It was a fine sunday morning in July. I had stayed up late watching a korean series whole night. The sun was about to rise and I thought to sleep before there was light in the room. I watered my window plants and went back to bed. I normally don't take much time to sleep when I lie down, but it had been 10-15 minutes and I was still awake, eyes closed. My eyes were turning heavy when I heard a voice - 'Is he asleep now?' The voice came from beneath me.
I thought I was already asleep and was perhaps in a dream when I heard another hushed voice beside me - 'Lower your voice, he is above you, you idiot!' I am sure I was still awake but my eyes were too drowsy to see who were talking. I tried to concentrate on the conversation. 'I don't care, I can't take it anymore!' - the voice below me shouted. 'Enough is enough now. He has not moved an inch in the last 4 months. How long am I supposed to carry his weight over me? He sleeps, he watches tv, he works, he eats and all of these are being done over me. Earlier he used to watch tv in the hall, went to office and came to me only for sleeping but seems like I am his world now. He does not leave me alone even for a second. This is too much. I want my space! Can someone please lock him out of the flat when he goes to throw the garbage. At least, I will get some breathing time and a little fun!' - the voice below me ranted when I realized it was the bed talking!
I was fully awake now but decided to play asleep and listen to this conversation. The fan jumped in from above -' You will never understand what I am going through. At least he leaves you when he goes to cook, but I have been running nonstop for the last 124 days 22 hours now. Earlier, half of the weekdays, even weekends, he would not be at home. Now, he goes nowhere. I will burn out soon at this rate. I am starting to feel sick of rotating round and round and round for so long. When will this lockdown end and when will he leave us alone!'
'I totally get you my friend but you have no idea what I have gone through in recent times' - The hushed voice from earlier chipped in. It was my tv speaking - 'Do you have any idea how lavishly I have lived my whole life in the big hall with my voice echoing through the spaces. Now, I am cramped up in a corner with an almirah on one side and a big bed in front of me. I feel like suffocating in this little space. Above that, I used to speak in so many different languages - Hindi, English, Telugu, Korean, Japanese, French, Punjabi, Marathi and Malayalam. Nowadays, I am stuck with only 1 - Korean! I don't get his over infatuation with Korean movies and series these days. Are the rest of the languages banned now? I have to blabber nonstop Korean which he doesn't even understand without subtitles! Someone please tell him to at least learn Korean if he is so interested.'
'You all just think about yourselves. Who cares about others in this selfish world these days!' - My bicycle shouted from outside. It has been parked in the balcony for quite sometime now. It continued - 'You all are crying that you are being over utilized. Think about me for a second. I have been sitting idle in the balcony for an year now. Forget about riding me, he does not even throw a glance towards me ever. Seems like I am non-existent in his life...' ' But I am so happy in this lockdown' - the bicycle was interrupted by someone from inside.
My fridge could not hear more rants and broke in between - 'I am so happy that this lockdown happened. I used to think that my sole purpose was to produce ice out of thin air. Earlier, I used to be kept mostly half-empty but these days, I am filled up completely. And the variety of fruits and vegetables being placed in, I must say, I feel blessed for the lockdown.' I woke up laughing out loud. I was on the verge of falling off the bed when I got hold of myself. What a chaotic weird dream it was!
