Page 103 - Magazine 2022-intractive flip

n March 24, 2020, when our Prime some were the same. I could recognise people
Minister Narendra Modi called
Ofor a complete lockdown, we were
shocked beyond words. The sudden fear of
the contagious corona virus and our board
exams postponed, the world for us, students,
suddenly stopped. Though the lockdown
initially brought a full-stop to our daily
lives, it later became a time to use effectively.
People involved themselves in baking,
cooking, spending time with the family,
watching movies, TV shows and reading.
It became a time to spend on ourselves and
increase our productivity and technological
skills. However, when the time came to join
college, the questions that kept us pondering
were “How can I sit for class the whole day
off line?” “How will I make friends with
unknown people?” “How will I enjoy my
college life?”
I remember the day I joined class online
as clear as crystal since everything felt so
different and weird. We had timings to join
a Google Meet and I knew everyone by their
usernames. I made friends through chatting,
something that I would have never done
before. Emotionally, I was confused if our
friendship would last because our basis of
friendship was online. There were doubts
but we maintained our friendship through
chatting daily, video calling and sharing
small details about our daily lives. When
college reopened for our exams, it was a
whole new experience meeting the people
I was close to. I knew them but somehow
didn’t. Some were more active online, but
rather reserved while meeting them, whereas
with their names and profile pictures. When
I met everyone, it finally became a feel of
college and a sense of unity among our class,
something that couldn’t be felt online. When
we had our Industrial Visit in our third year,
it felt like every single moment that we lost
came together. We all were just a big group of
friends, who knew details of each other and
could tease each other all day long.
During the beginning of the lockdown, we
were very cautious about masks. Though
we were relaxed when the vaccine came out,
the caution remained. Now, even though
wearing masks is no more a compulsion, it
feels like a crime to not wear the masks. It’s
as if it’s a part of us, now in our everyday
life and an important accessory. Previously,
I would run back home to wear my watch,
however, now, I run back home to get my
mask! In fact, masks themselves have become
a fashion statement. People wear masks that
match and enhance their outfit. One of the
downfalls of masks was that many people
became insecure about their looks. Masks
became a symbol of comfort for many.
The small changes over time slowly developed
into big changes. Time is unstoppable,
irreversible and keeps moving forwards.
As Shakespeare rightly said, “We are time’s
subjects and time bids be gone.” Thus, as time
flies and years pass by, we will adapt and
learn to cope with the different challenges
that fall ahead of us. It will lead to a new
perspective in life and build a new “us”.
Anula Menon
III BCom Taxation (R)
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