“Bob, please look for a suitable boy for my daughter!” said the voice of an old friend of mine on the phone.

“So your daughter has finally decided to get married?” I asked surprised.

“No, but I want her to settle down!” said the mother.

Settle down!

- Sarpreet Kaur

Ah! It’s here again. 2020 was a tumultuous year that questioned the power of human beings- who thought they were mightier than all. It taught us how important the balance between nature and development was. And the most important of all it showed us that- we are nothing- just a speck of dust and if nature wishes, the whole lucrative glittery world of homo-sapiens could tumble upside down in a matter of seconds. We learned a lot and we thought we have won over the deadly war. But Alas! It’s here again.

Our TV screens show ‘on the loop’ scenes of burning pyres echoed by gut-wrenching wails and mind-numbing numbers being flashed accompanied by a piece of dramatic background music.

With the second major lockdown being imposed all over, there is a growing concern among renowned doctors of WHO, which after Donny Trumps frequent outbursts against it is not taken as seriously as they were once were. I chanced to be there in my imagination in one of their meetings.

 “I foresee evolution taking place!” said the orthopedic member of the prestigious organization, “As man starts sitting in one place for such long periods, slowly he will not need the use of his legs!”

He was a cheerful fellow, with a wide grin as I came out of the airport. “Rough flight?” he asked. “You bet,” I said as I got into his car. I was there to address a group on the role of the press, I looked around at traffic jams and crowded roads and said, “My Bombay’s become a lousy place to live in, how’s it over here?” He chuckled and asked. “You want a story while I drive?” “Shoot!” I said and found his grin contagious.

"Doesn’t he love showing off his fancy legs!" I said loudly at the park last January. Loud enough for my companions to hear and they sniggered as the bald man in faded white T- shirt and shorts walked by at his incredible speed.

The weather last January had been cold with temperatures touching 8 degrees and we all walked our morning rounds in our tracksuits and woolens dragged out from boxes, generally opened only when going abroad.