City Series - Zehra Mahdi in Kharagpur, West Bengal, We the Isolationists (109th Corona Diary)

City Series – Zehra Mahdi in Kharagpur, West Bengal, We the Isolationists (109th Corona Diary)

City Series - Zehra Mahdi in Kharagpur, West Bengal, We the Isolationists (109th Corona Diary)

Our corona diary.

[Text and photo by Zehra Mahdi]

I close my eyes in my self-isolation from corona… and I see myself walking on bridges laden, and walls smeared, with nostalgia, often visiting the villages of ‘What-could-have-been’. I remember the past as if it was another world. I live these days as if in gestation, and
I await the end of pandemic as if a new world is waiting on the other side. I remember Delhi from memory as well the several men I had interviewed over the years. I wonder if Delhi is being kind to them, are they stuck at Anand Vihar, maybe. I open my eyes, the past, present and future has become one, submerged in misery, sufficed by nostalgia. I close my eyes from the comfort of my bed. As I wane in and out between my isolated Dreality and their collective Reality.

“We the Isolationists” series urges folks from any part of the world to share a brief diary starting with “I close my eyes in my self-isolation from Corona… and I see…” Not more than 100 words. With a horizontal-sized selfie, along with your city name… please mail to me at mayankaustensoofi@gmail.com.