“Earlier this month, I took up a content creation project for a home-stay in Himachal Pradesh. To write about it, I had to be there and experience it’s true essence. So on March 16, I flew from Hyderabad to Chandigarh and then took a bus to this little town, up in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Back then, everybody was talking about COVID-19, but there was no lockdown. My parents were worried, but I had made my mind up of wanting to come here. I thought it was just the travel that I had to get through and once I’m here, I knew I was going to be in isolation because this is not a populated place anyway. In retrospect, I think I didn’t understand the gravity of the situation when I took the risk and travelled all the way here. At the Hyderabad airport, there were many people – everybody was wearing masks, using sanitizers and being very careful. Many students from colleges in the city were flying back to their hometowns.

I’ve been in this cottage ever since I reached Bhumiya Village, near Jibhi. It’s an extremely beautiful, secluded and peaceful little town. Of course, the struggle for groceries is real – it’s a 30-minute drive down the hill and they’re only available till stock lasts. We’re trying to be careful with how much we use. The medical facilities here are very minimal. So I tweeted to KTR recently and he got back. He assured us that if we identified any symptoms, we will receive help all the way from Hyderabad. That helped me calm down a bit. I think it’s also the serenity amidst the hills that really changed the way I was looking at the issue. It’s when I check my phone or open social media that I see so many negative posts filled with fear. There is panic and fear, yes! But when you’re away, in a valley, in the lap of nature, you are suddenly aware of the power of nature and the miniscule of human existence. The locals here are optimistic and full of life. They live in the moment – no complaints, no worries. All the anxiety and fear is dealt with in a calm way. They have been really helpful with getting me water, cooking for me, even in times of crisis and that’s the true depiction of humanity.
Back at home, my parents call me frequently and we check on each other. The need of the hour is self-isolation and help! We can do our part for the underprivileged where we tweet their problems like we do ours. That would surely bring about a change!”

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