Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Sujata Pillai] I close my eyes in my self-isolation from corona... and I see that I am not. I see patients coming in neverending numbers, young and old of all color and creed. I see them get better, or get worse. I live long enough to see them pass away while we tend to the next. I see nurses scared and tired, but never ceasing. I see fellow surgeons operating, physicians treating, intensivists ventilating, all aching and apprehensive to go back home to their innocent children and aging parents when the day ends. I sense the real self-isolation. In our hearts. And for once, I see you, see us. “We the Isolationists” series urges folks from

Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Abhen Bhatt] I close my eyes in my self-isolation from corona... and I see how fragile humans are. I see that living is reduced to mere survival. I see self-centredness, helplessness all around. Even the God has closed doors on us. But there are things I don’t see, such as what went wrong, who’s at fault. But again, I see all our wisdom is failing to to give us any convincing answer. “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

Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Himani Dehlvi] I close my eyes in my self-isolation from corona... and I see the colour Blue. Bright and luminescent. A blue sky over Himalayan mountains. Fluffy white clouds. Sweet scent of nature--fresh, pure, cleansing, healing. I'm lying in a field of spring flowers--orange, yellow, pink and purple. Like a quilt that I had in my childhood. Patched together with swatches of silks and brocades from my mother's clothes. My mother is close, I can smell her sweet scent, too. I shut my eyes tight a little longer, greedy for the memories of times past, wishing for healthy times in the future, living in self-isolation, meditative and calm. “We the Isolationists” series urges folks

Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Aparajita Ghosh] I close my eyes in my self-isolation from corona... and I see a musical retreat, Ustad Fareed Ayaz and Ustad Puranchand Wadali sharing a broad rostrum. The honeyed, husky voice of Ayaz sahab blending magnificently with the fruity voice of Wadali ji, and I see the divine Iqbal Bano standing tall in the centre of the stage, draped in fierce black saree, giving their qawwalis and ghazals a soothing rhythm, and then I find Anjum and Zainab standing in the corner of stage, thrilled to see them all under the same star. No sooner I lost myself back to the dreams of Khwabgah. “We the Isolationists” series urges folks from any part of

Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Masroor Rizvi] I close my eyes in my self-isolation from corona... and I see myself hearing you. The patter draws me closer and and so does nature. I hear the winds complaining of blatant injustice. I hear myself talking back. Like long lost brothers we want to hug each other and scare away the distances that have crept along the crests and troughs of time, socially, morally and emotionally. The rustling leaves inform me that biologically a corona is a crown-like appendage of a plant or animal. I keep my eyes closed with smiling lips and a hopeful heart to live beyond these times as I pray for an awakening. “We the Isolationists” series urges folks from

Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Vindhya Vatsyayan] I close my eyes in my self-isolation from corona... and I see people, like a lot of people. People not rushing to the coming metro. People smiling a lot more. People carrying books instead of mobile phones. People not looking tired. People enjoying the sunrise and sunset. People cheering for each other. People talking about how a virus changed their lives for good. But wait, were those really people or just trees, flowers and animals cheering for their new lives. “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

Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Aakanksha R Gautam] I close my eyes in my self-isolation from corona... and I see the yellow flowers on the sidewalk of Firozshah road. I see people sipping chai at tapri I regularly visit, and their discussions turning into debates. Sun is setting, but shining. I see my favourite face, smiling and approaching me swiftly. I see his honey eyes and his curved lips, my eyes closes before a soft kiss. And now, when I open them, it all vanishes, like it never happened. The tapri must be quiet. But I hope those yellow flowers are still blooming strong. “We the Isolationists” series urges folks from any part of the world to share a brief diary starting with

Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Mehvish Shaikh] I close my eyes in my self-isolation from corona... and I see my younger self. I see a timid teenager whiling her time away in studies in a dingy loft of a rented room that is her study corner. Everything 'social' emanates fear in her. Even social networking! The college-self zooms past and with it, I open my eyes. It's March 2020. I find the entire world sitting like my child-self in self-imposed isolation. It feels as though they all are trying to comfort the child-me for her forlorn past. She is no longer alone. Now she finds social media as the most powerful medium to connect, feel, be, understand and survive