blurs into wednesday i need time with people then time alone thats perhaps why i feel so fagged out she saysif happiness these days means stepping out to empty her trash every morning for turna rinesh from wadala cant get enough of the masked conversations he has with his grocer once a week im from colombo a land thats been at war for 30 years we seek out happiness says rinesh admitting that this period has helped him forge more meaningful connections with loved ones if blogging workouts and ceylonese curries cheer him through the day video calls with friends and family occupy his evenings im frequently on video call with my parents theyre separated but bonding afresh to keep me company albert misquitta 55 was wellpractised in lone living since he lost his mother four years ago after which an endless loop of driving to work going to the store working out and weekends with friends fed his social meter a large part of my job as a recruitment consultant involves meeting new people even that is on hold now its not easy adapting to this strikingly quiet stretch says misquitta who finds refuge in early morning runs around his garden for some technology is proving a great connector amid quarantine experiential startups like halfdaysomeone that are devising ways for people to enter a realm beyond the four walls have seen a steady flow of single dweller enthusiasts who come together for conversations with strangers over dinner if a 45yearold bachelor in mumbai chatted about reconnecting with his hobby of painting after 20 years a 66yearold retired banker and widower from hubli volunteered to join their team following his conversations on the stranger call though living alone had never bothered most of these singletons slowdown can rake up whatever is bubbling within and when anxiety skyrockets they seek solace in unlikely places nostalgia is at power play says turna who finds comfort in browsing sepiatinted photographs while olinca at 31 has finally unboxed the wedding gifts of her parents both of whom she lost at sixthe notion of getting sick had never worried sreyashi who now feels a nearconstant dread about falling ill with no one around ive lived alone for 15 years but this loneliness is new theres relief even in my maid ringing the bell every morning and checking on me she says i stay calm by lying back on the sofa and dreaming about life after the pandemicthose waking dreams are nebulous and hopefulabout going to a cafe hugging a friend or jetting back to kolkata to visit her septuagenarian parents they feel like faraway fantasies