I wished her a cheerful “good morning” and told her that my sister was also named Madhuri, and she was a senior doctor working in Delhi. Her response was just a sigh and a dull “OK”.

On asking further, I learnt that she worked at a well-known multinational company and had fairly mild symptoms. She was feeling disgruntled because she was stuck alone in her paying guest accommodation in Bangalore and could not meet her boyfriend…. who she told me, had not even called her since the last 3 hours! She was continuing to “work from home” and was feeling a little lost and lonely. Her friends were dropping off food and beverages for her every day as her family was in Mumbai. She declared that her “Life Sucks” as she couldn’t fly home now for her dear parents TLC = Tender Loving Care. She also complained that she had lost her sense of smell and taste and could not enjoy any of her favourite foods ordered from her favourite restaurants.

I cheered her up by sharing the fact that young people with Covid-positive status who have Anosmia, meaning have lost their sense of smell, seem to have the least virulent strain of COVID-19 virus as shown by the global data. They have a mild course of the illness and almost no complications. I also assured her that both the sense of taste & smell would return 100% within 10 to 20 days. This cheered her up and she responded with a laugh “I had said before that my life sucks ,but it sure does not stink!”

Caio until next time, folks!