Share and Care Foundation Mumbai an NGO formed by a group of us in the building is doing the best possible in these difficult circumstances. We are distributing food packets to out of work daily wagers maintaining our social distances.

Chandan went visiting her parents in Vishakhapatnam and is happy that she is there with her ageing parents in difficult times. She misses her husband but is relieved that he has temporarily shifted with his parents. They will now meet only after lockdown is over.

My young niece and her husband are stuck in their tiny apartment in New York, they work from home all day, divide household duties and in the evening watch a film together and fall asleep.

Another friend on her way to buy medicines at the chemist clicks an image of a deserted street in Chembur.

My friend sends a picture from her South Mumbai apartment and says these days  only she can spot from her window are the trees

Lockdown Day 23
I saw a video today of a mother urging her little child to go to his playschool.  The child gets excited but then withdraws, he explains to his mother that he cant ho to school because Modi uncle has forbidden everyone to go out. The child breaking down as he speaks says if he goes out the government will go after him because ‘All of us are in s lockdown’.
My eyes filled with tears as I watched the video. The lockdown is impacting different people in different ways and nobody is spared of the repercussions. A little child is using words like lockdown and government. He understands that Modi’s uncle is the authority and has to be obeyed but he is unhappy restricted to the confines of his home. He is missing his friends, his school, he had forgotten the meaning of normal snd it is going to take a long time for all the deep wounds to heal….
As I sign off to get ready for lockdown week 5 and try and enjoy your long weekend.

Another morning, another day, I am fortunate that I am preoccupied with household and office work but many friends call and say that they are tired of twiddling their thumbs. After all how much television can one watch? How many series/ shows/ panel discussions can they watch?? The pressure is killing after a point and the heart yearns to come out and inhale fresh air….
Friends are asking what is wrong if one steps out in the building compound….what is wrong if one wears the mask and strolls in the terrace….I ask the same questions to my family doctors and there are conflicting opinions.  One says you can walk even share a cup of tea with a neighbour as long as you maintain one meter distance.  Another says an emphatic no, he asks will you stroll out if the virus was visible?
I am more confused than I was yesterday, more helpless too. The skyscraper buildings around me block my view of tge skyline and I wonder what colour was tge sunset today- yellow, orange or red? Someday, l’ll see the sunrise and the sunset standing in my garden. The day will come soon.
@bhawanasomaaya

I have always maintained a working diary where I note my phones to make and deadlines to keep. Now the page includes an important block called household chores where I list out cleaning/ washing/ dusting etc.
The first part of my day is devoted to domestic duties either in the kitchen or outside. Post lunch is devoted to creative commitments- writing/ recording/ shooting and let me admit that recording/ shooting on my own takes ages but however difficult the task, the show goes on…
My neighbors are kind enough to send me food every day and I am filled with gratitude for their act of kindness. Tomorrow I will continue my chronicle of lockdown, until then, stay safe, stay home.. .
@bhawanasomaaya