Now that we’re a few weeks into the lockdown, turns out sitting at home and doing nothing all day isn’t what we wanted after all. No matter how loud, polluted or annoying the outside world is, after long periods of isolation, one does start to miss all that chaos. And this is exactly what’s happening to most of us who are stuck at home. This week, we asked people what they miss the most about the outside world. Here’s what they had to say.
SUDEEP RUPAKHETI
Businessman
Strangely enough, the thing I miss the most right now is my work. I run a clothing store and because of the lockdown I haven’t been able to work at all. Tending to the store kept me busy during the day and I actually really enjoyed that. But now that I’m at home all the time, I literally have nothing to do other than scroll through my phone. Also, right before the lockdown, I visited my hometown Chitwan and am stuck here right now but my wife is still in Kathmandu. It has made me miss the comfort of being in my space with my loved ones.
Here’s what Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh is doing in Helambu...
SHUBHANGI RANA
Social entrepreneur/Civil engineer/Global Shaper
I (alongside Jesselina Rana) founded Pad2Go, a social business that provides sanitary napkin machines to schools and offices. And right before the lockdown, we were getting a lot of orders from different places for our vending machines and were getting in touch with and visiting different schools for our project. But because of lockdown we can’t do that anymore. I have been doing other things like reading books and working on things that I couldn’t when I was busy with work but I definitely miss working on the Pad2Go projects right now.
KUNAL SHAH
Student
The first thing that came across my mind was that I really miss going to college. Going to college meant meeting friends, playing cricket and even studying. I also really miss eating out. Moreover, I miss going to the local bazaar and buying fresh produce. The veggies I have at home aren’t fresh. As someone who loves to cook, I wanted to utilize this time to try out new recipes but the ingredients are very hard to source right now. I had been craving banana bread but I couldn’t find a single place that still had bananas in stock. When the lockdown first began, I thought I’d have no problems staying indoors but that’s not been the case and I’m actually pretty desperate to go out.
PRABHUJI PANT
Lawyer
I know it’s really strange but I wish I was back at work. The job I do helps people and being stuck inside the four walls of my house only serves as a reminder that I could be out there doing something good. Not to mention, it’s also setting me back on my paycheck. Every day I stay inside is a day of making money that I lose out on. I don’t know how we’re going to pick up everything after
this is over, but I can hardly wait for the day things get back to normal. I guess it is normalcy that I crave for—that we all crave for right now.
PRARTHANA SAPKOTA
Student
I miss a lot of things, really. Going out with my friends, talking to them face-to-face, going to classes—there are just so many things I miss. But to be completely honest, the biggest thing I miss, to be honest, is binging on street food while strolling around town. I miss walking down the streets and buying sausages so I can eat them while watching my favorite shows. I miss the delicious cheap fries in the gallis of Patan. I miss dunking momos in spicy achar from a plastic bottle, I miss the taste of sweet lalmon and ice-cream at the end of a heavy meal. With restaurants shutting down, we can’t even have them delivered. I don’t even know how I’m getting by!
JANVI GURUNG
Student
As I’m an extrovert, things have been tough for me but I’m trying to make the best of what I’ve got. Ever since the lockdown started, I truly missed being able to roam around the streets and click pictures of people and places (which I love to do every time I go out). I miss socializing with people, taking up new classes and also having little adventures in the streets with my friends. But most importantly, I miss the freedom of being able to do whatever I wanted whenever and wherever I wanted. And, of course, I terribly miss eating outside as well.
