What keeps us together
sad that they had to fight such a difficult battle. But they fought bravely. I hope people get inspired from their positivity.”
While Deol is spending quality time with his family, he says he misses his father, Dharmendra, who’s currently stationed in his farmhouse. “Two days before the lockdown, he went to his farmhouse. When you grow old, you tend to feel low when you are confined. He’s enjoying his time there as he loves nature. Our farmhouse is like heaven on earth. He’s happy growing vegetables there,” he signs off. and then he decided to provide a few essentials to the people of the neighbouring villages. He keeps a tab on everything. He has been the biggest motivating factor for all of us. We all have our good and bad days but he is there to encourage us.”
The Fan (2016) actor was recently seen interviewing Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez for a song that was completely shot at the farm house during the lockdown. “It was Salman’s idea. He is always trying to find out new ways to reach out to his audience. When he writes the lyrics he makes us all involved. For instance, in this video, I was in charge of the setting, someone else was in charge of the camera and then there is direction which he also does. So, somewhere he makes sure that we all come out learning something,” she signs off.
One of the most glaring effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is that of couples seeking divorce after they realised they just couldn’t stand each other, or in some cases, having gone through domestic violence.
However, the lockdown has also had some positive effects on relationships. The life threatening nature of the virus, has made us realise the relationships that are worth it, and made us value it.
Craig Fernandes, 26, says his relationship with his father has improved over the last month. From barely exchanging two sentences to playing chess for hours, Craig says, “I never had, or rather made, time for him before. My dad is 68 and, pandemic or not, I have now realised that I have limited time left with him.”
Kavita Mungi, mental health counsellor, says a crisis is a “test to human resilience”. “This pandemic has helped us understand how to be positive and hopeful by bonding and sharing with our friends and family. Moreover, the Indian family structure of joint families is a boon, as loneliness can be tough at such times,” adds Mungi.
When it comes to couples however, it is never an easy understanding of the dynamics of a relationship. “In the first couple of weeks, my phone rang and buzzed with texts for not just distress appointments but also for divorce lawyer numbers! But once we acclimatise to the new direction, we become open to looking around, learning, and adapting,” says Dr Shwetambara Sabharwal, clinical psychologist and relationship counsellor.
She adds, “With this colossal threat of losing everything, close at our doorsteps, we have realised that our partners are who we problem-solve with, make decisions with, fight this threat with, they are our pillar of support. The lifethreatening nature of the virus has made us question our egos, grandiosity, expectations, lifestyles, and needs, making us more humble and aware of the real sources of happiness.”