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Life in the time of Corona

Times surely have changed.

I never really expected Mumbai to shut down to quickly and completely.
Sure, you see reports of traffic jams even today. But there is no denying that things have taken a turn for the worse.
This was how Phoenix Market City, Kurla looked like. And this was last week.

This is me going to office on March 13.

I have got permission for Work from Home. I don't know if that is good enough. So I have my friends here in the apartment and my laptop for company. Food or grocery delivery is difficult now. Big Basket has stopped delivery temporarily. Grofers was still in service. Ordered a few things but I am supposed to get them on 1st April only.
Travelling is out of the question. Had it been earlier, I would probably have moved home. Now that is nearly impossible. Domestic airlines are shutting down from Wednesday onward. International flights had stopped since March 22 (my birthday). Trains have also stopped. So, I am stuck here.
I don't see this as entirely bad though. I have time to study and do a number of things that I did not have much time for. Like singing or cooking. Already cooked a couple of simple dishes today. More to come.
I have also returned to reading books. I re-read Antony Beevor's Stalingrad. The way human beings could fight, survive and die under impossible conditions is always a source of inspiration.
Things are probably not as bad in Kolkata yet. The news reports suggest so. Maharashtra is the worst hit. Let's see how things turn out in the next week.
Stay safe.

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