A guilt outing during Covid times

Not even once did we cross the Laxman rekha and remained confined within the four walls of our home during the first two months of the lockdown. All the items of daily use, including medicines and groceries, were ordered and delivered at our doorstep, quarantined at the designated corner before being put to use.

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At a time when positive cases were minimal, threat perception was at its maximum. There was so much fear of the lurking danger that even after outside movement was permitted for limited hours, there was a sort of inertia, hesitation to step out of the house. We had to muster courage even for going out to the neighbourhood park for a walk. A hurried round and we would rush home before the hooter. The sound of hooter gave me an eerie feeling, bringing back childhood memories of December 1971 at Jalandhar when dreaded sirens would blow at any time during the day and night to warn of a possible aerial attack. The same fear, but the enemy is invisible this time.

Considering the seriousness of the situation, we — a retired couple in the early 60s — have been following the guidelines strictly, taking all precautions. Now, there is hardly any restriction, yet our outing, by and large, remains limited to the nearby park for a walk. Despite the pandemic fatigue setting in, we have been adhering to no travelling, no socialising, no eating out regime.

We have remained confined to our home, but for one indulgence, a guilt outing. It was a wedding that my husband and I attended after seeking consent from our children. A case of role reversal! In these unprecedented times, children are the ones taking a call on the movement of their parents.

It was weird getting dressed in a sari, adorning jewellery and wearing make-up after months. I was all decked up; however, the final accessory was the mask without which I could not step out. Temperature checked, hands sanitised, names tallied from the guest list, we stepped into the hall of a five-star hotel. Oh my God! So many formalities, as if we were boarding an international flight! Even inside the hall, the scenario was so different from the usual wedding scene, just a handful of guests. No customary hugging, just a distant namaste. The most conspicuous were the customised masks matching the dresses of the wedding guests.

Well, that was the first and the last social gathering we attended in the past nine months of the pandemic, that too with restraint. It is only in a world free of Covid that we will be able to indulge in festivity with gay abandon. I hope and pray for the early launch of the vaccine. Till then, it’s better to exercise restraint and take precautions.