Finally April is over. Devastatingly brute and painful month passes away which, one wont want to remember ever. The lockdown is still on. Starting on 15th of March in Delhi, it was extended to entire country on 25 March. 3rd May is when it is supposed to end, now they say that restrictions will remain. Lockdown will be diluted. No movement is permitted. Can’t leave gurgaon, can’t cross border to Delhi or any other town. No buses, trains, taxis or flights. The lane outside our house remains empty most of the day, but for a labourer or group of workers going to get supplies no one is seen. People stay indoor stepping out only to vernadahs and balconies. Life has become a part of one large prison.
On three successive days three eminent people have passed away. Irrfan Khan on 28 April; Rishi Kapoor on 29 April and RV Smith (the chronicler of Delhi) on 30 April. My only connect with each of them, at best was a remote one. They were neither friend nor even acquitance. The only time I had seen Irrfan was outside the NSD, standing against a wall and having chai. I don’t even remember who introduced me to him. It was over in ten minutes. Yes, Sunny did talk about him quite often during the shoot of the film Song of Scorpions at Jaisalmer probably in 2016 or 2017. I am told both Irrfan and Anup Singh spoke highly of Sunny’s work and his talent. Rishi Kapoor, the only time I met him was sometime in 1977. We watched a film together at Ritz in Bombay. The film was Roman Holidays and Rishi was with Nitu singh, still not married. It so haappened that those days I was staying with Shakti Vaid (dad’s friend in Lower Parel, Bombay). Shakti was the PS to Shashi Kapoor and Shakti had booked a few tickets of that film. By some quirk of fate he asked me if I was interested in watching the film. I took one and went to the theatre only to find Rishi and Nitu come and sit next to me in the Balcony. RV Smith, a gentle soul, I had met a couple of times. Last time, sometime in 2017 or 2018, at the steps of Jama Masjid where he was sitting and writing something with a few youngsters. We chatted for some time, had tea together. Thats that. I dont feel grief of either of them passing away. All of us have to die, sooner or later. Those that are known by virtue of their life and work are talked about even in their death, others billions like us just pass over.
My right heel is hurting and a bit of right knee too. Went for a walk, it helped forget the pain. I can’t fathom why should there be pain. I havent done anything that could have harmed the foot or the heel. Cant think, better not to think of it. It is getting warm. The sun was harsh even at 8 when I went for walk. Day time the temp soars to 40. It is warm in the room, a little mugy. Can’t switch on the AC yet.
My makeshift desktop in sunny’s room is very uncomfortable. There is very little table top space to manage the large monitor and the keyboard. Lesser even the legspace under the table. Can’t shift the chair back as the bed is right behind me and the direct light hits my eyes through the windows in front of me. I force myself to sit and pretend there is some continuity to work. None. It has become a habit. Being idle. Small jobs of a new client Asset One, an HR company, doing their fliers and a possible job from World Bank, a Resource Kit. Wonder when the real work will start on it. Right now I am just fooling around with layouts and preparing infographics and graphs etc.
21 March 2020 was the last day I sat in the office preparing to spend next two weeks at home as corona virus spread around the country. Picking up the minimum hardware and other stuff that I may need in case there is any work to be done. Staff told off, not as in it is over, but it seemed imminent, there may be little or nothing to come back to. There had been no work for over a month. Feb was less then mild. Three weeks of March was nothing but smal jobs here and there nothing worth any earning.
#Home #Work #CoVid
Ankahi. Unsaid. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.