SOCIAL DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS

The advent of the novel corona virus has lead to a drastic change in people's lives. The living generations of human race have undergone a great deal of unprecedented hardships. The daily back and forth shuttle from work to home transitioned to a sedentary work from home. Be it coping with mental or economic depression, the world learnt to roll with the punches.

Initiatives by the Prime Minister, State Chief Ministers; scrolling statistical news tickers on top of news channels; social media posts; symphony of bells and gongs, no stones were left unturned to enlighten people with every details about the ongoing predicament and encourage them through it.

Readers.. We are all familiar with the voice that spoke with every number we dialled. Most of us never really focussed on what was said.. " Dread the virus and not the victim, and stand by them".. was a small part of the whole message. We simply got annoyed and waited for it to stop.
Yes... Care.. Love. Something that was pervasive throughout these times of crisis. Yet the least spoken about. We have had our own share of varied experiences when it came to love and relationships during the pandemic but it was barely discussed. On asking people around about their real life experiences, many different stories were gathered. Some were very disheartening, whereas some would immediately spark up the trending words #turulob and #nibbanibbi in the minds of the readers upon reading. (For all the readers, unfamiliar with the ongoing social media fad, these are terms colloquially used to mock young lovers). Be that as it may, Love Is Blind after all. It just happens, isn't it? And between anyone, barring all differences. But as easy as it seems to fall for someone, it requires hundred times more effort to sustain a relationship. 

    The lockdown made it quite a challenge. 
With their lives quarantined, most individuals got emotionally detached with the growing need to maintain social distancing. Everybody was trapped in their house. Meetings were impossible.

" We exchanged texts online. She lived 10 minutes away from my house, but her mother did not let her step outside during the pandemic " Only this much was said with a very sad tone, that no more could be asked. Unfortunately they are not together.

Relationships fizzled up owing to the long distance. Proximity and ease was chosen over potentially happy and sound bonds, without even giving the latter a shot. And this was a very common case for the most number of people asked.

Frankly, it felt more strenuous for the mass to contain their emotional and love issues than the virus. Misunderstandings, desire for closeness, insecurities, fights cropped up to which everyone reacted differently. 
Some got impulsively engaged very young for a sense of security, while some finally found a reason to get rid of each other. Decade long marriages were at stake. While some never left each other's hands all along the roller coaster ride.

Amidst this online life, when it's simple to cheat on a partner with just a right swipe on a dating app; two college friends, while living in two different states, got together in Mid-May.... Virtually. Yet the narrator corrected, " Nothing between us ever felt virtual despite not meeting for once in these 9 months, ever since we patched up." They can't meet for another month, yet her excited voice was enough to tell that she still got butterflies in her stomach. Hopeful, isn't it?

The shutdown brought no significant change for a 4 years old happy couple apart from, "Only the frequency of video calls increased in these months....that's all the difference we had." Such was the understanding between them.

On a personal note, lockdown started with one relationship and ended with a different one, with the very same person, who said, "Initially it was getting on my nerves; with everyone in the house 24×7, no calls were possible. We surely had occasional misunderstandings and ample fights, as texts were not enough to potray our emotions properly. It was difficult at times. But I am glad now that we did not give up, the hardwork paid off. We have better ways to stay connected now. 'True Love Always Finds A Way.' " That's so True.
Faith, Trust and Love have a fresh meaning in the relationship, and believe it or not, the pathogen had a huge role to play.

Love gives us the strength to Believe; You Believe in Love... Love will never Disappoint.

The past months were a true test of love and patience. It taught us valuable lessons for a lifetime. It stretched people's patience beyond their limits.... Some snapped under pressure and those who never stopped Believing were immuned to surpass the darkness to a New Normal, Which is Full of Hope and Happiness.