I’d rather be scared of Covid infection than be stupid

Can we stop going out? No. Can we stop functioning, living, earning? No. And we shouldn’t either.

Fear, like all other emotions, creeps into our lives quietly and then gradually settles down. It finds its place and becomes a part of our existence, and almost unknowingly, we too, make space for it. The initial significance that it once had in our lives begins to fade away, for life gets busier and routine activities take over, or as we often say, “Life gets in the way.” It gathers dust until it decides it is time for a reminder and shows its ugly face once again. The trajectory of the fear of Covid-19 has been no different. Once, it overpowered our lives — dominated conversations and wrecked routines — today, it has secured a firm place and is sitting back, as we’re ably assisting it in causing further havoc.

A million deaths and counting, yet here we are, overlooking the six feet apart distance, just as we have become irregular with thoroughly cleaning vegetables and are okay with masks that are slipping away. Yes, it’s all been too much and we’re exhausted fighting financial battles, maintaining our sanity as a few of us WFH and others brave out in public transports and workspaces, and staying indoors knowing that a change in the calendar year is unlikely to bring normalcy. As wise, alert, and well-informed individuals, many of us are now failing to find a silver lining at the end of tough days. We’ve begun to slip. I too have become lazy to wipe off every switchboard at home or use a toothpick to hit the elevator button. I am exhausted and gloomy, just as you are, but I am compelled to ask whatever happened to the days of popping in Vitamin C pills, wearing gloves, and exposing currency notes to sunshine to kill the virus?

Of course, none of us wants to return to the start of the pandemic. However, I am reminded of and even find comfort in the days when whisking Dalgona coffee was the highlight of a lockdown. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve come across individuals, who’re out there, challenging the virus, with their reckless behaviour. And hence here I am wishfully hoping that all of us could once again find the courage and patience to accept responsibility as a part of the fighting gear. Yes, for that we need to be anxious, worried, and scared again. And I am rooting for all those emotions as well. For as I pen this down, the fear is now in the cubicle next to me, just as it has knocked at the door of my neighbour in the city, and a loved one back home. It’s as real as it were a few months, we’ve just gotten used to it, just as we’ve gotten tired of it. And somewhere in between all this, perhaps we’ve made ourselves believe in our invincibility. Can we stop going out? No. Can we stop functioning, living, earning? No. And we shouldn’t either. Can we hit rewind and reacquaint ourselves with the habits, which have helped us reach here, alive and breathing? Yes. For, here’s my take on it. I’d rather be scared and isolated than be a Covid-19 idiot. For when I look at the stages of fear, I know for a fact that we’re now up, close, and personal.

— purva@khaleejtimes.com