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Week 18 - on Thursday we find Tassy reflecting on the need to choose between wellbeing and wanting

Edited BY

G P Kennedy


Tassy - Karachi, Pakistan

 It has been 160 days since the first confirmed cases were detected in Pakistan at the end of February. Estimates back then suggested a death toll of more than a 100,000 by now. Today however, we stand at around 6000 officially reported deaths on account of COVID-19.  Even though each life lost has been precious, we have been spared the kind of catastrophe seen in many other parts of the world.


 The week seems to have gone quite fast. I guess this is partially because we had a 4 day-long weekend. The holidays were on account of Eid ul Adha, a major festival marking the advent of the annual pilgrimage or the Hajj in Saudi Arabia and the sacrificial feast.  A few friends of ours have travelled to the beautiful mountainous Northern areas of Pakistan to escape the heat and humidity of Karachi and I have to admit I was also a little tempted to get out of here.  

 My parents had a celebratory Eid dinner at their house, which was the only festive thing we did to mark the occasion. Eid is usually a time for large gatherings with the extended family over big lunches and dinners. Our extended families were meeting as usual but we chose not to meet up with them as we were wary of who else they have been meeting in these past few months, and their exposure to others.

 

 Life for a lot of people has been quite normal here in Karachi. Unlike my husband and I, they have been going to their work places, offices, shopping in malls, and meeting many friends. We have been strict in the sense we have restricted our social circle to say the 3-4 friends, and our parents, who we have been meeting consistently during this entire four and a half month period.

 Despite the long holidays my work continued as normal. I have several clients who are based internationally who remained unaffected by Eid, so I continued with my virtual yoga classes with them. On Sunday we were a little more adventurous and went with one other couple to the beach.

The Arabian Sea coastline

 

 Karachi is on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Part of the inner city has a built up promenade, close to my house, where I go for walks with my friend. 40 kilometers outside the city however is a large stretch of beautiful beaches where a number of Karachi residents have beach huts. Being monsoonal season it is not the ideal time to go to the beach, as it is very hot, and the sea very rough with high waves.

 

 We went to a friend's beach house at French beach which is located midway between Turtle Beach and Paradise Point. A very picturesque part of this beach, open only to those that have beach huts there. When we got there we found three other friends had also come. Since we were sitting outside under natural strong breeze, no one was wearing masks. I have to say it took me a few minutes to adjust to the idea of being outdoors with no masks on but I soon got used to the idea. 

A friend's beach house at French Sea

 Even though we couldn’t go into the water it was wonderful to simply sit in the patio of the hut, with tall, chilled drinks in hand, and escape city life for a bit, watching the waves crash on the shore. We went for walks in the sand and one couple had brought their Labrador puppy along so she had a good run around. My little Shih Tzu, Mario, is not one for car rides so sadly had to stay behind at home. We watched the sunset and drove home soon after feeling totally refreshed and renewed.

 The beaches were also closed to the public for the sunset since the Corona crisis began. It has only been a couple of weeks since they have been re opened. I hope this becomes a more frequent weekly activity for us.

 The threat of Covid-19 has degraded significantly but there are still daily deaths of 45 people recorded. Eid ul Adha gave a respite to a vast majority to step back for a few days and enjoy some of the merriment. The next few weeks will be crucial in seeing whether a price is paid for this in terms of a surge in cases. Hopefully the months that have gone by have taught most of us that while we can meet our friends, doing so sensibly with masks and practicing social distancing, is going to be the only way to take things forward. 

An idyllic end to the day


 

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