Uncertainty

The opening scene of Roma where pools of soapy water made accumulation on the square tiles reflected a small little window through which the audience could view the sky above. One could see the railings of the house through those reflections and a plane flying up in the sky. The sound of soap water with the formation of bubbles helped imagination get the creative wings of illustrations that were therapeutic. Instantly the audience gets glued to the movie. Sometimes, nonverbal communication is felt to be stronger than verbal communication. Studies say 55% of the communication is through body language. In theatre, actors can sense each other even if they don’t directly look at each other. With the Pandemic of Coronavirus, we all challenged these sensing amongst ourselves. How does it feel to have a stranger sit right behind your chair on the other side of that coffee shop that you used to visit regularly? How the Cab driver in his body posture gives you a sense of security or jittery. How does your lover look at you making you uncomfortable out of seduction not yet touching your body but touching your soul? It was almost a week that India had been observing the lockdown. And people were sliding into the blanket known as depression. Though fear had united the country to obey the lockdown it couldn’t unite hearts living under the same roof. A friend cheekily asked, “what must be those people doing who has extramarital affairs”. This jest of his made me think and wonder. True that what happens to relations now that are not sealed and agreed by society. A junior of mine posted on Instagram “This lockdown is going to be difficult for marital rape victims, now that they are bound to live with each other for 21 days”. Some also made fun India is going to have a huge population hype after nine months. Essentially all of us were trying to deal with the uncertainty that had suddenly engulfed worldwide like the serpent from our fairy tale books. For the first time, people appreciated that they are alive consciously and voluntarily. Articles on economic slowdown and how to keep your mental health stable was pouring heavily in the stormed browsing history of the citizens. Among all this Sritoma was mopping her loft that had worn out square chips tiles in the shades of white, slate, and steel blue. She is back in her hometown due to this lockdown. She seldom enjoys Kolkata, but this time it’s a different feeling. There is a sense of togetherness in the city. There is fear but there is love. Families are trying their best not to fight and hold on to each other. People are realizing for the first time what it is to have a maidservant or a full belly meal. Moods are swinging like the pendulum but Sritoma somewhere in her little loft enjoyed her mopping like never before. She moved her mop almost like a paintbrush on a clean canvas. Wondering how comfortable days are without the car honks or the loud voices. Nature has a rhythm and cities seldom get to hear that melody. Maybe that rhythm, that mop, and the awkward silence encouraged her to cope up with the loud cries of uncertainty.