all the Hollywood sci-fi movies. We watched them and came out relieved that it was just a film and far from reality. As one gradually heard about the spread of coronavirus, one thought again that it was happening in another country to other people. We only discussed it and went about doing our job, until the virus spread in our country to people around.

We love to cling to normalcy, to the daily normal routines and anything that challenges it, and we either deny or defy it. I had been in Punjab shooting for a Punjabi film. For the first time I had taken my pet Sakhi to show her my homeland and take her for long walks in the open fresh air of the villages. I took a train journey so that Sakhi could travel with me in the first class cabin; my brother and his family were to join me in Punjab later. I was a bit nervous to get Sakhi acclimatised to the new surroundings. In a few days she did and started enjoying the village life but soon enough the news that was a distant reality was at the door step of us all — a lock down was declared. The shoot had to be cancelled. I had to get back home ASAP with my baby. My brother’s plans were of course cancelled.

I booked the train ticket taking extra precautions of safety and hygiene, spraying and cleaning hands and surroundings repeatedly and eating only home food. It was a huge relief to reach back in the nick of time. It is a total lock down here in Mumbai as is happening in other cities too. Mumbai that never sleeps is empty. I have never seen this kind of a visual before but it’s the most sensible for everyone to stay home and maintain social distancing. What’s keeping everyone going is the unity with which everyone seems to be sharing positive messages, standing together in a crisis. The Prime Minister’s address to the nation for a total lockdown is a good step. What overwhelmed me is to cheer all those who are working relentlessly for our safety. When was the last time the nation stood together like that?

Yes, everyone is worried. It’s a time to be very careful and take all possible precautions. And be good citizens abiding by the rules laid and not have this mentality that rules are for others. The way we have been abusing our environment, it had to get back at us sooner or later as a warning alarm to not mess around with nature. Yes, this will pass. All catastrophes do. Yes, it will teach us a lesson before it goes. Aren’t we seeing it already? Have you seen the clearest blue sky ever outside your window ? Have you heard about the cleanest air in China after years? Did you hear about the clean blue waters in Venice again? Yes, the animals and birds are breathing fresh air because the nature stopped us humans from getting out and spreading poison in the air. It’s nature’s way of telling us to coexist beautifully.

And for now, let’s follow all grandma fundas… shoes out of the house, wash your hands, eat home-cooked food, build your immune system with all gingers and turmeric. Help yourself and others to get this virus out of existence.

And, when we do get another chance, let’s start afresh. This time hand in hand with mother nature, when we can go to work as we did normally, meet friends, where we hear the chirping of the happy birds and the dancing steps of the dolphins. Let’s get that utopian world to live in. Let’s sort the wrath of nature. Trust me, it’s very loving and will return all the love that we bestow on it!

(Dutta is a Bollywood actor)