The Quarantine Plan

When even the best minds on the planet have all but to surrender to the wrath, we can feel an impending catastrophe. The dreadful counters just seem to be in a perpetual motion. We were prepared, weren’t we? Such was our prowess that even a cosmological threat, as alien as an asteroid, could be deflected. But then, when even the best healthcares collapse, we start to realize the mess; a diabolical disaster. And somehow, this one is unique, the one that all our senses can hardly have the privilege to perceive. The only plan to survive this irremediable cataclysm seems elementary; the grand plan - The Quarantine Plan.

A plan is a sketch to attain an objective. When it is a grand one, a meticulous preparedness is inevitable for it to succeed. But what happens when the idea is to implement it overnight? Imagining the repercussions in the first place is haunting enough. Eventually as we witness the massive pandemonium, the death tolls and the crashing economies; we can only be mere spectators to the horrific chaos. We can only be optimistic for a better tomorrow, whenever that’s supposed to arrive. Ordo ab Chao.

It is agreeable that execution of such a seemingly blatant plan isn’t just a cakewalk. In fact, deeming the plan simple is to undermine the profoundness of the situation; and, why not? We are talking about a closure in its entirety. Transport, education, retail, business, entertainment, sports; just name whatever sector you can think of, it will relentlessly creep into the list. All we need is a deadline; and when that’s uncertain, disorder prevails. A disorder of unforeseen magnitudes, as the world watches in agony and disbelief, it all comes down to absorb and release the pressure. As the masses started ‘The’ lockdown, seldom did they anticipate what was to follow. Soaking up the daily tolls wasn’t enough it seemed. When the majority of the masses are working class, layoffs and freezes should have been the least of their worries. Restoration of balance was necessary, pundits will argue. Unity has immense potential to withstand complex atrocities; but when diversity is the sole plan of survival, we had to submit to the deplorable tragedy. Divided we fell.

The indefinite hours of panic commenced. We clung to the mantra wholeheartedly. The sole mantra of confinement within the four walls promised to act as our prevention; an invisible guard to the invisible enemy. Quite surprisingly it seemed that we badly needed a break; an interval to respire, an interval to let the nature respire. This was a priceless break from the ever-existing monotony of everything; to sit back and soak in the hours of optimism. Needless to say, we understood the difference. When working parents get to cuddle their infants, when babysitters get a break; we know something has changed. When hobbies are our soul mate, we know something has changed. When pollution levels come down; we know something has changed. Change was all we needed, but how long? We are impatient creatures, right? Or at least that’s what we have become. Prevention is better, but when will the cure arrive?

A few weeks have passed. Our true heroes have been putting in gigantic efforts to save each and every soul from the fiendish foe. We have indulged ourselves into multifarious activities; we have kept ourselves busy. We have put in our best efforts to adhere to the plan; the plan that is opined to alleviate us from the misery. We also acknowledge that it is our duty to enlighten the illiterate. We are unsure if it is finally supposed to work, but pessimism is not an option. We realize that we have been shattered like a broken glass into infinitesimally tiny fragments abundant with uncertainty, grief and remorse. A vengeful uprising is futile and the judgement is biased. All we can do is stay home, stay safe, eat healthy and breathe healthy. All the world’s a stage and we’re merely players.