A New Year kindles fresh hopes. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Our first encounter was during a late-night dinner in December 2023, and she immediately caught my attention. She was not glamorous but exuded the feel of fresh fragrant air, more soothing than exciting, comforting than dazzling, but it was love at first sight. She was new, while I had the shadow of 60 winding years behind me. Let me confess that this was a strictly platonic relationship. Despite occasional rough patches and road bumps, I enjoyed her company thoroughly. We shared gifts and promises, mostly unmet, our accomplishments and failures equally. We cheered together for India when the Men-in-Blue lifted the T20 cup, we hugged when Manu Bhaker stood on the podium at the Paris Olympics, crediting her for the good times. As we cried at the heartbreaking scenes of the Wayanad landslide or silently prayed for the yet-to-be-found souls of the ferry disaster off Mumbai, I silently blamed her for the bad times.
One reason for such an emotional relationship with 2024 was that it was just a year after the COVID-19 pandemic, and we were slowly learning to enjoy breathing without an N95, and not crouching at the faint sound of cough. The vaccine certificate was deleted from the favourite album, and gone.
It was a beautiful time together. Vacations were back, flights were full. Instead of herding them to the bedroom, parents were forcing their children to go out and play. We had learnt the value of family, all because of her.
Just two weeks back my phone rang. “Hey, how are you,” I asked. Instead of her sweet rustling voice, there was a gruff. “You are a cheat. Four years back you promised 25 by 25, didn’t you?”
My roller-coaster mind was at a transient pause, anticipating the sharp drop. I remember that back in 2021, we doctors proudly announced that our aim would be to reduce cardiac risk factors by 25% by 2025. The campaign was called 25 by 25.
This included stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, controlling diabetes and hyper- tension, cutting down on salt, and encouraging exercise. We also proclaimed that doing so would reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease by 25%.
I kept quiet.
“Do you care to know the statistics now?” She sounded furious. “Today, 26% of Indians continue to smoke, the per capita alcohol consumption is up to 4.9 litres, and 9.6% of the Indian population is diabetic. Don’t you feel ashamed?”
I was speechless.
“Listen to me, I tried to convince her.”
The clock struck 12 midnight. The date changed to January 1.
The line went dead.
I knew 2024 would never come back.
I am told that 2025 is a tough guy. We have a lot to explain.
tinynair@gmail.com
Published – January 12, 2025 03:50 am IST
