Mid 2020: Covid-19: Living with precautions... Are we?

It's going to be four months since the first lockdown! It feels like ages ago... The deserted roads... Waiting for the vegetable shop in front of the house to be empty for grocery shopping... Helping Amma in the kitchen... Making mixture... Cakes... Trying out different dishes... We were safe at home!

Its another lockdown going on...a week long... Just here... Its going to be over tomorrow but this was a lighter version. Offices were open... A few... Ours to be one of them... The roads are less crowded... Shops close by noon... So evening the roads are supposedly deserted apart for a few who doesn't seem to understand the concept of lockdown, I guess! 

I see a few sitting on the pavement of some shops... No social distancing... Ok... May be they belong to same house (though I seriously doubt it!) But can't they sit at home... What's the need to be out... And not far from them I see...as I am riding back home... a street with red banner across blocking entry... "RED ALERT"! 

May be they are poor uneducated people who don't understand the seriousness of the situation or can't grasp it! (I don't seriously think one needs to be educated to know the meaning of disease... Death... Pandemic!!). Ok, for the sake of argument, let's say they don't understand but then...

The other day, in the office, during a team discussion... All sat wearing mask listening to our boss define the problem and probable solutions! There was this junior guy... A post graduate with a good academic record... An asset to the company! He was listening keenly to our boss but all the while his hand was on his face silently grazing the texture of the mask totally immersed in the topic of discussion! I signalled to him not to touch his mask and the response he gave got me thinking!! 

I: You shouldn't be touching your mask!

He: Oh sorry. 

(I felt good that he realised! But... He smiles...)

He: What's to happen will happen, ma'am. Everything is already decided. If it's written that I should get sick then who can stop it?

It was shocking... the reply. I was absolutely shocked (and, angered perhaps!). It was least expected!

I: 'Whatever may be written, why do you need to invite it yourself!' 

He: Ok mam... I should think of others too. I shouldn't infect others. Right?

I nodded, staring blanky at him before turning my attention to the meeting!

Atleast he didn't repeat it again during the meeting! Thank goodness for that! 

But this was shocking and despairing at the same time! A highly educated person should fall back on his responsibilities in the name of fate! Absolute rubbish, I would say!

It left me feeling disturbed! Is this how the educated people think? Is this how they should think? Does education teach us everything? Scoring ranks in university, is that the only aim of our education? Who's going to teach them social responsibility? Who will give them moral knowledge? Who will teach them the importance of compassion? The meaning of empathy?

For what are the doctors, the Cops and the Government working day and night? Who are they fighting for... struggling for? For these highly educated but utterly ignorant youth?

And from then on... Whenever I look at him, I don't see the smart highly qualified individual... I see an irresponsible benighted kid! 

Let's be responsible for ourselves and our fellow beings! This is a time to be aware and be sensible! 

Wear mask and follow the do's and don'ts...

Maintain social distancing...

Lets not move out unless necessary... 

Lets pray and be a responsible citizen!