Page 79 - PR COMMUNICATION AGE July - December 2020

Social distancing and the

suffocation of relationships

T here are so many loved ones sneaky virus that the goddess will try Tentative hugs and shaking of hands

who I haven’t seen face to
to scupper this time instead of the
followed. But soon enough, covid
became the subject of discussion. “It
face for more than six
usual demon—because it’s likely to
months now. Ever since our
hearing stories of shoppers in crowded
midst, tiptoeing around, unsettling us…
lockdown and stay-at-home started. take a lethal toll on worshippers. I keep was like an unseen presence in our
These are people who live in the same markets cocking a snook at all covid We just couldn’t let our hair down like
city—a few are veritable neighbours norms, and walking around unmasked we did in old times," my friend
(physical distance-wise). Yes, there are without a care in the world. I keep recounted, before adding she was
plans made, pretty often, of catching watching forwarded videos of trains slightly stressed for the next three-four
up (“next weekend?"), but they are where passengers are packed like days: what if she had picked up a strain
never really followed through: they are sardines, breathing down each other’s from someone?
nice notes to end a phone or video necks.
conferencing call on. Finally, the bottom line: “It was great
The way I see it, there is a clear seeing everyone after ages, but you
Then, there are those who live in other “divide". This is “them" versus “us". know what? A part of me was relieved
cities, regions, or countries; as of now, And by “us" I mean all rational, when the party split. I had a bath
I have absolutely no idea when I will sensible folks who are still trying to immediately."
get to see them again. wrap their heads around the nebulous
notion of herd immunity. In Kolkata, whenever my brother goes
An inevitable question follows. As you to visit our dad, he’s usually too scared
strike up an uneasy peace accord with So, speaking on behalf of “us", my to step inside the house. “Don’t want
social distancing, and are not really— answer to the earlier question is: For to risk infecting him, he’s not as young
physically—in touch with those who the foreseeable future, we will view as he likes to believe," he says. He and
you considered a vital part of your life everyone with suspicion—and be my father—who, at times, hands out
up until corona times, have our viewed likewise in an equal and a paper cup full of green tea—
relationships altered? opposite reaction. exchange pleasantries from either side
of the gate. Once, when my dad
Yes, I know, for some, nothing seems A friend recently organized a catch-up claimed he’d not seen my niece in a
to have changed. I read reports on at her place (I couldn’t make it); it was long time, she was made to sit in a car
how partaking in community-driven her first open house since the and drive past the house so the two of
Onam and wedding feasts have pandemic protocol was announced in them could wave at each other.
ratcheted up covid numbers. In fact, India. Everyone came with masks on,
most of my friends and relatives in which duly came off after an intense Strangely enough, these incidents are
Bengal are dreading the onset of the round of hand sanitization and leaving not playing out like tearjerkers, as one
annual Durga Pujas—where it’s the of footwear outside the house. might expect. We all seem to be

"Love never needs working on, it's relationships that do."

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