Meenakshi Nathani
Resident of: Baguiati

I have been trying to workout and eat healthy but its hard when you are free, have a filled kitchen to yourself and a Netflix account. Sometimes I just want to lie down and not do anything but I know that the pain of regret is more than the pain of discipline and if I waste my days, I will regret it.

So I’m brushing up on my creative writing skills, painting and cooking new items. I’ve started a journal so that when I read it 10 years later I have something to laugh at. This is the best time to spend with family. I mean, isn’t this what we all wanted — a break?

I know it’s hard to do all this when the future is so uncertain but talk to your friends and you’ll realise that everyone is on the same boat. These days when I wake up (late, typically), I realise that the Covid crisis is not a dream and that I am indeed living in a pandemic along with the whole world.

But when I take a walk on the terrace I feel close to everyone. All the terraces are full of people wishing for a better future.

Yukta Shah
Resident of: Vedic Village

The one thing that I’ve realised in this lockdown is we must try to find the brightest side in all adverse situations, just as Oscar Wilde put it: “When it rains look for the rainbows, when it’s dark look for the stars.” In these three months of Lockdown, I’ve been trying to find that “brighter side” to develop my personality.

My morning starts with a 2km run and 30 minutes of workout, followed by a sumptuous breakfast. I’ve tried doing things I never thought I would, like baking cakes and pastries and learning new recipes for smoothies. Being an avid reader, I like reading e-journals and books. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee is my current favourite.

I’m an aspiring actor and I spend the afternoons sharpening my acting skills, while in the evening I improvise some of my dance moves.
Catching up with online college assignments and papers — I’m a first year student of Loreto College pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science — are also part of my daily routine, apart from calling up my friends. I have also set a health and beauty routine by making best use of what’s available at home. Almonds, honey and home-grown basil and neem leaves are my daily dose of blood purifier. Applying curd, aloe vera, coconut milk, turmeric, sandalwood all over my hair and skin is a must.

With Amphan striking, all routines went haywire. However over 350 mangoes that I collected over three days post-Amphan from our farm mango trees made up for everything.
I bathe my two furry puppies —Zoya and Kutkut — once in 15 days and playing with them is the best stress buster I could ever get. Nurturing the plants and trees in our farm is something I’ve always loved to do.

While facing the toughest battles, I have strengthened my faith in the Almighty and as we have a home temple, I pray in the evening.
I’ve spent more time with my family like never before and it feels so good to be together all the time. Snacks, adda and movies are our family’s evening ritual, while household chores are a weekend vibe!

Madhumita De
Resident of: Bhawani Tower, Kestopur

This lockdown period reminds me of my childhood days. I was born and brought up in Dooars, in the lap of nature and in a pollution-free environment. Even now I enjoy natural beauty. I can see the clear blue sky and green leaves of the trees and also watch birds flying. I love and respect nature. I have a small indoor garden in my flat. When flowers in my garden blossom, my mind fills up with enthusiasm. Now-a-days I notice a bulbul building a nest with small pieces of straw and paper in my window grill. The bird eats the leaves of my indoor garden. Sometimes another bird joins. The bird’s activities give me so much pleasure. I have seen weaver bird nests on tall trees and sparrow nests in building ventilators but I have never seen a bulbul at work in the window of a flat. I am a senior citizen and keep busy with household work, gardening, listening to music, reading books, practising pranayam and meditation. I have some close relatives and friends. We share our positive thoughts and creativity through social media. I have gathered patience and confidence through these activities.

Indrani Dutt
Resident of: DL Block

I am a homemaker and am really enjoying this lockdown period. My husband has to travel a lot for his business but for the last three months, he is home. My younger daughter who studies engineering at Durgapur NIT is now with us. It feels more like vacation than lockdown. We are spending quality time together. Be it household chores like cooking or pastimes like watching movies in the evening, every activity brings us closer. I miss my elder daughter, who is doing PhD in US but she joins us through video call during our morning tea. The chat continues for long as there is no hurry for office or college. My younger daughter loves trying innovative recipes. We feed stray dogs daily. I do yoga for keeping myself fit. We all try to stay at home. Washing hands with soap, using mask and maintaining social distance are followed seriously.

Rakshak Kapoor
Resident of: Dakshindari Road

Namo Namah! That’s “namaste” in Sanskrit and by my greetings, you can make out what have been learning during the lockdown.
The Covid-19 crisis has made us cry but has also made us creative. I, for one, have have become a master at cooking and an intermediate in Sanskrit.
Despite being in Class XII, I now have a lot of time to learn this language. I’m also teaching it to my relatives in other cities through video chatting and they are taking it seriously. Now I can call myself a teacher.

My cooking skills have made me the master chef of my house and so I’m making lunch for my family. There have been challenges in cooking but I have now learnt things like how not to mistakenly add powdered sugar to a dish, assuming it to be salt!
I am also writing a book called The Current Education System (of India) for which I’m using about five languages. Above all, the lockdown has made me a multi-tasker.

Tiyasha Biswas
Resident of: Dum Dum Park

Being a 17-year-old who has just finished her Class XII Board exams, I am trying to be productive. Painting is the love of my life but it is something I hardly got time for earlier.Now I’m painting at least one piece in two days along with my regular study sessions. I have been attending online classes to help me secure admission to good colleges.
I also have more time to spend with my family and am amazed at how good it feels. I tried cooking and making the Dalgona coffee that was a rage on the Net. It’s my favourite now. I’ve started a YouTube channel to post my painting videos and since I’m into spirituality, I often lie down under the sky and watch the stars. They give me hope. I’m doing yoga, meditation, learning Spanish, improving my writing skills and maintaining a journal.

Debraj Sengupta
Resident of: FE Block

I am listening to songs like songs like Jokhon tumi badhchhile tar and We shall overcome to relive my mental agony over the Covid-19 crisis. I am singing them too. These songs have a morale boosting effect when one is despondent or crestfallen.