Guardians of the city!

With hardly any vehicle movement the road seems empty,

you'll see him standing there with energy aplenty,

he will carefully watch who all come and go,

He will correctly guide you, he'll never say no!

He will bake in the sun for hours on end,

He will return your smile and a helping hand lend,

He will shout at loiterers and drive them away,

He will even punish them if they have nothing to say.

He will make them do sit ups and hold their ears,

He will help an old lady carry her burden without tears;

He will prevent chaos at any cost to keep us safe,

He will melt in the heat and continue to be brave!

He is risking his life and his families too,

Just to make sure it's safe for me and you,

He does his duty with hardly a complaint,

He wears his uniform with pride and constraint.

He is bound by the orders from above he receives,

Don't be too harsh on him if he stops you to check;

He isn't enjoying it any more than you please believe,

But he doesn't have a choice, they're all hands on deck.

He waits in line just like we all do for groceries,

he pays full price and doesn't bargain in misery,

He understands that we all are in this together,

He too misses his father, mother, sister and brother!

Let's give them the respect they deserve so truly,

let's at least smile and greet them when they seem unruly;

Let's remember that even our mood changes with a smile,

we just have more people around us all the while!

They are doing a very lonely job and they're excelling,

They've maintained law and order in times compelling,

They haven't asked us for anything in return but to stay home,

Let's give them a big hand and make sure we don't roam!

A salute to the Mumbai Police, we owe you our thanks,

Perhaps this may never reach your eyes and your ranks;

If somehow you do end up reading this, please know,

This city owes you all gratitude and much more!

Corona Paranoia - Myth Busters!

"I have a fever since two days, am I going to die of Coronavirus?"

Not every fever is Covid-19, other infections still exist for us;

Malaria, typhoid, dengue and regular flu viruses still hover around,

Don't let this fear of COVID drive you into the ground.

"I've been coughing since the past 1 month, am I losing my lungs?"

Unlikely even though the pollution is almost gone to its lowest rungs;

Most likely it's a regular cough or your smoking habit or even reflux,

Don't let it make you isolate yourself from family, that really sucks!

"My nose is running, I've been sneezing a lot, have I got it?"

Yes, you have, the common cold that is, still far more likely;

Don't ignore it but don't go into a frenzied meltdown just yet,

Get yourself to a doctor and place a well calculated bet!

"My whole body aches, my joints are sore, this is the virus for sure!"

Of course it is a viral illness, but not all of them are Corona remember;

The old viruses are still as just as infective as they once were,

Take regular treatment, stay home, stay safe and have no fear.

"I've got this rash on my skin, I read that this could happen too?"

Sure it can, especially if you avoid bathing in the lockdown;

Maintain hygiene, eat well, stay hydrated and do what you should do,

It's mostly a fungal infection, it'll spread quick and make you frown!

"There is no way I can eat ice-cream, are you mad, I'll get sick!"

You might if you can't handle cold things, but not from the virus you picked;

There is no harm in eating an ice cream in the summer, just stay cool,

Know your body and don't believe in rumours, don't be a fool!

"I went for a walk, now I have to strip, bathe and drown in sanitizer and scrub"

Calm down, my friend, wash your hands, by all means use a good handrub;

But try and think, were you in contact with anyone or anything, 

If not, don't worry, your risks are as minimal as the bathroom sink!

"There is no way I can order food from out, I'll get infected!"

Sure you can, but mostly it'll be a bad tummy that will put you to bed;

Food is prepared at a temperature that kills most viruses and bacteria,

The same risks stay as before, ordering in keeps the same criteria.

"I don't believe a word you're saying, this is just to fill your blog"

Probably true, you've got better sources I'm sure that you can log;

Like that whatsapp forward, facebook post or youtube video that you see,

and then, Google is always there for Doctors with whom you disagree!  

Would you change?

The most pressing question that we ask almost everyday

When will things go back to normal and all this go away?

Which brings to mind a certain perspective that I wanted to share,

Would you change anything, if at all, once lockdown is laid bare?

Could you imagine the freedom of going out at night?

meeting up with your friends and go see the sights,

Would you go out for dinner and dancing and drinks?

Would you be so carefree or would you dare to rethink?

Will you change the way you perceive the world and it's people?

Would you think of times when our mind was fragile and our time feeble?

Would you remember the people who barely got to eat meals everyday?

Would you remember those helpers who went home and those who stayed?

Will you still indulge yourself and buy those branded shoes and bags?

Would you consider public transport or still prefer your jags?

Could you hoard a little less, and give up on what you thought essential?

Maybe give away a lot more, shop a little less and be a little more frugal?

Will high end make up and jewellery still be as important as before?

Would throwing parties ever seem significant, or just be something sore?

Will those holidays of luxury still be Instagram worthy and true?

Or would we choose to be much simpler in all that we do?

We lived for months and months with bare essentials and contact,

we rediscovered families, neighbours, true friends and facts

we gave up on rumours and newspapers, we waited for confirmed truths,

We learnt so much in such short time, we must bear the fruits.

Lets pledge to be self reliant and start living for our health in pink,

Not for posts on social media or what other people feel and think;

Let's enjoy simpler lives and times, with our children and friends

Let's eat and drink and be merry and not worry what's around the bends!

Seize every moment and opportunity, enjoy it to the fullest and smile,

Our time is extremely subjective, the virus proved that by a mile;

There are plenty of things to worry about, illness should be the least,

Stay safe, stay healthy and continue to dream of when we'll get released!

Nurses, the backbone of the healthcare system!

Behind every successful man is a woman, could not be more true,
Than in a case of healthcare without which we just couldn't do;
Nurses and midwives are the backbone, on the strength of which we stand,
Without a nurse in the system, no hospital would exist in this land!

They are the caregivers of the people, something we could only aspire to be,
They know more about the patient that we ever could hope to see;
they connect on a level that is strange to us, right from the heart,
They sense things before we can, they give our diagnosis an art!

They care for everyone on their shift, no matter what or who or where,
They give us Doctors the respite when we're tired and need some air;
they support us when we're learning, they teach us skills with ease,
they make us in to Doctors we are, while making it seem a breeze.

They are the ones who will hold you hand when you get a real scare,
They are the ones who will sit and listen when no one seems to care;
In those magical few days after childbirth, they teach you what to do,
They hold your child and feed them and even clean their poo.

They'll change your diapers, clean your puke and give you a sponge as well,
They will rush to your beck and call at the simple press of a bell;
They will do all the work no one wants to, and do it with a smile,
they always try and make you comfortable by going the extra mile.

Nurses are generally invisible, going about their work with pride,
You hardly notice all they're doing, they're always on the side;
But can you imagine even a day, a hospital without any of them,
The system would crumble so fast, they really are rare gems.

Just look at the situation currently, with the virus looming bold,
The dirty work is still left to them, they still do what they're told;
While us Doctors walk around impersonally, giving orders left and right,
They actually talk to the patient and make them feel it'll be alright.

I can't imagine going to work for even a day without them being there,
I can't think of how we'd manage and I doubt we would even there;
So here's my tribute to you, my dear nurses who taught me my quest,

1. I wouldn't be the Doctor I am, if I hadn't learnt from the best!

Mother

A force of nature so strong, even the mightiest bow before her,
A building block so secure, the tallest structure seems small next to her;
A backbone so full of vigour and vitality, the head is always held high,
A superhero like no other, even better than captain marvel in the sky.

A beautiful mix of emotions and intelligence, she rises to all occasions,
She knows when to be headstrong and when to give in, all within reason;
She can cry tears of sorrow, joy, laughter and wonderment, all in one day,
There is nothing she cannot do, and she does it all without pay!

She can nuture, she can teach, she can get to you when out of reach,
She can cure all illnesses with her smile, she can walk barefoot for a mile;
All to make sure you are feeling alright, she never lets you out of sight,
She has the magic to do it all, she’s always at your beck and call.

She deserves to be treated like a queen, not just for this one day,
She deserves a world of happiness, and a whole lot of respect if I may;
She needs to be loved and feel loved too, and always appeciated,
She needs to have special days where everything for her is orchestrated!

She will take it all with a matter of fact, be it complaints or praise,
She will work through it all, her stoic attitude will never faze;
You see for her the days never end, her responsibility will always be around,
She just can’t let it be for someone else, to keep her famaily safe and sound!

So, let make sure we understand, she is the pillar to your palace,
She is the cement that holds all together, the shaw to your wallace;
She is the finishing touch to your life project, the icing on the cake,
She is the only one you can turn to, no matter how big the mistake!

Here is what you should do, to give her what she deserves,
Pick up things she likes to receive, from flowers to desserts;
Shower her with gifts and chocolates, at random and not just today,
Make her smile, keep her happy till the end of her living days!

Shame!

This is a show of support for all those who have been suffering,

from the ignominy of their fellow inhuman beings;

a show of strength even, to say I'm with you during

the dreaded public name and shame that we are seeing.

No one chooses to get infected or does something to get it,

The virus, you see, is a master of chaos and destruction,

It chooses it's victim, not the other way around, get it,

It happens to the best of us, even with all protection.

There are millions getting infected, they can't all have been stupid,

Doctors, nurses, stalwarts, beggars, students and even kids;

You can't possibly blame someone when they get positive,

it's not something they would have like to get and give!

For every positive case out there, there are many more that aren't,

Those people might even have ignored all norms and just got lucky,

But for the one's that ran out of luck, it's a thing that would haunt,

and we're just making it worse by being plainly disrespectful and mucky!

When it's time to support them the most, in gossip we choose to engage,

We spread rumours and lies because is sounds good and fills the page,

We start believing in words without realizing the effect and shame,

All because we're wired to find something or someone to blame!

When a person gets the disease, the first reaction is probably fear,

No one really knows how bad it can get or how long it can leer;

Instead of staying upbeat, cheerful and fighting the disease,

they're left giving clarifications and clearing doubts that everyone sees!

The family involved gets ostracized by our very own society,

The one we lived in happily just months ago, so brightly;

The pointing fingers, the silent whispers, the nasty looks and words,

Send civility and compassion for humans right out to the birds!

My sincere and earnest request to anyone reading this,

Stop, think, listen and think again before deciding something is amiss;

Give the benefit of the doubt to the patient and their kin,

no one would like to bring this to themselves and within!

Stay supportive, offer empathy, give help, hug a little and attempt to smile,

they're someone's parents, someone's friend, someone's beloved child;

If the above is too much, the least you can do is do nothing,

Stop spreading information, we have the media to do it's own nose cutting!

Lockdown weighing you down

It's been over a month and we've somehow endured,
The word lockdown seems to have been burned in our brain;
It isn't lifting soon, it will take it's time, it's just as we feared,
That's no reason to let yourself loose and go down the drain!

Sure, we're sitting at home bored out of our skulls,
even classes are now stopping, no more morning sulks,
What else is left to do, you ask, chomping away?
Stress and boredom eating is the new disease here to stay!

We want to try and emulate the masterchefs, one and all,
we experiment with wonderful looking foods and drink,
we make delicious eatables that are hard to resist and we fall
prey to the perils of our own calories, no matter what we think!

Those lovely fried fritters, those golden brown potatoes,
Those awesomely stuffed burgers with just a hint of tomatoes,
Those cheesy sandwiches and pizzas with toppings all over,
those chocolate milkshakes and ice creams for all us sugar lovers!

Most of us are already complaining of the weight we might gain,
We seem to be doing nothing but eating and laying;
but there is a simple way out, if we are ready to try it together,
Let's put aside an hour for exercising endeavours!

If you can't or won't do that, there is yet another way,
to abolish those cravings and make the eating go away;
Distract yourself when you feel like reaching out for food,
Play a game, read a book, go for a walk to change your mood.

Sit in front of your kids to stop if you have to,
They're experts at making us feel guilty about eating;
ask them to give you some work that you must do,
they'll squeal with joy, with permission to give you something punishing.

If that doesn't work either, this is the last straw,
Take a paper and pen and start to draw,
the food that you feel like eating the most,
Then log in again and finish reading this post!