These are the words searched extensively by me after I came out of the turbulent time of Kashish’s return from Manchester, UK.

Curfew is what I know, is a regulation requiring people to remain indoors for  specified days / hours.

But what is Janta Curfew, never heard of it… am sure many of you were also unaware until 22^nd March 2020. Curfew “for the people, by the people”; self-imposed curfew. Got it!

Quarantine, for me as an IT person it means – “A process of isolating a file suspected of being infected with a virus to a specific area of a storage device in order to prevent it from contaminating other files.” – now so very apt for the present situation.

I realised the actual meaning for quarantine and isolation when I had to do this to my own daughter. It is difficult… very difficult to have a member of family literally locked down in one room and behaving like she is “अछूत”. Apology to use this word – but this is how WE have become in currently and that too so proudly.

Now come to LOCKDOWN. I am actually working from home a week before all my colleagues started it because of Kashish return from UK. First week was fine, adjusted time for every work at home. When 21 days lockdown declared, it was a feeling that is hard to express.

But then I realised, I was always so fascinated with Work From Home concept. Now what? When the time is here.. why am I not happy.. why is that break inside.. where is the energy gone.. where is the passion gone.. Oh.. so are the restrictions of not able to going out for shopping, movie, party is bothering? Chatting  with colleagues deprived? It is all the more difficult because Kashish is not WITH ME inspite of being at HOME. Both of us have real fun together.

Never ever in my dreams did I ever imagine that I will see what I am seeing today, in fact what the world is seeing today.

Actually, Lockdown is a mental torture until you remain positive inside. Throw all negativity outside and think how can this be the best time of our life.

That’s what I did – made a list of hobbies. They had taken a little back seat in the life due to other priorities.

Exercise is very important for our own betterment and I do it everyday but to be honest, could not do with the same passion as I should be. Now I easily spent an hour for Yoga. Somewhere deep in my heart, I want to be a Yog Guru like my father.

I have always being so magnetized towards gardening. It was my father’s favourite stress buster and time pass and I loved joining him. Every leaf that grows, every bud that rises, every flower that blooms gives me happiness.

Please don’t laugh, but I dance also. In fact, in my school days, I was the participant of every event or competition. Dancing is not my passion but I just love it. So now that I have time, I try to put my foot forward and dance as if no one is watching.

My other hobbies that are flourishing at the moment are Cooking old recipes of my Dadi, Mother and Mother-in-law. I read a lot – not online but the paper books, currently reading – “It Happens for a reason” – So true – everything happens for a reason.

Writing – I am not a regular blogger, but I do write my emotions. And I wrote after almost a year @ http://www.archanagoel.in

I am really obsessed with the cleaning of home. (please don’t laugh – I am sure everyone is doing it now even the celebrities are posting their photos / videos), I was doing it till Jan’2015. It was the time when I has medical problem and assigned the job to maid. And then you become lazy to start it again, after 5 years, I can now re-live my obsession, Hear it – I do it Daily.

I want to advise everyone to enjoy this lockdown period and give yourself a second shot. Involve your children with you. Don’t let them waste Internet; let it be free for the people who are Working From Home.

I am sure there are some people who are genuinely not able to cop up this lockdown, may be sometimes we feel “अरे यार अब इस उम्र में क्या hobbie पकड़ें” or “घर के काम से फुर्सत ही नहीं मिलती” and so on. चलो hobbie ना सही कुछ और करो, कुछ अच्छा करो.

Play board games like Carrom, Ludo, Snakes / Ladders, Scrabble or may be Cards with your children – NOT Online please.

Play old games – छुपन छुपाई, लंगड़ी टांग, स्टापू

Try old lost recipes of your Dadi, Nani, Mom o even Papa’s.

Nurture a Plant – watch it grow.

Engage kids in household chores – this is the best time to teach them the important of being self-reliant.

Exercise – losing weight is not the aim; NOT GAINING weight should be the inspiration. Build a new body..

Take a walk – in the house or on rooftop

Give your home a makeover

Deep clean your home – you don’t have to wait for Diwali now

Connect to family member, Friends, Colleagues on phone

Find a Bookwarm in you – any Novel, any story book; if nothing – you might be having “Geeta” – read it, it will relax your mind.

Watch the sky – it is so blue in the day and full of stars in the night; I remember as a child, I used to see Saptarishi constellation and wonder how come they are always seen together maintaining same distance between them??

Love yourself – indulge in self-care; get a hair massage ; make a facemask at home.

Feed the birds, stray dogs or other animals; it is a tough time for them too.

Respect nature; we are guest here. There is no war but it is still a war. I pray to God this ends and when this ends, world has to start from Zero. We will have a NEW WORLD.

योग करे, स्वस्थ रहे, मस्त रहे, और फिलहाल घर पर ही रहे