The third wave of the dreaded COVID19 is currently sweeping the nation. Numbers are rising exponentially. Restrictions are being imposed, warnings issued and multiple PSAs have been released. Time to stop and take stock of the situation, right?
No Sir! We are Indians ..full of daredevilry, and willing to do a tango or two with the visitor CORONA (third time the shameless virus is dropping in unannounced in our country). It has absolutely no manners ….every time we drive it away, it becomes more brazen…changes its appearance, does a world tour, and comes right back knocking at our doorsteps gleefully.
The first visit filled us with trepidation as we weren’t familiar with the unwelcome stranger. Having heard scary stories of how cruel it can be, we closed our doors, banged our thalies and clapped loudly as if the sounds of the billion-plus cacophony will drive it away. It came anyway. We were prepared with armours and shields and after a bit of initial scare the dirty fellow ran away. We got emboldened and gloated like warriors who had won the war. Much ado about nothing, we scoffed disdainfully!
We got all cool and funny and complacent – mammoth crowds, rallies, kumbh mela, unhindered travel, shaadi-byah – all sans precautions. India smirked at Europe, battling a torrid second wave. Uff, these ‘goras’…they claim to be so advanced but can’t fight an itsy-bitsy virus. Look at us!! We, with abundant sunshine, natural immunity, Ayurveda, magical herbal concoctions, and that yoga- guru Ramdev, winking n blinking at the world’s inability to ward off the evil in the air.
Till the tsunami came and submerged us and made a mockery of our misplaced nonchalance. The catastrophic second wave left a trail of unspeakable devastation. Within a matter of weeks, the collapsing healthcare exposed our inadequacy, our ill-preparedness and the intensity of the virus we had so erringly underestimated.
Weeks and months of despair gradually gave way to a new normal and one adapted to a different way of living…. social distancing, masks and sanitizers are a staple in every household. A lesson learned harshly, one would say..
The arrival of vaccination gave a sense of security and we fell into the complacency trap yet again. “It can’t happen to me now as it has already happened to me once.” Arguments such as these led to that cool dude feeling again. Till COVID the chameleon arrived again as Omicron – different face yet the same gene – for a world tour after hearing glowing reviews from his Bhai.
We groan exasperatedly! Not again! Grrrr…. This time we will not cower down! We will stand firm and face the invisible foe daringly, come what may! So with a defiant frame of mind, a casual approach, and a resigned acceptance of the persistently errant virus in our lives, the world in general and India in particular marches on to face covid-on-a-hattrick.
The protocols and mandates are in place, the guidelines issued and the to-do lists revised and repeated, ad-nauseum. The implementation, however, is at the mercy of an audacious and cavalier public, with the vast majority brushing away any grave consequences.
Being optimistic is good but throwing caution to the wind is …plainly, STUPID. How about a little conscientious approach, people? How about saving yourself to save others? This ‘AA BAIL MUJHE MAAR’ strategy has never worked, and never will. Hope to see you around …………. enjoying with baal – bachchas and nati-potas in your twilight years.
Till then, stay safe!
