The Mask

A fashion accessory of the year 2020

In early March, one fine day, one of my colleagues came to work wearing a mask. In the morning assembly, which was usually a greeting session followed by a prayer before starting the day, it felt strange seeing him solitary in his approach, wearing a mask.

Importance of Mask

“I actually ribbed him and said oh come on, why this mask, you look so strange”.

He was a little offended, but he said: “Madam, I am an engineer and I am telling you there is a deadly new illness in which people are going to die and we should all be wearing a mask and there should be no morning assembly any more”.

His words were like a prophecy for the future to come. In a week’s time, things started getting out of shape and people began to be admitted to hospitals and it became very scary.

The government suddenly announced a lock down looking at the seriousness of the issue. All schools and colleges closed down immediately. Businesses and offices were shut, hospitals were full of sick people and there was gloom all around.

All the phones started blaring the importance of wearing a mask before connecting to other phones as a national warning. This brought about the necessity of wearing a mask before we left the house and the government even began imposing a fine if masks were not worn in public spaces.

The situation getting grim, everyone started ordering a mask from Amazon, Flipkart, and other eCommerce sites as well as chemist shops. In the beginning, only light blue disposable masks and some reusable masks were available and soon they became unavailable when demand became high with the government getting stricter in using masks. There was a sudden shortage of masks and sites refused to deliver masks to people.

People began to hoard masks but did not want to wear then and created a lot of fuss in wearing them as it felt hot and uncomfortable in it.

Some people felt that it brought a choking sensation and refused to wear masks. Others just stayed at home because they were comfortable without the mask.

The Changing scenario

Things have completely changed now. I started getting messages from tailoring and clothing companies and Instagram was full of designer brands coming with smart masks. Youngsters wanted to buy fitness masks, party masks, daily masks, matching masks, mascot masks, masks with embroidery, the name etched on their masks, and so on.

India is hot and humid weather in the plains and it actually is not so comfortable wearing them So, designers then began to make clothing sets with matching masks with dresses thus making a mask an attractive option to purchase.

Some forgot that masks were for protection and began to wear them to be fashionable. Others felt that they should live it up and think of pleasant things who knew when, where, and whom COVID infection would takeover. So wearing a stylish and matching mask was for fun and style in an otherwise pandemic and isolated situation.

Let us not forget in our pleasant moments that we can be infected and there is a possibility that we can infect others. So, while we are having some fun we should not forget the lakhs of people in the country who are suffering. Pray to God that all stay well and no droplets infect anyone.

So let us have our fun but also take care that we are are not endangering anyone. We should wear our mask to protect ourselves and others around us.