A gust of sweet air goes by kissing her cheeks and making the clouds dance. Sports kids shout here and there, panting for air, running while some try to sneak out to have some rest time. Observing all this, a student of 3rd English Hons sits on the staircase of the new building, reminiscing about the time that has been going on ever since the lockdown. Everyone, including her, suddenly was pushed outside the safety cocoon into the updated version of life called college. She joined college and studied 1st and 2nd year online. Just how suddenly life went online from offline, it became offline from online and amidst these transactions, she realised how much she has changed. This journey of a short period has given her so much more life experience and skills than she could acquire in her school life.
During her time at home, she discovered and experienced a lot. She had a lot of time at hand as the high school result and the entrance exams were on hold. Though she was full of anxiety, she learned how to control and calm herself with the anxiety attacks and see a clear and big picture of things. The factor that helped her was her family; they were always together which left her with no time to feel lonely or overthink the future. She observed keenly how everyone overcame their situations in professional and social life. This gave her the courage and ideas to evolve herself to another level and to face things forehead. Soon after, she got enrolled in college and started her new life through a screen. This also added to her courage to try new things she would have generally avoided. Gradually it came naturally to her. During the lockdown, many people faced tragedies and lost their loved ones while some still suffered from the side effects but it was like a good omen for her.
“What I needed was a pause, a break from all the running in the race and spend some time with my family and build the bonds which were just left on time to fix. I am glad that I got this time. Now I am much more intimate and free with my family.”
Even with the favourable effects of the lockdown, she says, “Life at home was comfortable but stagnant. I missed this hustle and bustle, breathing fresh air freely; now that life is back to normal it does not feel normal.” In online mode, it was easier to manage things, which may be a good thing or bad, but she was able to multitask in between her classes and could participate in a lot of activities. Now in the offline schedule, it is taking a toll on her mentally and physically. Despite all the exhaustion she is happy to be able to hug, talk, and enjoy herself together with everyone instead of staring at small boxes on various online platforms. And with falling off the screen and being replaced with lush green, she could unmask people’s true intentions. She talks about how excited she was to finally go to college offline but got hit with a blowing punch in the gut with the reality of people and work. Despite all the negative things that happened she does not regret her decisions. She enjoyed those moments the most and now cherishes those memories as she moves on with life.
While we kept talking about all the cherished memories of her college life and the juncture which suddenly vanished during the lockdown. Like a sudden realisation, she says, “Perhaps this soothing weather is making me pour my heavy heart to you like these clouds ready to pour their weight down on earth.” With this realisation, she got a phone call; with brief goodbye, she went away talking about the rest of the schedule over the call.
Ekta Singh
Editorial Board
The Redstockings Chronicle
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