Following is a real conversation I had with my clerk on Covid and masks!
Me: Now that I have
given you the money you asked for can you please complete the work on time? The
clients are super anxious.
Devraj: Sure ma’am.
Have faith in me.
Me: Okay. Bye!
(Me moving to the parking lot)
Devraj: Ma’am will you
please take my advice on an unrelated matter. In work you are my senior but in
life I am much senior to you…
Me: Sure sir.
(making a mental checklist of all the things I messed
up in the last month)
Devraj: Don’t wear a
mask ma’am. It is bad for your health
*ok that is not there on any sane checklist*
Me: (laughed
nervously) what?!
Devraj: See my lips
they have become allergic where the masks have cut.
Me: You must have tied
in too tightly. Get one your size. Do you want to die of corona?!
Devraj: Ma’am don’t
take it the wrong way but I don’t believe in corona. Have you seen it with your
eyes.
Me: Sir! It is not
something you can choose to believe in like god. It is science actual facts. Do
you think our government which you admit is useless will go to such lengths to
protect us from a non existent virus.
Devraj: It is all a
scam ma’am. Just another way to take money from the poor and stop us from
working.
Me: (trying to find a way to make him
understand) Sir, I know the last one year has been very difficult income
wise. But isn’t it the same reason you should be more cautious. I know you have
4 children to take care of. Wearing a mask is just the cheapest way to keep you
safe from the virus.
Devraj: There is no
virus ma’am. It is just common cold. People with asthma always have breathing
problem. This is all unnecessary hype.
Me: Sir, my own mother
had corona a few months back. She didn’t even have the symptoms you were
talking of. But there were some parameters in her blood test like IL6 which
were triple what they should be. If we had left it unchecked she had a definite
chance of stroke or heart attack.
Devraj: (mumbling to
himself) I didn’t read about this side effect anywhere.
Me: …..and even
assuming corona is some hyped up common cold, if you enter a hospital be
assured that you will be charged a bomb and you would have wished you wore that
20 Rs mask.
Devraj: but public hospitals..
Me: No buts. I know
you are going to say government hospitals are free. I also know how you and a
lot of people including my own grandmother feel that you won’t come back alive
if you go into one. That is by the way very untrue. The corporation took
excellent care of us when my mom was unwell and we all had to home isolate.
Full on monologue mode now
I know you have every
reason to mistrust the institutions in this country. The politicians, the
hospitals, the country. But believe me when I say corona is real. And Also if
you don’t wear a mask in front of me or remove it while talking I will not give
you any more work. Your belief should not hurt me!
Devraj: Okay ma’am.
Since you are saying so much I will wear a mask from now on.
Me: Also wear it to
cover your nose not your chin. I am saying this because I care about your life.
You are moving in the Courts every day and meeting 100s of people who think
like this. Protect yourself!
Devraj: Okay ma’am.
Mask on from now on. Thank you.
Me: No I should Thank
you!
