A sweet timepass in hard times

RS Dalal

RS Dalal

Coronavirus outbreak has confined us to our homes and time hangs heavy on our hands. The first time I felt semi-immobilised was when I retired from service. Suddenly, there wasn’t much to do. A feeling of strange restlessness ensued. Pascal profoundly remarked that ‘All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.’

No wonder, civil servants scurry around for post-retirement assignments. Incidentally, the bureaucrats share this weakness with everyone else, be it the mighty and independent judiciary, or the top Generals.

One used to hear about ‘retirement blues’, the mood swings, the highs and lows of readjustment, etc. But one never cared while being so busy in service. That’s why it’s said, ‘The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.’

However, my wife could foresee it. Women have god-gifted sixth sense. She was worried for me. ‘Pick up some hobby, else how will you pass time after retirement?’ she often pestered me. Hammered by her constant pushing, I decided to try my luck at golf, though regular golfers scoffed at my efforts, being such a late starter. With good golf facilities and encouragement from trainers, I soon took a liking to it, picked up basic skills and a month later started playing on the course. Now, the golfing hours are the happiest hours of my post-retirement life.

Last three weeks, however, I haven’t been to the course — such is the fear of this virus. In all earlier spreads of viruses, one blamed the poor hygiene in slums, but for the first time, one is avoiding well-to-do fellows travelling frequently abroad. ‘Sir, keep safe distance,’ the poor caddie would mock and taunt. Look what Kanika Kapoor has done. By her one whistle-stop trip, she’s sent the elite and important running for voluntary quarantine. I’m at my home in voluntary isolation. Tried my hand at cooking but burnt my fingers.

Then a sudden flash came to my mind. ‘Where’s the big bundle of sugarcane our acquaintance had brought from his village,’ I asked my wife excitedly. ‘I kept it in the garage,’ she replied casually. ‘Didn’t you give it to our helper?’ I asked impatiently. ‘He refused to take it,’ she said wryly. ‘And don’t try chewing sugarcane now, all your remaining teeth too will fall out,’ she warned.

But I must try, and dragged the bundle out onto the porch. I tried with all my skills and strength from left and right sides of the mouth, but no success. In younger days, I could strip it off till the end in one go. Not to lose heart, I brought the carpentry box, took out clippers, cutters and the saw to peel off sugarcane stalks. It was hard labour but I relished chewing the small pieces in a complete state of idleness. The bundle will last many days. A sweet timepass in the time of self-isolation!