On My Own In Pandemic

 Time passes by

I have learnt to sit inside four walls of my house

The only long walk I take, is no more in parks

but on my 8th floor

From the window touching my bed,

passing through my bathroom door, kitchen, living room,

to lobby outside my main door,

passing through three lift

till the opposite closed room no 804

and back again.

Enough exercise for the day

is to complete six rounds.

Sometimes might walk down

to seventh floor and climb up again.

With me as my sole company,

I have learnt to argue with me,

I rest against my soft pillow

close to the window

and watch the sky change colors

during the day

from light blue to dark blue to pitch dark

with twinkling diamonds on cloudless nights

Greedy crows visit me

only if I have

bread to share.

On the days when I am generous

I offer them mithai or crumbled fruit.

Friends I had once upon a time,

I recognise them no more.

Food has been my savior.

My daily normal food has suddenly got exotic.

English vocabulary puns behind my cheeks.

Stale curd is now greek chilled yoghurt.

Palak is local greens,

chappattis are tortillas,

fried potatoes -french fries,

rolled up roti with left over food is wraps.

I buy fruits from farms

all the way from Tons Valley at Uttrakhand,

those hilly regions of north east India.

I am supporting farmers who protest on the street.

I tweet my support in 140 characters

My linen pyjamas with floral design

are ordered from Surat.

I invite my family to buy the same designs

and we party on booth camps,

each one us chomping

on same menu

of samosas and

mint chutney and

cup of Adrak Wali Chai.

Netflix and prime videos

have replaced cable network,

radio FM keeps the silence away,

Endless podcast,

instalives,

zoom on, google meets,

turn the needles of my wall clock

I find no time to read,

words overflow from pages of book

begging for attention

Did you get Vaccine?

Are you still alive?

Next building is sealed with 13-15 new cases,

the most intelligent talk of the town

are conversation on taking precautions,

as if you don't know.

Time passes by

I have learnt to sit inside four walls of my house

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