Sound Srinivasan

 

In 2020, humanity faced two kinds of threats. One was the deadly virus and the other was the result of the virus. It’s not death, it’s not an ailment, it’s something more dangerous and it affects the mind, its loneliness, and silence.

Institutional quarantine –

Day 1 –

Neha, a girl in her mid-twenties walked into her room and gave a glance before settling down. It had a wardrobe, loft, queen-size bed, attached bathroom, and a window next to her bed. Noting was vibrant. She tossed her luggage on the bed and sat near the window. As she gazed through the window, the roads were empty and the sky was clear.

She grabbed her phone, got connected to the local WI-FI, and surfed through social apps. Everything was chaos; all she could spot were bad news. She sighed, threw her phone aside, and started looking outside. She spent her entire evening looking at the sunset.  

Day 2 –

Neha woke up late. She brushed her teeth, made herself some coffee with the help of an electronic kettle, and sat on the bed to watch some news. Again all she could surf through were bad news. She kept her coffee cup aside and started making calls. For the next one hour, she spoke with her parents, friends, and colleagues.

At 1 pm the doorbell rang. She wore her mask, opened the door, and picked up the parcel. She quickly sprayed disinfectant on the cover, opened it, ate it, and slept.

At around 5 PM a piece of faint music woke her up. The music player was still active in the background. She stopped it, yawned, and looked outside her window. The beautiful sun simmered into different shades started to set. She spent another evening looking at the scenery in front of her.  

Day 3 –

10 Am

Neha’s phone was fixed in a tripod in front of her. She was performing yoga. A gentle voice was narrating instructions in the background.

1 Pm

She sprayed the disinfectant on the parcel cover and started eating. As she was eating she was staring at the wall. After her lunch, she tried to sleep but she couldn't. She kept on staring at the fan.

Around 5 pm Neha's phone alarmed. She switched it off, fixed a coffee for herself, and started staring at the sunset.

Day 4 –

It was 12 Pm. Neha was fast asleep. The phone rang and broke her sleep. It was Dad. Neha strained her eyes and reached for her phone and picked the call.

Dad – Hey…Still sleeping? 

Neha  - Yeah.

Dad – Bored eh?

Neha remains silent.

Dad – Why don’t you read some books?

Neha turns and looks at the pile of books on the table.

Neha – All done.

Dad – I understand, just 11 more days to go, girl.

Neha with sadness in her tone replies – Yeah Dad.

Neha – Ok Dad, I will talk to you later.

She cuts the call and starts brushing her teeth. She comes out, makes a cup of coffee for herself, and sits on her bed. After a sip, she looks around her room. The silence was heavy. She opens her phone to check the social app. As she scrolls down, all she could see were posts of the virus and deaths. She tosses her phone aside and exhales.

Around 5 Pm she again sits by her window and follows her newfound routine. The silence and emptiness get to her and she starts shedding tears. Gradually she starts weeping. That day the orange and red shades of the sunset turned blue.

Day 5 –

6 Am.

Neha was fast asleep. She wakes up with the sound of a knock on the wall. She freaks out and gets out of her bed. Suddenly she hears a voice from the window.

Stranger – Excuse me

Can you hear me?

Hello!

Sorry to disturb you. Hello!

Neha was still confused. On one side she was excited to hear a real voice but on the other side, she was scared to respond.

Neha – Who is this?

Stranger – Hi, sorry to reach you this way, but I don’t think I have any other choice. I am Srinivasan.

I need a favor.

Neha calms down but cautiously goes near the window and starts speaking.

Neha – What do you want?

Srinivasan – It has been 2 days, I haven’t had a decent cup of coffee. I get this amazing aroma from your side. What do you use?

Still puzzled by the entire incident Neha replies – It’s a homemade blend.  

Srinivasan – Oh, wow. Good for you.

Neha – Why, What do you use?

Srinivasan – This hotel's sachet, 's horrible 

Neha lets out a subtle smile but still maintains her flat tone- Ok

Srinivasan – well, again sorry for disturbing you.

Neha remains silent and goes back to sleep.

Day 6 –

5 Pm

Neha gets settled down to see the sunset. Suddenly she gets a thought and knocks on the wall. She doesn’t get any response. She quickly makes a cup of coffee and comes back. Now, she hears a knock.

Srinivasan – Hey, you are killing me.

Neha smiles and replies – Good evening

Srinivasan – Good evening Ms ………….

Neha – Neha…

Would you like to have some coffee?

Srinivasan – Wow, you are the first girl to ask me that.

I don’t mind.

Neha smiles again – Hold on!

She makes one more cup of coffee.

Neha – Are your hands sanitized?

Srinivasan – Hands yes!

Taste buds, no!

Neha – Here, try this.

She extends her hand and passes it outside the window.

Srinivasan – wow, this is amazing. How do you make this?

Neha – Glad you liked it. It’s a family secret.

Srinivasan – well, can’t complain. I will enjoy it now.

That day the sunset was different. It had new colors of a company. The entire evening went with their interesting conversation.

Day 7 –

Around 10 am, Neha hears a knock on the wall. With a naughty smile, Neha knocks back.

Srinivasan – Good morning

Neha – Good morning

Srinivasan - Saw the news?

Neha – No. I have stopped seeing it.

Srinivasan – Why?

Neha – It’s bad. It’s full of negativity.

Srinivasan stays silent.

Neha – Are you there?

Srinivasan – Presenting to you, good news and good moods with your Sweet Srinivasan

Neha laughs and asks – What are you doing?

Srinivasan – Today, I am going to tell you some good news and some tips to lighten your mood.

Neha  - ok, go on.

Srinivasan – The owner of a stress ball factory has shut his business because of stress and started farming. A lonely tortoise in Chennai finds a pair. The government has announced that the wine shops will be open soon. An old handkerchief of an old actress goes for 5 million in an auction. 

Neha laughs along as she hears his voice.

Day 8 –

Things became exciting for Neha. The heavy silence was filled with Srinivasan’s gentle voice. For the first time in the past 7 days, she woke up early and freshened up. She quickly finished her yoga session, phone calls and got settled with a book in her hand. She was waiting for Srinivasan's knock. She did not want to show her excitement and wanted to play it subtle.

Hours passed and Srinivasan never came back. Neha got restless and finally, when she decided to knock, she heard a knock. She got excited again but did not respond immediately. After a couple of knocks, she responded.

Srinivasan – Hi

Neha – hey

Srinivasan – Coffee?

Neha – What? Am I a coffee machine to you?

Srinivasan – Noooo

A lot more can happen over a coffee …

You know that right?

Neha blushes and remains silent.

Srinivasan – So….

Neha – Hold on! 2 minutes.

Another beautiful sunset passes with their interesting conversation.

 

As the days passed they started spending more time together. They shared stories from the past and dreams planned for the future and even made fun of each other. An invisible connection blossomed between them. The sound of Srinivasan’s gentle voice kept Neha sane. Neha wanted to see the man behind the voice. Her interest and curiosity grew each day.

Day 13 –

Around 5 Pm Neha prepared her coffee. Pinned a bookmark in a novel and knocked on the wall.

Srinivasan – Ms. Neha, good evening

Neha – Good evening Mr. Srinivasan

Your coffee is ready. And I have an interesting write-up to share with you.

Srinivasan – Am all ears.

Neha stops and thinks for a while.

Srinivasan – Go on.

Neha – Wait!

Tomorrow is my last day of quarantine.

Srinivasan – OH!

Neha – All we have is this window and the sound of our voices.

Have you ever felt the urge or curiosity to see each other in person?

Srinivasan – Have you?

Neha remains silent

Neha – Can I be honest?

Srinivasan – yes, please…

Neha – Without your knocking sound, gentle voice, and funny stories I wouldn't have made it.

I would have become one of the bad news which pops on the social window. 

I want to thank you for being there. You are a great person.

Neha hugs her book and leans on the wall with peace on her face.

Are you there?

For few seconds she doesn’t get any response. Neha gets concerned. Suddenly she hears a knock on the wall.

Srinivasan – Again, this is the first time a girl has complimented me.

Neha blushes.

Neha – well get used to it.

Srinivasan – Ok, can we share our numbers?

Neha – I thought you would never ask.

They both laugh and share their numbers and spend the evening with their honest feelings.

Day 14 –

5 Pm

Neha hears a knock.

Neha – Hi

Srinivasan – So, guess this is your last day.

Neha – Yes, hope to see you soon.

Srinivasan – ASAP (As soon as possible)

Neha smiles and asks – Just curious, what have you saved my name as?

Srinivasan – The coffee girl

Neha – I knew it!

Do you want to know what I have saved your name as?

Srinivasan – What?

Neha – Sound Srinivasan

Saying this Neha continues her hearty laughter. 

And that’s how Srinivasan became sound Srinivasan.