Rubina is by impressed the Himachal government’s efforts for Covid patients
material to anyone in need amid the raging Covid-19 crisis. The cyclone, too, “brought out the best in everyone”, she believes.
“When a crisis comes, the best way out is to just hold hands; there’s no other way. This is sheer helplessness. We were already dealing with a pandemic... but it also brings us very much together. This time, specifically with the second wave of Covid-19 coming in, people have gotten together,” says Dutta, 43, calling it “heartwarming” to see to much empathy around.
“Even in this (cyclone Tauktae), I have seen people help when anybody needs anything,” adds the
National Film
Award winner, who herself received calls from unknown people offering her help just before the cyclone struck.
“They said, ‘Car hata lo, ped gir jaayega uske upar’. People actually went out of their way to help. The best way to deal with a storm is to face it, you can’t ignore it,” says Dutta, adding, “Even the pandemic, it won’t pass, but we will be more equipped to handle it. This is the new normal, we can’t really get out of it. It will leave us stronger and wiser. Hum normalcy ko dekhte hain toh yeh bhool jaate hain. We must learn from the pandemic and not forget the lessons.” that we are overlooking. That’s why I’m not limiting my sessions to just the pandemic,” Fernandez, 28, explains.
Kids and pets are some such topics. She adds, “We have to take care of kids’ mental and physical well-being, and the same goes for pets. People feed biscuits to stray dogs, but flour and sugar are harmful for them. Abandoning animals is another issue. Pets are a responsibility that one has to be ready for.”
Surviving Covid gives you a boost. With that spirit, recovery becomes easier,” says Rubina Dilaik, who contracted Covid-19 recently and is recovering at her home in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The actor still has weakness and joint ache and knows it will be a month before she regains her strength.
“When I learnt I had Covid, I wasn’t afraid, donating plasma was on my mind. If we have to face it, we better do it bravely instead of fearing the virus. I understand it is easier said than done. Fear works on your mind and affects your body,” she shares.
Dilaik reveals though she’s okay being alone, her isolation felt better after 10 days when her sister joined her in quarantine, which gave her moral support. But she did miss her husband, actor Abhinav Shukla, who is shooting for a reality show in South Africa. “Pehle bimar hote the, toh mummy chahiye hoti thi. Ab lagta hai your loved one should be around, holding you. But that is not possible as you are in isolation. I felt he was with me in spirit though he’s been more worried than ever. He arranged everything for me, from medicines to tests to checkups to oxygen cylinders on stand by etc.,” she says.
During this experience, she admits that looking at people amplifying requests, or creating awareness about fundraisers is heartwarming. “Each one helping others is just wonderful. I am doing my best, locally and helping people in the area. I am very impressed with the Himachal Pradesh government’s efforts for Covid patients, which I’ve seen. NGOS take care of everyone and everything, including sanitisation, providing medicines, getting tests done, ambulances and the like.
They are steadfastly working to help people. Never have I seen humanity so united,” she concludes.
DIVYA DUTTA, Actor