Dhruv Singh, a painter, running his 42nd year worked in a law firm. He excelled in matrimonial disputes and that cemented the belief of never getting married ever. Flings were his flavors on a dull painting day. That happened less as he was a passionate painter. Weekends occupied him fiercely in the sole company of colors and imaginations. The canvas was always abuzz with his strokes that went graceful in the lap of good music.

Clients often called him to know about the developments needed in their respective cases to which he always gave a patient ear. A good listener is half battle won. End of the day he wanted peace for his warring parties that eventually was peace for him too. Couples who had an amicable agreement were welcomed to post-divorce as friends. It is natural to bump into each other as it’s a small world after all so he wanted his future meetings to be far from ugly.

Malini was a shy woman with a very observant eye. She had noticed Dhruv a couple of times in the block where she lived. He lived in the tower opposite hers. Noida in Uttar Pradesh had these skyscrapers in bulk that housed a lot of people who were Delhites as well as hailed from other parts of India. She had moved into this house when Anil had got a promotion. He had gifted it as an anniversary extravagance. Malini made it a special affair by inviting her loved ones for a memorable night. This house was very dear to her and from its dual balconies, she kept herself busy on lonely days. On such days which were often in her kitty, she had caught sight of Dhruv either romancing his canvas with paints and on some days just dim lights with his shadow moving around giving those walls the much-needed imprints.

Dhruv was a regular at the skyscraper’s restaurant cum bar. Sometimes for drinks & sometimes to meet clients. His girlfriends never made it to this bar. They were restricted only for limited phases of bliss and necessity. He never found it awkward to dine alone as most of the time his table was a means of sharing which he offered sans any scruples. Many times it turned out to be a welcome change for good conversations. One such fateful day of December 2019 the wall tv informed the world that a virus has been creating havoc in Wuhan, China, and mysterious deaths were taking a toll. The virus led to respiratory issues and lung failure with acute symptoms of fever like the flu. India was at a safe distance and the news was just another breaking news. Soon in the coming months, it became the talk of towns creating worldwide panic.

An invisible enemy Covid19 started targeting globally. Gradually numbers kept rising in major countries thus WHO had no choice but to declare it a pandemic. Disaster had struck with its full fangs from Wuhan with no available remedy. A safe distance with faces covered and regular washing of hands could keep it at bay. Covid19 caught everyone unawares. Medics all over the world got in the race to produce the fastest vaccine to cure it. It incurred lockdowns in countries to restrict their spread. India was no exception.

Hospitals saw a beeline of COVID patients. Chaos, panic & uncertainty dressed each corner. Schools, colleges, offices, airports, gyms, salons, shops & entertainment hubs all were shut. Only essential services were open. Spike in cases scared people. Work from home the new normal kept the employed class busy. Everything came to a standstill. Migrants missed their homes. It’s always better to die with family rather than be hit at a faraway land. Mass exodus became the new mantra. Political parties had no control over the ruckus. News channels cashed on the TRP lead war. Covid19 simply ruled with no possible respite. The world had gone dark.

Dhruv liked change. A constant change usually upped his spirits. The pandemic brought stillness. Clients were on zoom meetings, the new technological elixir for the elite class. Web activity doubled leaving a decapitated feeling towards usual passions. Paintings suffered in the first fortnight. Acclimatizing to the new change took its toll. Fear crept in stealthily thus leading to panic buying. Dhruv was trying to be safe and secure as the rest of the world until better judgment started making inroads. Positivity filled days slowly settled matters and the grip on his own life was no mastery but pure common sense. Taking each day as it came cleared dark thoughts. On one such positive day of mid-April, he bumped into Malini at a medicine shop as he had to refill his calcium tablets & condoms. It was a deserted chemist shop at midnight and Malini was a big surprise at that hour in her silk saree with an air of nonchalance.

“O Mrs. Seth, how should I help you?”

“Nothing Mahesh, headache not letting me sleep and good that your shop is still open.
This couldn’t have been pushed to the morning as sound sleep is an aid to a better day. Give me the usual 30 and do add a bottle of phenyl too. That should be it and then you can close your shop in peace. Did I anyhow come in the way of the young man standing here?”

“O not at all mam’ I was just leaving,” said Dhruv.

“Good to see you. I will be awake another hour if the problem persists then please do not think twice and call me. Here is my number. I would like to be of help in these uncertain times.”

“O thanks young man, I will keep it safe.”

It didn’t take time for Dhruv to understand that Mrs. Seth was a late sleeper. A chic well draped silk saree at that hour said it all. Her gait had an irresistible appeal conveying grace and confidence. An empty road did not deter her from venturing out. This minuscule task could have been carried out by the building guard, but she chose to run the errand herself. This spoke volumes of her choices. Painters are good observers and readers of the unsaid. A full clad woman held massive attraction in his eyes. It gave room for imagination. She did not look her age in spite of her grey streaks. A childlike innocence sat on her face still that aided in those years of personal struggle. Eyes did most of the conversation in those brief moments of knowing. Dhruv walked back to his room thinking about what walked his way totally unguarded & graceful. Malini on second thoughts had never anticipated a meeting like that. She saw the plastic bags stuffed with condoms and calcium tablets. The streetlight was enough to make her see it. She did read his discomfort but decided not to react in any which way by straightaway talking to the chemist. Malini guessed his age through his chest hair that peeped from the shirt through its semi grey streaks. A well-built man in his thin frame cast a lovely shadow on the road. His politeness got the better of him and this little act of concern for a stranger was well appreciated. On those thoughts, Malini effortlessly slipped into a good night’s sleep.

Days passed and COVID19 got stronger and stronger. Fatality rates globally skyrocketed generating more fear and worrisome data. The whole world started accepting covid19 as a regular in their lives. Governments started easing restrictions. Red zones aka containment zones increased and decreased simultaneously. A good percentage of recoveries started happening in some parts of the world. Some countries entered in the second wave of the coronavirus. India stood at no.3 in the worst-hit countries. Exactly one and a half months later Mahesh saw Malini & Dhruv walking together on a deserted road opposite his shop. The night curfew had temporarily eased. The world did not know about the blossom of this odd couple in the lap of coronavirus. Mahesh was unaware of those errands of care when Malini had fallen in the dead of night from the chair she was sleeping on. The rocking chair that acted as a lullaby betrayed her once and for all thus mediating an alliance between the odd couple. Good luck was shining on her as the cell phone fell too from her lap close enough to make that frantic call to Dhruv. On the fifth beep when Malini was all set to disconnect the call Dhruv had finally answered. Within minutes he was at her house when she opened the door limping. Her eyeglasses had broken. Like a pro, she moved to the hallway and had opened the door.

The fall made way for frequent visits. Without the glasses Malini was a broken winged bird. Temporarily Dhruv became her eyes.

The optician had promised to deliver the glasses in a couple of days in spite of being a resident of the red zone. Malini scolded herself for not listening to her husband’s requests of owning two pairs of glasses. Being a fashion columnist Malini felt she could get reprieve in the future not knowing that Anil’s demise would leave her teary-eyed before going to bed thus worsening the eyesight. Coronavirus had spoiled all her plans of going in for contact lenses. Something she wanted to do for Anil’s upcoming birthday in September. The abrupt fall just needed a quick remedy as early as possible. Maids were banned as a precautionary measure to curb the unnecessary spread. Dhruv managed to cook for survival sakes with the help of friends & recipes on the net. The sumptuous taste was lacking as it needed practice. Slowly he was getting there. Malini’s fall acted as a silver lining in the grey clouds of his culinary skills. From morning tea to bed milk Dhruv was around for her. Those two days of learning, caring & sharing blossomed vibes of bliss. From strangers to helpers to friends to so much more, Malini & Dhruv were rocking in their newfound equations.

“How do you manage to stay by yourself despite such a caring side to yourself?”

“I can say the same Mam.”

“I have a reason to meet occasionally as losing a husband has its dents you know, Dhruv. Courtesy calls become inquisitive, preachy & demanding after some time, you agree?”

“Partly yes” he echoed.

“So it’s always good to keep a safe distance just so that corona proves it in my favor,” she said with a chuckle.

“So what got you to call me? Am I an unavoidable catch? To me you don’t seem to be that kind of woman.”

“Hello you were the one who shared the number first without my asking for it.”

“True Malini. I still do not know why I gave it to you in the first place. Maybe it was a reflex and glad that I did. Look where we are.”

“Where are we Dhruv?”

“Between the moon and its gaze I guess we are. Fulfilling yet leaves a bit thirsty for more.”

Malini looked away. Dhruv grabbed a pillow to make his back comfortable on the sofa that sat opposite Malini’s bean bag. Casual moments had intense vibes only to be understood and felt sans dialogues. More was in the air with comfortable silences. Daily chores along with his painting sprees had discussions that also had similar turfs as well as a clash of opinions. Glasses were repaired but meetups just did not stop.

“Strangely don’t you miss using your condoms, it’s going to be a month plus?”

“I don’t have the habit of two-timing you see,” he interjected and added, “O you saw them I was so sure, and I found it so awkward, honestly. Still you took my number. I thought you would just turn it down being such an independent woman.”

“I never thought of calling but only you came to mind strangely when I had fallen. As a habit, my cellphone notes are like a diary that comes handy over the years and a section of it is a phonebook. God showed the way and we humans just give in as a preplanned murder by him, I feel so now.”

“Do I look like a killer to you?”

“Sorry to disappoint you Dhruv but you are more a savior. Such patience with an old woman and the ability to learn in such a short while to cook deliciously is so endearing.”

“You guide so well I must say that food just has no choice but to turn out good.”

In the company of an interesting intelligent sexagenarian a divorce lawyer was having the time of his life midst talks, good vibes, brief physical touches, debates, walks in the late hours, uncertainty, and pandemic. All his past demons of commitment issues, static life & conversations were slowly healing in the most unfortunate times.

Noida was to be a temporary stop for the painter cum lawyer. The pandemic has its rise & fall in continuation with no vaccine in tow. Russia had just announced its approval of a medicine that could become a vial without any surety. Trials are on with no fixed destinations. Malini is getting used to having a regular at her house and heart with no overt declarations. Dhruv speaks to his parents regularly who are the front runners of this pandemic. Each day testing his faith in God and their goodness. By staying in Gurgaon they have volunteered willingly to do their bit risking their lives each day. Dhruv is proud of them though he fails to acknowledge it always. He is lucky to be part of a family that respects his freedom and supports his decision of living alone temporarily. 2020 is still etching a different picture for everyone on this planet. People each day receive good and bad news from their near and dear ones. Masks and social distancing are the new normal. Malini and Dhruv are no different. They continue to take each day as it is coming. Flowering into two beings as one. Walking together in their own world devoid of judgments, stigmas, ownership, shortcomings, and bias. Without declarations Malini and Dhruv just like a normal couple are into fighting, needing, patronizing, fearing, evolving despite the odds. Love in the times of Corona is blooming still.