Corona, Lockdown and a Touching story to share..

This Corona virus isn’t going anywhere; we all thought that as the end of the year approaches, we would be back to normal. But, now, that pre-Corona life seems like a forgotten dream.
6 months is good enough time to break or adapt new habits. People have learnt to live with masks, people have learnt to live without movie theatres, dining.
All those luxuries, which we took for granted are now making themselves present in front of us as a real luxury.

By now, many of you must have already tried to resume ‘normal life’, going out, may be even weekend gateways. Some of you might have chosen to stay home, try new things at home, may it be cooking, workouts, some art, reading, music or even development of new skill.

Doesn’t matter how you are approaching this current situation, there is no denial that COVID-19 had been heavy on our mental health. Many among us lost family members, friends, family of friends and more. This constant pressure of death looming on the streets is definitely going to affect our mental health, doesn’t matter if accept that treat or we don’t.

Personally, I am still trying to figure out what is happening and what is yet to come. Not pretending that I have figured out this enigma and have found best way to cope up with rapidly changing world.
Mental health is a new buzz word in this corona time and Sushant Singh‘s suicide opened a dialogue on it
not too long ago.
For me, the real depressing environment was not the COVID-19 itself, it was more of how we as a society approached it. Despite repeated encouragement from central and local government bodies, many people completely refused to wear masks, refused to follow social distancing and let me not get into hoarding of goods. Looting of patients has become a norm nobody seems to really care about the monumental problem in front of the society, despite 100k deaths.

We all took lockdown positively in the beginning. May it be home workouts, Dalgona Coffee and recipes, and all those challenges on FB, some people even took time to improve their skills. But by June-July, all that fade away real quick. Since then, everybody is more or less taking one day at a time. (at least I am)
It has dawn on us that this is new normal, and we aren’t really very comfortable with it. Extended working hours, the friction between more savings and inability to spend it, too much time with family.. It all is taking a toll on each one of us, and we should recognize it, accept it, work on it.

Now I am coming at the incident that happened with me in this Corona Lockdown

Since the lockdown started and since we got over the panic, I have been following a rule for myself.
I try to shop at local vendors, I avoid shopping through online retail giants although that could actually be convenient and beneficial for me.

The incident happened on one afternoon, may be 4PM, all shops in my area are shut by 7PM so we try to buy all goods and essential in either morning or early evening.
I wanted to buy bananas, I went to a local banana vendor lady who sits on footpath to sell it.
I asked her to give bananas for 10Rs, we generally get 3 bananas for the same, I thought maybe I’ll buy some more, so I asked her to get me bananas worth 15 Rs, I expected she will give me 4 or 5, but she gave me 8.
I was kind of surprised, so I didn’t take it. Then s­he said, if I give her 20 bucks she will give me 12 bananas.
I felt really really really terrible; it was like that story of exploited farmers from my school-time textbook unfolding right in front of me.
(If you remember that chapter, comment its name)

  she was selling it way underpriced just to make those 5 extra bucks. I don’t even think she was going to get any profit in that at all.
I told her that I can’t buy 12 as it would be wasted at my home. But I promised her to buy bananas from her regularly and I am doing that every now and then since.  

This brings me to the point why I am writing this article.

The Corona lockdown is like a kaleidoscope, everyone is seeing a different picture in it. While people like you and me have kept our jobs, saved some money and are just struggling with mental aspect of it, there is an entire population out there which have lost their jobs, businesses and their very source of income since lockdown and there is no way back for them.
The political GoT which parties are playing with each other is a topic of whole different article, I am not going to talk about it here.
It is on us now..

My advice is, buy things from local street vendors which sell only that thing.

You can buy Ginger and lemongrass and Coriander from your wholesale vegetable vendor, but choose not to buy from her/him.
Take a good walk around your neighborhood, find out small vendors who don’t sell too many goods but only some selective, like the example I mentioned above.
BUY FROM THEM.

 I have often walked long distance just to buy stuff from the person who would be benefitted the most from my purchase. I will ask you too, to walk those extra steps.

Those 5 bucks may mean everything to someone just around your neighborhood in this complicated time of Corona Pandemic.
 

Note :
My humble request to everyone reading this article to share it and pass on the sentiment.
I would really appreciate it !

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Stay healthy, safe and wise..
~ GAURAV PANDE