Behind A Wall

In the confines of a home, in the comfort of a couch, with everything accessible at our fingertips, we observe the world around us, from behind a wall. No reason to step out, no reason to expose, no reason to deal with the vagaries of life , beyond the wall, of our secure haven.

Whether a virus, or a bomb, whether the wild shooting of the deranged. Whether the lashing tongue of a spiteful one, or even the betrayal of a trusted friend. Safe we are from the perils that exist beyond the walls of our home .

No need of ours is unfulfilled. Be it shopping for groceries, fashion apparel or the latest gadgets. Be it a visit to museums and galleries, all of which we can now view virtually. Even tours and travels are experienced digitally, and food from restaurants, both fit for a king or a pauper, is available on our doorstep, at the click of a button .

Bills are paid, small businesses conducted, financial transactions of great magnitude executed, on the internet. Doctor’s consultations are online, diagnosis and treatment determined remotely, by artificial intelligence. All our data, is now stored in the cloud and easily accessible. Oh, we are so safe and secure, behind the wall .

Close family and friends, available at the end of a phone line, to reach out to, only when required. With video calls, you can see them, breaking the myth of long distances. And there is no expression of love, joy, laughter or anger that cannot be conveyed by those all saying emojis. No hugs, no verbal declaration of love or hate, no altercation, for we are now above banal exchanges, as we hunker down .

In the comfort of our home, we forget the need for others, of living in a society, of interacting physically. With no need to expose our vulnerability, we are happy to lead a life of seclusion. Convinced of our safety, we live alone, unaware of disconnecting and insulating ourselves, until the oppressive silence sets in, that soon turns deafening.

As the walls get higher, we struggle to break free, to re-enter the world outside, to re-connect with society . But to our consternation, we find it has left us behind. Bound in chains of security, we built a wall of isolation, hoping to find peace, we found loneliness. In our quest for tranquility, we lost our sanity, and realise, too late, that we are created, not to live solitary lives, but in kinship with our fellow men .