Letters To Koko

 Dear Koko,  When I was young I heard these stories of my father growing up with so many siblings and cousins in the same house. They would be running around the village enjoying themselves like there is no tomorrow. My mother's side had similar stories - of festivals and bhai phonta.  I grew up as a single child but always had cousins around me, at least in the same city. So if it was a birthday or a family function, you would have those familiar faces who you could look at as you were cornered by a pesky relative and they could make you smile from across the room. Sometimes I think about you and feel such a secluded childhood you are having. Your cousins are in different cities, in different parts of the world. you don't really know them. The other day you tell me, "when we go to Kolkata this time will we visit my cousins?" "Which ones" I ask.  "The ones who had a dog named Goochie" You were referring to a friend's kids. I correct you and you...

Dearest Koko, These are really strange times that we are living in. I am both happy and sad that you have to witness this at such a tender age. A new virus has decided to stake claim upon this world and it is not sparing anyone. The COVID is what humanity’s worst nightmare is made up of. A lot of people have lost their lives already and we do not have a cure for it yet. The WHO have declared it as a pandemic and people around the world are very scared. So are you, my little human and there is nothing wrong in being a little scared. At these times, being scared is perhaps the most legit feeling ever. As we are quarantined and trying to make sense of this weirdness, something beautiful is also happening. Neighbors are chitchatting and actually asking about one another’s well being, family and friends are making time to call each other and have conversations, people are dusting their old guitars and breaking into a tune, some are painting or trying out origami, the waft of ...