25/6/20 Wednesday
First day of curfew
Although I started self isolation earlier on in March, I was still going out to stock up on things as I realized we needed them. Modi's announcement last night was unnerving even though I expected and welcomed it. It made things more real. One great piece of news is that the renters of our ground floor have closed up shop. As a medical supplier with a few delivery boys going everyday to dozens of hospitals, I was very nervous about their presence. With them gone, I can breathe easier, literally! My only remaining worry is the street cum house dogs. I have to think about that.
26/3/20 Thurdsay
Second day of curfew
I had to make a tough decision today. I have three tiers of dogs-
my house dogs (3)
my street cum house dogs (3)
street dogs (numerous)
When all this started, when I stopped leaving the house, I had to stop going out to feed the street dogs. That was tough. But I made my peace with it. The three street cum house dogs kept me tossing and turning. The ground floor level of my house is partitioned into a sort of front yard and back yard through the use of multiple gates. So Ponni, Kappi and Poppi would sleep in the front yard, eat there and since the gate was open all day, they would roam the streets freely, visiting their dog friends, their favorite vendors and shopkeepers, the few friendly neighbors etc. They had all the perks of street life like freedom and socializing as well as all the comforts of home, such as nutritious food twice a day, warm beds to sleep on and medical care.
When the lockdown began, I did not know what to do. Though my house dogs and I live on the first floor and mostly use the backyard, I do have to go to the front portion of the house on a daily basis to feed them and for certain chores. I needed to lock the front gate permanently to keep my house clean and safe for my family and myself. I tried sterilizing surfaces, washing with phenoyl etc., but the bottom line is that I was scared. I didn't know who these three dogs were touching, what they were sitting on...I washed my hands so frequently that the skin there became damaged. Every time they brushed against my clothes, I changed them. So the choice I had to make was- which side of the gate would they be on? Was I to banish them so they have their freedom or imprison them so they can keep their comforts? I wish I could ask them. I made the choice for them and I have kept them inside.
I gave all three of them thorough baths, washed the front and backyard down with soap and sterilized all the surfaces. I now feel so safe. But it hurts my heart to see them sit by the gate and look outside. One might think it's no big deal for just a few weeks, but I do not believe the lockdown will be over that soon. Going by what other countries are doing, 21 days is not going to be enough. It could be months. All that time, they're going to look at me with their deep black eyes, asking me to open the gate so they can do their rounds.
I'm sorry I can't make them happy because I've made myself safe.
27/3/20 Friday
Third day of curfew
I'm happy that for the past three days, I've been able to harvest vegetables from the terrace garden- radishes, spinach and snake gourd. Of course I can't do that everyday, but it's been really helpful to have this resource. I look forward to getting some green leafies in a few days.
Today was the first morning of the quarantine for the street dogs. Ponni, who spends four hours every morning with her soulmate, a sanitation worker named Nallamma, took it hard. I saw her trying to open the gate with her paws and then with her teeth when she heard Nallamma's whistle. It was tough to see that. I think once a week, I'll let them all go out and them give them complete baths before locking the house down again.
I'm used to a life largely indoors. So this is not that big a deal. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss zooming out on the streets as I went about shopping for this and that. I did make a plan to 'better' myself in this time of enforced isolation. But I haven't been sticking to it. I need to get down to it with a will.
I am also dreaming of garlic naan. I really, REALLY need to stop watching Youtube videos of foreigners eating food in India. It's torture!
I'm happy that for the past three days, I've been able to harvest vegetables from the terrace garden- radishes, spinach and snake gourd. Of course I can't do that everyday, but it's been really helpful to have this resource. I look forward to getting some green leafies in a few days.
Today was the first morning of the quarantine for the street dogs. Ponni, who spends four hours every morning with her soulmate, a sanitation worker named Nallamma, took it hard. I saw her trying to open the gate with her paws and then with her teeth when she heard Nallamma's whistle. It was tough to see that. I think once a week, I'll let them all go out and them give them complete baths before locking the house down again.
I'm used to a life largely indoors. So this is not that big a deal. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss zooming out on the streets as I went about shopping for this and that. I did make a plan to 'better' myself in this time of enforced isolation. But I haven't been sticking to it. I need to get down to it with a will.
I am also dreaming of garlic naan. I really, REALLY need to stop watching Youtube videos of foreigners eating food in India. It's torture!
