Betta fish / Fighter fish as pet at home

 

I always wanted to keep a pet at home but keeping at home is a big responsibility. Especially when you are out of town, who will take care of your pet. Some cities have pet shelter homes but not all cities have this privilege. So, I evaded pets at home.

One of my friend suggested that I keep an aquarium at home and I said setting up is not easy as it consumes a lot of space, hence I disapproved it. I wanted a low maintenance pet.

One day I was at an aquarium shop. I saw fish in a glass bowl and I was attracted to it. I enquired about it from the shopkeeper, he told me about the fish and its upkeep.  I was like, this is what I wanted. I immediately bought that fish and kept it at my Kerala home. Daily I used to feed it food and change water when required and over a period of time, it became a part of life. 

When I was about to shift to Bangalore, I wanted to take the fish with me but it was not possible so I left it there and gave its responsibility to my mom. Now my mom has become fond of it. 

Here in Bangalore, I was missing something at home and I didn’t know what it was. One day when I was at a friend's house, I saw her aquarium and then it struck me that I was missing my fighter fish at Bangalore.   

The day I was back to my house from her home, I bought a fighter fish. Though it was a small thing, it made me happy. Everyday morning after I get up the first thing, I do is to feed my fish. 

Initially the fish was less active but now it is active. The moment I see my fish lying stale in the bowl, I skip a heartbeat. Evening also the first thing I do after going home is check on the fish, touch the glass and the fish will start playing around. That makes me happy. 

Sometimes when I am alone at home, I even talk to the fish, I know it doesn’t understand anything but still I do that.  Sounds crazy but it’s funny.

 One more thing that I have noticed is that, the aura of my house has changed from the moment I got fish to my home. There is lot of positivity in my house now, which I enjoy. Most important thing is, with the fish around me, I feel more happy now.

This fish is my responsibility and I want to take good care of it as long as it is with me. So, I have made arrangements that the fish is fed even when I am away from town for a day or two. 

Fighter fish is a low maintenance fish, anyone can easily keep it at home, if you can’t afford an aquarium. There is not harm in trying it out, I bet you will love it. 

Journey from a colleague to BFF during lockdown

 

I don’t think the lockdown of 2020, would be something that people will easily forget. It was the first time, when people were forced to stay home and spend more time indoors than outdoors. This gave many people an opportunity to re-connect with their family members and friends. I too connected with couple of my school friends during last year’s lockdown. My takeaway against all the hardships I faced during the lockdown was, I found a BFF.

I had known Ms A (let’s keep it that way), for couple years as we were colleagues at work place. During that time our interaction was limited as, we were in different teams and we had a lot on our table to finish for the day too. I left the organization an year after Ms A joined but we were in touch through messages and WhatsApp occasionally.

But during last year’s lockdown, Ms A, called me one evening. After enquiring about my well-being, she told something to me, which she wanted to tell me for a long time but something, stopped her from conveying it to me. Her revelation shocked me a bit as I was already aware about few things. But what surprised me was that, she really cared for me and I didn’t know about it. We both realized that, we wasted few years in opening up with each other, for the fears best known to each other. My suggestion to all my readers is, please talk openly about things with people who matter to you, otherwise you may also loose time like me and my BFF.

I must say that evening was all about surprises for me, I asked Ms A, what made her call me? She said, “’my husband told me talk to my friends, I will feel better’. The only person whom, she could think about at that moment was me, let me tell you, till the moment she called me, we just colleagues, not friends.

We spoke for close to two hours that evening, as we had a lot to discuss, which we missed during the years. Once we disconnected the call, I was wondering, WHY WE DIDN’T CONNECT BEFORE? But I made a promise to myself that, I will meet Ms A, once the situation normalizes.  When I was glued in those thoughts, I received a WhatsApp notification, it was from Ms A, where she stated, she had great time talking to me and will connect again when time permits. I replied her back with a smiley.

After that day, whenever time permitted, we would talk to each other, at least for an hour. Since Ms A is quite busy in her personal life and rarely find time to talk to me, I too made an exception for her. If I talking to someone and Ms A’s, call is in call waiting mode, I will pick Ms A’s call on priority. I think we can make such changes for people based on their situations at times.  

Last week Ms A called me, but this call jolted me completely as she made some shocking revelations. Though the call started on a jovial mode as usual but ended on a serious note. We all know pandemic has been hard on people especially for nuclear families. Value of family support was one of the best lessons taught through lockdown, when people were cut off the world for days together.

Ms A has decided to shift to her hometown from Bangalore, I remember she once discussed this idea with me but she was not quite sure about it. Before moving out of city, she wanted to meet all her friends in the city. But the stringent lockdown in Bangalore has poured water to all her plans as social get together’s are banned in the city, in wake of acute covid situation.

Even if the relaxations are eased, yet she can’t meet anyone, as she is leaving at city at the earliest. The moment I heard this news, I regretted not being able to meet her when situations were better in the city. Even if the situation improves, we will still not be able to meet each other because currently we are in two different cities. I am in Kerala and she is in Bangalore.

Ms A, told me that she might come back to Bangalore, when situation improves and then she will plan for a get together with all her Bangalore based friends, till then it’s a good bye from her. All this while I was hopeful of catching up with Ms A, sometime as she was in the city but now, I don’t know. That’s the reason, people say we should not take things for granted.

I just hope one day, we will meet in person and talk a lot, as we have many similar interest, one among them is we both are passionate about writing. Till then me and Ms A will be connected through phone calls only.  Even now, I am yet come to terms to the fact that Ms A, is leaving the city, I think that’s the bond between BFFs.  If, I can be grateful for the one thing about lockdown then it has to be, Ms A. But I so wish, I could meet her once before she left the city, an expectation far from reality.

My first Covid test

 

Going to a pathology lab for any kind of bodily or non-bodily test has been a traumatizing experience for me. I can’t heave a sigh of relief unless my reports have been approved normal by doctors. So I generally avoid such test unless absolutely necessary. But undergoing covid test was mandatory, for me as per the guidelines laid down by Kerala state for inter-state travelers.

I didn’t sleep whole night thinking about the result of the test result, though I didn’t had any symptoms still a test report will reaffirm my belief as well as that of my family members, especially my dad. His policy was very clear, till your test results come, father son emotions are down. A negative report will rekindle the emotion of a father for his son. My dad is too scared of covid as well as people undergoing quarantine.

My sleep was disrupted at 3.00 am on the day of the test, after I couldn’t sleep despite my best efforts. By 7.00 am I got up from bed and tried to meditate to divert my attention but I failed here too. By 9.00 am I had my breakfast and I was all set to go for the test. But I couldn’t go as my appointment was scheduled for 12 noon, I called the lab one more time to confirm my schedule.

I still had 2 more hours to go and I didn’t know how to pass those 2 hours. So I diverted my attention to the laptop, to watch some series which interest me. When I watch action thriller series or movie, I get so engrossed in it, that I forget myself for some time. This trick usually work for me and this time too it worked.

Before heading out for the hospital, my aunt told me to keep my clothes ready in bathroom so that I can directly head for shower. Thanks to corona, a shower is mandatory after an outside visit, especially from hospitals.

At 11.30 am I finally left home for the test, I was driving the car and my uncle was on his bullet to guide me the way. We didn’t travel in the same vehicle because my test results were yet to come and it was a precautionary measure.

By 12.00 pm I reached the hospital and reported at the reception counter.  I was asked to fill some forms before the test, which I did promptly. After that I was directed to the test area, with the forms. One attendant took my form along with the money and asked me to wait for my turn. 

After 2 patients my name was called and I went inside, I was too scared (my cousin told me, she experience nasal pain for 2 days after the test). So I told the guy to be gentle and he told me to relax and sit back.

He inserted a swab first in my left nose, it was little irritating but had to bear it. When he took the swab out I was happy as I thought I was done with the test. But my happiness was short lived, when he put swab in my right nose. It was then that I realized that swabs are put in both nostrils. Finally, I was done with my first covid test.

I was told that within 10 mins my results will be out, this was the longest 10 minutes of the day. I think my day that day was all about diverting my attention, first it was for the test now for its result. I bet people across globe will want this one test report to be negative to be happy while it is vice versa for pregnancy test.

After 10 mins, my name was called out and I went there with bated breath, the attendant told its negative. But I didn’t hear it correctly the first time, obviously because of anxiety, so I request him to repeat, he obliged. I can’t express in words my excitement at that moment, I just wanted to hug someone tightly then but I controlled my emotions, as I was in a hospital.

I informed my uncle about the result and called my parents too, as they had called me couple of time by now enquiring about the result.

Journey back home was joyful, as I was getting relieved about from my quarantine that day.  

My first mandatory quarantine in Kerala

 

I wanted to visited Kerala and be with my parents for a long time but 7 days of mandatory quarantine, forced me to stay back in Bangalore. I was under the assumption, that one day quarantine norm will be quashed and I will travel. Other reason for me to dodge quarantine was, I am claustrophobic and I wasn’t sure, if I will be able to survive for 7 days in a closed room, all by myself.

Later I realized that this quarantine norm is going off anytime soon, so I decided to visit my parents after a year (longest so far). For quarantine, I zeroed upon my aunt’s house, where my cousin sister had successfully completed her quarantine period.

I landed up at my aunt’s place by evening 6 pm and directly went to the room allotted to me, followed by a quick shower. Since, I was too tired due to exhaustive journey, I took rest for some time and for the l dinner to be served and immediately dozed off to bed.

Next day, my aunt said, full first floor is for you, so you can go to other rooms also, instead of being confined to one room itself. It gave me a fresh breeze of life as I could freely roam to other rooms of the floor without any fear. This made my life little pleasant full as being confined to a room was too monotonous.

I had planned lot of activities for those 7 days of quarantine but nothing materialized. As most of the time my ears were glued to the staircase, as my aunt would get me sometime things to eat at regular interval. Any sound on the staircase was an indication that someone is coming up. Usually I don’t feel that hungry but during those 7 days, I was starving most of the time, hence ate a lot and piled up some weight too.

My only way to communicate with the members of the house was through a glass panel. It was little difficult but good for the current situation. My dad was enjoying this scenario a lot. Couple of time, I felt like a new creature in zoo and people are visiting the place, to get a glimpse of me. But I was happy, in that situation too, as I was in the company of my loved ones.

First two days of quarantine were spend in taking rest as I was too tired due to hectic travel and my right feet was aching too. Since it was travel related ache, I decided to stay away from medicines and applied ice pack at the effect area, it severed the purpose for me.

I was very particular about few things during my quarantine period, first was to meditate daily, drink lukewarm water, eat healthy food at regular interval and take lukewarm water shower. Lukewarm shower because water is little cold in Kerala as they are pumped from well directly and people who are not used to this water, will get cold immediately. And I wanted to avoid falling sick especially during the quarantine period.

My friends and family members would call me frequently to keep a tab on me, so I was usually engaged with someone over call. Evening from 5pm – 7pm, I would at the balcony to get some fresh air and could see people walking down the road along with some vehicular movement. This was my, “me time” when, I didn’t want to take phone calls but enjoy the beauty of nature, as balcony would open to rubber plantation.

Despite all these activities, I felt lonely at times, then I would watch some movie or web series in my laptop. Based on my personal experience, I can say that it’s better to be quarantined with someone. Because sometimes your energy level goes down, there will be someone who will understand your situation better than others. Basic reason for energy level to go down was about the probable outcome of covid test, that people have to take after their quarantine period. This happens usually when are approaching towards the end of your quarantine period.

To sum up I can say that, quarantine period is like spending quality time at a resort where food and all basic amenities will be taken care for you but a visit to the pool or other places are barred.  In totality, I can say that my quarantine period was not that bad as I expected it to be, still I don’t to experience it again unless I have a quarantine partner.

Life in rural and urban India during lockdown

People usually want to live in big cities where they have easy access to amenities through which they can lead a comfortable life, in comparison to villages where life is still lagging behind when compared to cities. But lockdown has reversed the thought of people residing in urban area towards rural parts of the country, wondering HOW? Let me tell brief it through few pointers

Living space

I live in my modest apartment in Bangalore and my only connect to outside world is through my balcony, every day I spend an hour in evening sitting there to experience nature.

My parents back in Kerala can walk around the house or the road just in front of house and can enjoy nature to the fullest. They have more access to greenery and fresh air than me, I so wish at times that I could be with them during lockdown.

Stepping out of home

Since Big Basket ditched me, I have to step out of my house once in a week to stock up veggies for the week, in order to follow the norms of lockdown and stop the spread of virus.

My parents haven’t stepped out of their house to buy veggies as they have grown some in our house and rest are given to them by their neighbors, which are also home grown. They have access to organic veggies which I don’t have and I have less option for veggies too here in Bangalore.

Spread of Virus

Cases are increasing in cities due population congestion, as people stay in close proximity with each other which increases the chances of spreading the virus.

Cases are declining in rural India and in places, life has returned to normalcy in comparison to their counterparts in urban India.  Pathanamthitta was one of the worst affected districts during corona outbreak in Kerala, has now returned to normalcy. Pathanamthitta graduated from red zone to orange zone and is slowly progressing towards green zone.

Containment Zones

Containment zones are places, where people have been detected by Covid 19 and their localities have been sealed to control the spread of virus

.

Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Bhopal are few of the cities where containment zones have been created and more cities are joining this list with each passing week.

I doubt anyone of us have heard about containment zones in rural areas, I hope it continues that way.

Jobs stability

None of us can predict what awaits us after lockdown is lifted but few people in cities might lose their job or have to undergo pay cut.

In villages many people are self-employed so chances of them loosing job is very fragile.

When lockdown was announced people rushed to their home towns rather from hometown to cities that itself tells the tale.

Innovative home quarantined ways adopted by my parents in hometown

PAN India lockdown has brought lot of changes in the lives of people, as all of us are trying innovative ways to keep up engaged than just lying on bed. No one can lie on bed for long time especially when people have led a busy life, parents are worst effected during this lockdown. Firstly they are concerned about their children who are in far off places and secondly they want to spend time productively than just being tuned to TV.

Due to lockdown my parents are unable to go out frequently as they used to go before, thanks to the imposition of travel restriction.  But my neighborhood is very helpful towards my parents, as a result of which I am able to spend my days peacefully here in Bangalore. My neighbors buy veggies, medicines or any other thing needed by my parents, a good neighborhood is always a boon.

This is the season for jackfruits in Kerala and with lockdown in place, people who have jackfruit trees are sharing the seasonal produce with their neighbors. My parents often get jackfruit from our neighbors but due to non-availability of fish they don’t prepare the traditional jackfruit recipe of the state. Even they can’t finish these jackfruits by themselves in one go and it can’t be preserved for long due to its perishable nature.

Then my parents decided to make jackfruit chips, as it has long shelf life if preserved properly and it consumes good amount of time to make it and it will keep them busy for a long time, especially during afternoon times. Most difficult part in the entire process is first to de seeding the fruit and then slicing them down uniformly. My dad is an expert in the entire, he doesn’t need anyone’s help, if required he can perform the task all by himself. But mom and I pitch in the de seeding process and the slowest amongst us in me, as I rarely do it and not used to the process but enjoy relishing upon the recipes.

These days whenever I call them they are usually busy preparing jackfruit chips and it serves as their evening snacks for tea, so they don’t buy snacks from shops now. My parents are the not the only one to make these chips but most elderly people in our neighborhood is doing the same now, few who have banana plantation are making banana chips too.

I am really happy for my parents and the neighborhood for the innovative way adopted by them to make jackfruit or banana chips at home during their quarantined period. Skills mastered by them during their youth days have come to their rescue at these testing times and important aspect of it is that, they are indoors most of the time, which is a great sigh of relief for me.

I have requested my parents to pack the chips safely for me till I meet them next as I love jackfruit chips, my all-time favorite snacks. I hope till the end of quarantine period they make good amount of chips for me and my friends.