July 18, 2020
I was immersed in a book when I saw my phone flash on silent mode. Frowning, I called Althea back, whose anxious and hyper voice immediately yanked me out of my book. “You know we’re in a pandemic right?” she asked. “Errr yeah”, I said unsure. I could sense Althea was pissed off. I asked her to calm down and tell me what happened. She had been to a government office she narrated. Then she told me of her ordeal and the reason she was pissed off. The government officials were absolutely careless about the pandemic rules, with no social distancing or whatsoever being followed. There was no temperature screening or sanitizing. Even people were casually strolling without masks. As she narrated to me the entire episode of how the officials behaved with her, scolding her for creating a scene, I remembered the Jayaraj father-son duo’s custodial death, and a shiver ran down my spine. Hence this article is addressed generally and not at any specific government agency. Gulp!
Everyone is pissed off right now. Working staff are pissed they have to work with risk. Non-working people are pissed they lost their jobs. People working from home are pissed at bosses who send them emails at any hour. Businessmen are pissed off at losses. Actors are pissed off at films not having a release. The grieving are pissed off that they could not hold proper funerals. Newly marrieds are pissed at not having a honeymoon. People working and living abroad are pissed they cannot be at home with their families. People on leave are pissed they are getting half salaries. Students are pissed at the uncertainty of exams. Parents are pissed off at their children. Little children are pissed at their parents who do not provide enough entertainment to them. Government officials are probably pissed at their employers who ask them to work despite the pandemic. Burglars are pissed off that nobody is going on a vacation anymore. People are pissed off at the weather. When it was hot, we were at home. Now that it’s raining we cannot go out. Spouses are pissed off at each other and rising domestic violence cases are proof. What’s more, every time one tries to place a call, one has to be pissed off listening to the coronavirus rant.
Despite all this, we the people have not yet learnt our lesson. Many people do not practice social distancing and think a mere mask would suffice. The rising COVID cases are proof. One sees utter disregard for the pandemic rules at government offices. My friend Althea even shared photos of the place. It was an unbelievable sight where people were being kept like cattle waiting for their turn. Some didn’t have masks on. Even at supermarkets wearing masks is mandatory. But what about our government offices? Are they above the pandemic? Or is the pandemic a conspiracy just to keep us in hiding in our homes? One can see the general attitude at open spaces has become complacent. The virus is still out there. Or is it…? With the WHO issuing several contradictory guidelines one never knows.
This is definitely a pandemic of piss offs. It has pissed off everyone. Governments all over the world are pissed off at people whom they cannot control for vote bank politics. Citizens all over the world are pissed off at government officials at their atrocities. Police are pissed off at having to do their duty in the pandemic. We the people were always pissed off. Now we have the pandemic to blame it on. No amount of education or awareness seems to affect our thick skins and penetrate our dull skulls. No amount of nature’s fury seems to bring out the kindness in our hearts. All we care about is going about our business as usual and making a quick buck. Maybe God is finally pissed off at us.