LOCK DOWN – PART 1, HOME SWEAT HOME

“We need not worry so much. It is  active in China and European countries as the weather there is  cold. Here the weather is hot and summer is at the doorstep. The heat and humidity will kill the virus” Rohit told Pramod over phone. They were having a socially distanced beer party sitting in their respective homes. They were talking to one another over the Whats App video call. Pramod laughed and said “Stop giving me this knowledge. No one is sure about the behavior of the virus in  hot climate and we do not have any concrete proof about the effect of weather. It is too early to say anything about the virus and how it will behave in our country but one thing is for sure that if we continue eating and drinking like this we are going to add weight .”

“With the unshaven beards we look like rejected heroes of a romantic movie” Rohit replied and both of them laughed aloud.

“Pramod please finish washing the utensils,” Susan reminded from her room. She was working in an IT company and was busy during day time with video conferences and work from home. Pramod was heading the sales division of a construction machinery manufacturing company. He was not having much work during the lock down as his work involved meeting the clients regularly.

Pramod walked into the kitchen and started washing the utensils. His cell phone started ringing. He washed his hands and answered the call. It was from his elder sister Anasuya Joshi.

“Tell me Anu,” he said and continued “How are you and how is the situation in Hubli?”

“I am fine Pramod. We are not going out of the house and so I know as much as you know about Hubli. How is Susan?” Anasuya added.

“She is fine. Right now she is busy in the bedroom attending a Video conference. Most of the day she is busy with work.”

“I spoke to her a couple of days ago ” Anasuya continued “You are lucky to have her as your wife. She not only takes care of her job but also does the majority of the work at home even during Lock down”

“I clean the utensils” Pramod was quick to react.

“I know that you do it only once in a day. She does it the other time in the evening. Cooking is done by her. She hails from a very rich family but is humble and shoulders the responsibility of your family very well.” Anasuya reminded him. 

It was about 7 PM. Susan was busy in the kitchen cutting vegetables. Bharathi their daughter was watching a movie on the television. Pramod walked to the kitchen and said “Did you hear the news, Susan? The positive cases in the country have crossed the 1000 mark and the spread is happening faster. Europe and the US are badly affected by the Pandemic”.

Susan looked back at him and said “I have told you many times not to keep watching the news channels for such a long time. They keep showing the numbers and negative news and you get affected by this.”

“I have a solution to come out of this and be happy and cheerful,” he said.

“What is it?” she questioned.

“I shall take few pegs of scotch. Please give me salted groundnuts mixed with onion and tomato pieces.”

“Yesterday you had beer and today you are talking of drinking scotch. Please start doing some workouts. You are putting on weight. You need to do some exercise.” She said.

He pleaded and got her nod for few pegs of scotch for the night after assuring her that he would start workouts soon.

The next day he was sitting in the balcony having coffee. He gazed at the empty road. Bangalore was never so silent and he could barely see any movement on the road.

He looked at his mobile and was pleasantly surprised to see a message from Ipsita.

Ipsita Chakraborty was his friend and was very beautiful and a fitness freak. She had sent him her photo doing yoga and has shared a link about online yoga classes she was attending.”

Pramod was thrilled and called her. They spoke for a long time and in the end Pramod was convinced to join the online yoga classes.

“You will have to get up at 5 AM  every day. The classes start at 6 AM daily” she said.

“I will of course do it. You have motivated me and I shall join the classes without fail” he replied. 

He felt that the conversation was the best thing to happen to him during the lock down.

He paid the fees online and was waiting eagerly for the classes to start.

To be continued...