Bangalore

As the dust settles [6 months of 2021]

Bangalore, India 4:00 Indian Standard Time the early hours of the day, birds cawing in the silent cool early morning, a few motorbikes and cars move into the night, trees gently swaying its branches and in to the morning as the sun rises and the day resumes everyone prepares for the day. Somewhere lies a futuristic story brewing, imaginative, restful times, dreaming of a better evening perhaps of lesser work and leisure felt in the dept of a comfortable leather sofa or a story picturing a wholesome sunny afternoon of sipping coffee of the strongest in perfect brewed to sip gazing at the hay stack view into the endless land stream lining sunsets, gazing at the orange painted sky as the sun sets or a story lurking at the back of one’s head, the busy Monday morning of the city life access to the best groove in town cruising the roads of Los Angeles, California or picturing an image of the restful days of the calm lurking mind back home in India of retired life reflecting life turning pages of different stories with conversations of good humorous short instances triggering a continuous laughter dropping things adjusting oneself at the comfort of home. In another part of the world a huge aircraft flies over cities carrying its crew members and boarded passengers, there lies a story of someone picturing, stressing, pushing to make way, picking up luggage, coats and shades with masks on frustrated group of people awaiting for their turn in line to board a taxi to commute to another place, in bliss seated inside the cab as the smell of fresh air in a new city settles the commuter behind masks hiding away emotions. Meanwhile somewhere along in a city in Asia readers reading the Daily newspaper and some listen to the news distress, sound of good news and news of demise, calls of awareness and the normal monotonous trust the Vaccine lines pre-recorded jab into the ear of restlessness.Notifications pop up, calls, video conferences, internet friendly messages, influencers on the internet on various platforms motivating, criticizing, promoting brands earning passive income during some may call it post-covid economic crisis. Employees awaiting salary hikes, employers restless with slow economy, but lives around the world amidst the stress of mental strength, a shoulder to cry upon, or someone to just listen to a story to clear the mind of what’s troubling the heart. From news cycles to radio shows, stories written on the internet, gossips in personal chats and the awaiting mind for things to get back the way it was, the dust settling is creating a ripple effect of people leaving their homes here in Bangalore, India, conversations of lets go out to eat, lets buy this!, lets get vaccinated!, oh what a traffic it is! continues to be heard on the last day of the sixth month of the new year 2021, half of the year semi lockdown and frustration. The next six months of 2021 is much anticipated of what the internet can offer, some really exciting stories from around the world or a greater economic leverage the common Indian awaits. Shreyas Johan Selladurai