Lockdown #18
The lockdown has been extended for the 17th time. Unbelievable. But it does not come as a surprise anymore. We are under the lockdown for over 6 months now. Every time it has been extended by a week, two weeks or three weeks.
Looking back, it was good that I moved to the farmhouse just before the lockdown. What was supposed to be a short trip of three days has turned out to be a long long stay. Not that I am complaining. It’s better than staying in our small apartment pretty much in the center of the city which has turned a hotspot now - more than 3,000 cases and more than 100 deaths in the last 6 months.
I am out on my daily walk in the woods near the farmhouse. It’s a boon. Having so much of greenery, waterbody, hills, and fresh air. At a stone’s throw from the city.
The old man with long grey flowing beard in his modest clothes is there today also. He passes by me every day on my walk, whatever time of the day it is. Does he walk the whole day? He has a graceful calm on his face. He reminds me of my father. We nod at each other every day. He never speaks, neither do I. I am not the one to start a conversation.
But today I am in a different mood. I decide to break the ice.
“What do you think?”, I say.
“About what?” His voice is deep and young and has a soothing effect. Defies his age. He smiles slightly as the speaks.
“The lockdown”, I say. It looks like he does not like small talks.
“Haven’t you understood yet?”
“Understood what?”, I am puzzled.
“Have you not noticed any differences since the lockdown”, he quizzes me.
“Many. For one - nature has recovered. There is no pollution. It’s cooler. It’s much greener than it used to be. There is no traffic. No flights. It’s quiet. The way I like it.”
“What else?”, he probes further.
“Hmmm... the chirp of the birds is more pronounced. And yes, the flowers. They always seem to be there. Never noticed that before”, I am thinking now.
“And?”
“There is an abundant supply of everything - milk, eggs, chicken, vegetables, and groceries - though there is a lockdown. Everything delivered at home. I wonder how! The water in the lake does not seem to be receding. I remember it going down by a few feet by this time of the year”, how come it did not catch my attention before!
“There is more”, the smile on his face is more pronounced though the voice remains calm.
“You are right. My beard has stopped growing. I came here with only a few sets of clothes but they don’t seem to be wearing out. The fan does not make that irritating sound anymore. Everything is the way it should be!” I rattle out.
“Yes, I am missing out on meeting people. But for that, this is almost like being in heaven!”, I exclaim.
The old man is almost grinning now!
“Wait a minute. I am actually in heaven. This is heaven. I am dead! There is no COVID?!”, what is happening?
“No. You are alive now”, the old man is consoling me.
“And you are!”, now I realize who he is.
“Yes, I am!”
“But why this? It took me 6 months to realize where I am”, it’s my turn to question him.
“This is how we ease people in this place. We don’t want you to die of shock”, he chuckles. He has a sense of humor.
“By the way, I met you every day.” He is defending himself. Ha, does he need to?
“So this is how the heaven is”, it’s dawning upon me.
“I wonder how the hell is”, I am curious now. For a sworn agnostic, this is the revelation of a lifetime.
“Where do you think you were before?”, the old man is almost mocking me.
He raises his hand and starts walking.
I stand there. Still trying to absorb everything.
He stops, turns and says, “By the way, you may stop wasting your time on all those office calls… with our AI engine. Start enjoying heaven.”
“I have one last question”, I shout after him.
“I know. I come like this because you don’t recognize me in any other form.”
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