Sunday March 29th, Toronto
My phone reports an average of 9 hours 40 minutes of screen time for this week, up by 12% from the week before. This morning as I woke up with remorse from last night’s tempestuous affair, I resolved to spend more time offline.
Before getting ready for work, however, I checked my notifications. My aunt in India had sent me a WhatsApp forward which urged people to call Corona as “Narayan” ( one of God’s name) because rebranding it as a pious entity would change its fatal propensities. I chuckled while reading and immediately turned around to see if I’d waken up my roommate. Apparently, he hadn’t gone to bed yet because he couldn’t fall asleep. Was it because he’s glued to his web series or can I attribute this to his growing aversion to daylight because he doesn’t want to be awake and not be following his normal daytime routine?
With my usual relaxed pace, I went to the bus stop and boarded from the bus’ rear door. Front door doesn’t open anymore and the driver’s area is cordoned from the inside with a yellow tape across front seats to protect him/her from infection. I tried to spot the usual crowd but couldn’t recognize most of my weekend co-travellers behind their masks. Only a few seats were empty so I leapt at the one farthest away from everyone.
I work as a security guard in a residential building in downtown Toronto. My job has been listed as an essential service by the provincial government, which closed down all non-essential work places earlier this week.
My younger sister had called me yesterday to convince me to stay home. My elder sister texted today as I reached work to bolster yesterday’s point.
“Have you taken days off yet?”
“There are so many reasons not to.”
“More important than health?”
I knew I had to call her. I am an international student in Toronto and this is my last semester. My convocation was to be in June but is now postponed. My college suspended on campus classes two weeks ago quickly moving everything online. I worked as a tutor at college, but my department isn’t giving me anymore shifts even though they’re paying me full till the end of this semester. With the looming unemployment crises, I am worried about finding a full time job for the next few months. If I leave my security guard job now, chances are low that I’ll get it back once things get better when everyone else will also start looking for employment.
“God has always helped you and given you food until now, why won’t he continue? Plan your money for food and longer sustenance”, she said.
There goes my plan to buy Apple AirPods.
There is a positive case in the building that I work in. Even though I’m young, I am no longer confident about my immunity against the virus. I’ve read so many accounts online about youngsters suffering severe symptoms. I am a bit scared. I will have to rethink my choice to continue working.
Nine hours since my resolve to abstain from digital dopamine, I have already used my phone for a whooping 4 hours.