What do I do now?

 I am in a quandary. After my second Vaccine shot, I should feel more comfortable going out next week.  We still need to wear a mask, maintain distance. More important I should surely guard against getting upset if a no-mask person crosses my path.  

Just yesterday, I created a scene in a medical store when I saw eight men in that small shop, working close to each other. They wore a mask just for show! What provoked me was that we customers had waited outside the shop maintaining protocol. And there was even a rude poster which stated ‘No mask -No entry’. When it was my turn to go in,  I walked in to a scene of  young men completely breaking the rules which were imposed on us. I asked them to wear mask properly, but none cared.  I threatened to call the police! None bothered.  I had to give up, muttering angrily.  I guess I should have walked out!

We seniors need to practice a weird kind of untouchability. My grandmother did! As a kid I knew I should not to touch my grandmother till her morning routines were done. It was not easy for a kid to remember all the time. So when I forgot the rules, my grandmother would  start all over again, right from having a bath. It seems I am being punished now for my earlier transgressions.  I take a shower as soon as I get home, recalling the various close encounters on the street. I do try best to keep distance, but it is futile to tell others to keep distance. 

I have been staying home last few months for one reason or other.. A little back pain, an oncoming cold. Once as a caution when a function I attended was not at all disciplined.  I chose to self-quarantine.  

It has been a real test. The first three months was total lock-up for us seniors. Then it eased a bit, and gradually it was as if Corona Devi had decided to leave us alone. However it seems ‘more powerful’ avatars of the same Devi took over.  I am consoled, just in case the Devi strikes,  the severity will be not high. I am reminded of mythological stories where an angry Rishi could throw a curse on you with a splash of water on your face.  On pleading for mercy, the Rishi would relent and say ‘I cannot take back the curse, but I will reduce the severity'. I guess that is what the vaccine does.

 Sitting at home is a pain. One can play only so much golf.  IPL doesn’t fit into my idea of cricket. Watching tv is a punishment, especially the cable tv with its anchors and political panel. A waste of time, as people who have sensible ideas are rarely there.

 I keep hearing about how India is okay in spite of being in the top 5 of cases, now it is #1. If we go deeper, we see the major cities have a different story. While the average DPM (Death Per Million) is 125, expected to go up, it is much higher in the cities! Only those cities whose dead are more than 1000 are listed here. 

These cities, with 7% of the National population have contributed to 36 % of the Total deaths.

A smaller percentage of population, clusters of people, have caused the pandemic. 

I am sure many are engaged in finding the right path in these critical times. Their thoughts and guidance will hopefully steer humanity in the way it should! There surely is a need to look at the world, its ways, while one wonders if this will ever happen. Let us be hopeful!