How would you describe your lockdown?
Mercurial. I've my fair share of highs and lows during this time
Have you kept yourself physically active during lockdown? If so, how?
Duh.. By performing a variety of weight training, calisthenics and very mild cardio.
What surprising thing have you been stocking up on (that isn’t toilet paper, masks, gloves, sanitizers)?
Memes. All of my Whatsapp contacts are in for a 6 AM attack on an almost daily basis..
What are some things you have realized that you don’t really need during this pandemic?
Takeouts, protein shakes, actual gym equipment, personal trainers, barbers (
)..
What habit have you started, or broken, during the quarantine?
When the lockdown first began, I started binge watching several shows on Netflix/Amazon. But a month or so later, I completely stopped doing it. Also, earlier my mindset was like if I don't workout by 11 -11.30 AM I'll have to skip; now I just do it whenever the mind feels right.
Have you done something during the lockdown that you wouldn't normally associate yourself with?
Writing some pretty
lengthy-ass articles in certain drafts on this forum, and swinging gas cylinders over my head. Never again in a million years..
Which specific place are you most looking forward to visiting once this is all over?
Landour, Mussoorie - where I visited
last year. I just want to chill in the snow once again, and hopefully reenact some training sequences from
Rocky IV.
What skills have you gained, improved or worked on during the quarantine?
Definitely my cooking and cleaning skills more than anything else. And obviously my fitness, which is something I never really expected when all this began.
What’s something you own that feels useful?
My laptop. You have no idea how difficult it was being locked down without one for nearly two months when all this started, and then watching activity pick up in the leagues section when I could really do nothing about it.
What is your Covid-19 nickname/alter-ego/if any?
Ok, here's a rather interesting one coined by a friend of mine on Facebook..
What part of your shelter-in-place/residence have you come to appreciate the most during quarantine?
All the free space we have here to move around within our office building compound, which has helped a great deal in keeping me and my lockdown companions physically active. I don't know how we could have managed to keep in shape otherwise - none of us have been dieting in any way whatsoever.
What’s a story – from a book, a movie, an article, a conversation – that you’ve been gripped by recently? Why did it capture you?
This story about a camel who traveled all the way back to it's original owner after being sold really brought tears to my eyes. Now that's what you call unconditional love..
What problem—either yours, or something more global —do you wish you could solve?
Racism. The color of your skin shouldn't really matter if the color of your blood and your poop is the same in my opinion.
What’s the easiest part about the quarantine?
Keeping up my relative lack of much in the form of a social life.
What’s something that you miss most from the pre-COVID days? And what do you miss the least?
I miss being with my black labrador on a daily basis, as he is currently with my family in a different part of the city. Visits are few and far in between these days, but I have little choice given the situation here. At least he's being well taken care of by my other family members, but that doesn't make me miss him any less.
The least? Well, having to wake up at 4.30 AM in the morning for a run courtesy of my partly-injured leg.
What’s the most generous act you’ve seen recently?
This story comes to mind..
What has changed the most about you during quarantine?
I think I am far more patient and a calmer individual than I used to be prior to quarantine, as opposed to the in-your-face aggressive avatar when I was doing boxing/MMA training. It has helped me improve in that aspect as well. Aggression doesn't necessarily make you better - "be like water" in the words of Bruce Lee.
Lastly, what do you hope we all learn or take away from this experience?
That we need to take better care of our health and hygiene from here onwards. And stop cooking and eating goddamn bats, which is what got us into this mess..
