The YEAR 2020

I hope you all have had an awesome winter holiday?

And managed to keep illness and fears at bay !!

Happy new year. Yes, a new decade. A new Year

!! It's been so cold all across the world. Brrrr…..

We know, we know we are a bit late

But, what to do winters make us hibernate

Thanks to Corona still going steady,

We got delayed in getting our news capsule ready !!

New restrictions, New lockdown rules….

No offices and no schools

Still wearing masks

Washing and sanitizing has been a task

Social distancing is the new norm

As the virus is still in Top Form

It's been more than a tea-cup in a storm

What a year, it has been.

Can someone tell me, if like this anybody has ever seen ?

January 2020 was the beginning of the new year

We all rejoiced as this was a leap year

And started to switch into a new gear

What fun it will be to have an extra day

To bask in the sun and play !!

The world woke up to news of a new Sars Virus

Aha, we said it's far away in China

It can’t dare and scare us

We had our jackets and coats on

Picnics and bonfires in our lawns

And everywhere we looked

People were celebrating

Sankranti and Kite Flying

Pongal and Magha

And Jallikattu (bull fights ) were still debating

Republic day parade we all watched with bated breath

Our defence forces were in full gear

They do protect us with sometimes just bare

And the stunts on bikes were such a brave feat

On rhythm they didn’t miss a single beat

February was to be the month to celebrate love

But, the world started to take a bow

To the Sars Covid 19

That was making headlines

US President Donald Trump

Came to India for Trade talks

And as we were grappling with it

Covid started to on our doors knock

Kerala was the first state to report

This deathly infection

No one it seemed was safe

From this dreaded infraction.

The year end exams

That are our annuals

Seemed as tough as ever

And the board children

Complained that hard work

Was perennial

Annual Budget was presented by the Finance Minister

To have all understand the nitty-gritty and pay tax

I am sure it's difficult to administer

March was a time for schools in India

To shut down for summer holidays

But, before that Corona decided

To take that joy away.

Holi a festival of colours

This time had to take a detour

There were whispers in the air

That a mask and sanitizer

Were much needed for our care

Europe started to throb

And going out in groups

was more deadly than

the dreaded mob

India decided to have a

Bharat Bandh

A day to reconcile and reckon

A day to stay home and to confine

The evening reverberated with

Clangs of music

We clapped and greeted

All our front line workers

Who were working hard

Inspite of the tremendous risks.

24th March was a red letter

Our beloved P.M announced

A nation wide lockdown

On hearing this,

Some celebrated

While some just broke down

April came and we were still off school

No new books, no classes

Aha how cool

But not for long

This did not last

This super nice song

We were introduced to zoom and teams

And we could meet our friends

And mates

While the screens beamed

Teachers grappled to innovate

With new technology

And we all could study

From the comforts of home

In our pajamas all cosy

Yippee said mom and dad

Who were working from home

And while they slogged online

We were still engaged in

Online tomes.

The month was a long arduous battle

We had to cook, clean and take care of our cattle

We all chipped in

While mamma cooked

Daddy cleaned.

Sour dough breads and Banana cakes

Were all made at home

World-wide they became

The king of bakes !!

We learnt to eat healthy

We learnt to enjoy our time

It was quite a while

And it purely was sublime

The skies were clear

The roads still

And we all spotted rare birds

Some even a hornbill

May brought the boredom

Of losing out on our freedom

No more summer holidays

When we could swim all day

Or with friends play

We sat at home

And started to read books

Evenings were spent

Playing board games

That were gathering dust

In some corner and crook

We got tired of screens

And we eagerly awaited

To run and cycle

And hear the ice cream wallah scream

Tokyo Olympics 2020 were postponed

As the date for it next year

Is really unknown

For the first time due to a pandemic

Oho no, we all said

This is just EPIC

June was the first phase

Of Unlocking

People decide to go back to their home towns

And migrants decide to do the walking

Back to their villages

While they trudged

Good Samaritans did the rest

They stood up to give them the best

There was pandemonium

As we didn’t know

Should we travel to meet

Our grand parents?

Or do a virtual greet !!

July was when people started stepping out

Slowly and steadily, the cars and trains

Were heard screaming about

The sky became dark with monsoon clouds

But, we still could not go down

To jump in puddles

Or sail away our paper boats

We sat at home and caught

A double rainbow

The gumboots and raincoats

The umbrellas all were

Still in the shadow

Schools re-started

And books came home

We realized its so much fun

To be in school, it ain't a bore

August, the month of our Independence

Did make us less dependent

Some started going to office

While some were still working from home

And were their own bosses

Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami

Were all celebrated on Zoom

We saw our family online

And Krishna came home

Places of worship

Were still shut shop

But we all prayed fervently

And it was getting difficult to cope

September we started hearing

About the new vaccine

We all hoped this year

Santa came early

And give us the much needed medicine

Doors were opening up

Shops returning to life

The restaurants were getting decked up

And we all were ready to face this strife

October welcomed Maa Durga

And we hoped, she the protector

Will take the form of Kali

And destroy this Corona Asura

Pandals did live streaming

And bhog and kichuri were

Home delivered on pre-booking

Halloween was a no-go

And trick and treats were a no show

November was the month of elections

Choosing a president for US of A

One of the most powerful nations

Election in Bihar too was talked about

And people taking sides and deciding on the winner

Was all rampant

Diwali was ushered in

The festival of lights

A festival to celebrate

A festival so bright.

The AQI worsened

Skies were engulfed in smog

To bring much needed joy

Say “NO TO FIRECRACKERS “

Said every girl and boy !

Thanksgiving was a time to reflect

And staying at home was the wisest

Families thanked first responders

And our health workers

Who stood up and fought

Daily, against this adversity

December came and brought with it

The first ray of hope

The vaccine arrived in United Kingdom

And we all cheered and said WELCOME

Margaret Keenan was the first one to

Get the immunity shot

Pfizer or Moderna

Both will be transported

In super cold conditions

And will be closely guarded

The year end we laid out our tree

And all wrote to Santa

To let us all be free

Mistletoes and Wreaths

Cookies and milk for Saint Nicholas

Were laid out to decorate

The year has been difficult

The year has been tough

And we all did our best

Even though, sometimes it was rough

The vaccine has reached India

And we all can be rewarded

But, a bit more patience and caution

Is all that is still needed !!

The journey has taught us

New lessons

Be not in a hurry

To forget them

To be responsible

To be kind

To help each other

And serve humankind

I hope we managed to

Engage you

With our news capsule

We must fasten our seatbelts

And welcome 2021

With a hope and prayer heartfelt

As, we bid adieu to you

Its been great seeing you all

Albeit virtually

But we will be back soon

With our next news episode

Till then stay safe and stay home