One lockdown to another

The last time that I was at a bar was on April 10, 2021, for a friend’s birthday that we celebrated at Biere Club. Afternoon tipples are a luxurious indulgence from time to time, my favourite kind of afternoons actually, albeit the drowsy aftermath. The beer at one of Banglalore’s oldest breweries was its usual delight, as were the cocktails that we overindulged in. We went all out, and in hindsight, it was a good call given that Lockdown 2.0 was nigh and was eventually announced a few days after as cases mounted.

Although we were slapped by deja vu in the face, this lockdown was far different from the previous one. I remember my eyes welling up last year as Modiji announced a lockdown on March 24. I was in Pune then, as my three-day visit stretched to a three-month one. This time though, the experience of one lessened the blow of another.

It was imminent with cases in Karnataka mounting faster than light. Being mentally prepared was vital. Swiggy was a saviour on most days when the kitchen didn’t open. Stocked up Hoegaardens and Monkey Shoulder helped on gloomy days. Netflix and Amazon Prime transported us to a different plane when we sought distraction desperately.

COVID’s casualties crept in to our families as close ones departed. It was alien territory, navigating through those thoughts and emotions. It took a while to understand and reach a point of acceptance through those hours of silence. Everyone grieves in different ways; some seek distraction, others, brood. I took to cleaning, washing and dusting to another level when not tied up with kitchen duties. Work kept me busy. He didn’t want distractions; he let himself soak in despondency, taking a break from the immediate world as he saw it. Whatever helped him cope.

Dunzo kept my stock of vegetables fresh. I indulged in retail therapy of a different kind; Amazon kept my supply of books coming although I had unread ones. I was particularly obsessed with Murakami’s Sputnik Sweetheart – I couldn’t put it down. There’s something about Murakami’s books... I remember when I was reading Norwegian Wood. I couldn’t stop reading in autos, while standing in the metro or in buses while commuting to work. Even while walking around home once, until I tripped and had to tuck it away.

We didn’t need to step out of the comfort of our four walls, but we needed out from time to time. The quick rides to Ratnadeep and MK Retail were luxuries for which the otherwise-neglected eyeliner was brought out. I put on ironed, untouched clothes for those trips, grateful for the chance to get some fresh air. (How did I ever take grocery shopping for granted?!) But our vegetable supply continued to come in from SN Traders – only because it was that good!

We put in an hour’s workout at home five days a week, ensuring we did not repeat last year’s mistakes that resulted in those unwelcome kilos. I worked on my headstands, Rohan on his handstands, until those wore us out too. Poor Anirudh - our trainer - would turn up every single day at 11 am, pushing us to get in that one extra round. Thanks to him we didn’t undo all the good work we had put in before the lockdown. We got bored of working out at home eventually, so we stopped.

Coffee was my other favourite pastime. I’ve become an expert at brewing my own. Thanks Nammu and Sanju for our French Press. Ask Anupam, he had come over twice for my early morning brews. One cuppa in the morning and one in the evening. Black and sugarless. That’s how we like it. Tried my hand some cold brews as well. Loved them.

Although Bangalore’s weather didn’t support cold brews, the weather was a ray of hope. It was nothing short of perfect in dour times. The sunsets were stunning, never woke up in time for sunrise. The skies threw up their most gorgeous offerings often. Remember the rainbow cloud and the sun halo?

There was quite a bit of painting, albeit on a timeline given they were meant to be birthday gifts. My acrylics would’ve been thrilled to be awoken from their long slumber. In the two years here I never knew how my neighbour looked until he moved away. We socialised with the new one next door this time, got to know him better. It was by far the most I’ve socialised with a neighbour. Okay wait, Munisa came close. She was a darling. I wonder where she is now...

I stepped out today to come to my happy place. It’s not a surprise that words poured out as they normally would. It’s the thing about happy places; you never know how time flies. It’s 4:45 and current restrictions imposed have places open for dine-in only until 5 pm. It’s time to go home. Return to those four walls where I now recognize even the stains they wear as their own.

Until another day, another Hazlenut Cappuccino and the sound of keys rattling.