[Alia's POV]

"I can't do this !" 

My arms went up in the air as I threw the book that I've been trying to read for an hour next to me in frustration. 

I let my head fall back as I shut my eyes close. Stupid Pandemic! 

Even stupid-er lockdown !!

A warm tongue tickled my legs and a furry body walked past my lap. This made me smile. 

The only few beings who could make my otherwise dull day brighter were my pets. I sat up straight to see Guido, the massive brown mastiff look at me from the floor. He had lazily slumped next to me as I sat tiredly in the swing chair. He was the very synonym of 'being lazy.' The running joke in our circle was ' if pandemic 2020 had a face - it would be of our guido!' 

I mean he had a default natural facial expression that screamed 'hey human I'm just done with this world,' which we all found hilarious. His slumped face would cheer us instead. Ranbir owned two such mastiffs - Guido and Leonel, a white one. Currently I had moved in to his place post Covid - 19 being announced a world pandemic and the subsequent lockdown imposed in various countries including India.

Since we were all uncertain regarding the lifting of lockdown and the length of the virus' stay, our families and we both thought it would be better if I moved in into his place. He was anyway lonely and would close himself from the world even more if left like that. Both our mothers thought we could both give each other good company and we are going to be married by the year end, hopefully so it makes sense. 

Ranbir sat opposite to me in a bench, watching a movie on his laptop. Edward my fluffy cat had gone to his side, as he enjoyed Ranbir stroking his fur. We were chilling most days on his lush balcony that breathed life into his otherwise too big for one guy apartment. The colors on the wall and the eccentricity threw me off at times. 

He was Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Karan Johar's brain child! 

I turned my gaze back at the laptop that showed a paused Youtube video with the title 'Spanish Greetings.' A tab lying next to it displayed a pdf from the newly rolled online class that I went for like everybody on earth during this period. So much to do yet nothing held my concentration! 

I took an audible breath. Loud enough to make Ranbir pause his film and observe me. "I can't do this anymore. This is just not me! How are you so comfortable ? Sab hai karne ko but tab bhi mujhe kuch nahi karna. I just cannot sit in here. It feels like these walls will swallow me if I sit a minute more. Mujhse nahi hoga!" His shoulders moved in motion as he silently chuckled at my pathetic situation. 

"Tell me how is he doing this guido ? Aren't you tired as well ? Don't you want to stroll out ? Haan ? Look at my tired baby," I crouched down to pet him as he seemed to agree with me. "Where's Leo ?" I asked loud to find the white twin. He walked just in time and I opened my arms to hug him. I stroked his big ears, his soft head and his fluffy body. They were both too huge for my tiny arms to hold but they, Eddie and Ranbir were my saviors. 

This was my little paradise. With my three most beautiful men to ever exist. They were my source of joy and trouble at times. My most precious possessions. 

I kissed my big boys each as they wiggled their tails happily. Eddie who saw his mumma giving more attention to his siblings, ran to my side and jumped into my arms. I laughed at the baby attacks these three were giving. They fought adorably for my affection and it made me smile from my heart. At least we have them, says Shaheen. Indeed these precious beans kept us sane in times like these. 

"My babies," I kissed them all audible enough to make Ranbir giggle. "Where's mine ?" he inquired with a smirk. I shook my head in a no. "Those who are fine with the lockdown will not be kissed. Only the one's who desperately need it, like my kids here. We are the ones suffering not YOU!" His eyes widened and then he threw his head back and laughed in his own weird style. 

My phone rang at the table and I sighed at the name (s). 

It was a video call with some of my closest pals. Karan, Varun, Abhi and Ayan. 

"Good timing," I answered their call and the screen showed their grinning stupid faces I loved to death. 

"Alssss," screamed the boys in their usual annoying habit. I smiled weakly at them, waving. "You okay ?" Karan asked looking worried at my tired face. Yes, I wanted everyone to notice how much of a headache all of this was. It didn't do me any good to keep it all hidden. 

"I don't think so. I can't do this anymore ya. I mean pata hai ki all of this is for our own sake but you know how crazy this is for people like us! We have never for once sat at home like this. I toh only came home rarely. My life revolved around shooting, shooting and maybe some award functions and more shooting. How am I supposed to sit the eff down ?!" 

Varun laughed as the others sympathized my situation. 

"Your face is so funny rn. God I wish we were doing this on Instagram LIVE!" 

I had the urge to smack his stupid face but even that required some energy. I was so done with life. 

"Hey that's pretty natural of you to feel. I'm sure most of us have similar thoughts. But Ranbir said you were doing fine when I called him yesterday. Where's that fellow ?" asked Ayan peeking his head to spot him. I smirked at that and flipped the camera to show the said guy on his throne, waving at them. 

"That fellow is the reason why I can't enjoy. People like him and Abhi are the happiest rn! And that sucks BIG TIME you know ... We are feeling uneasy while they are having the time of their lives because ghar mein baitne ka degree in logon ne liya hai. Urghhh I hate you both!" Abhi covered his face as he laughed with the boys. 

Varun fell from his bed I think. 

"Arey toh hum kya karein ? Rone pe baith jaayein ? We love being at home," Ranbir casually grinned which made me fake cry loudly. The boys laughed for a long time before wiping their tears, yes they legit laugh cried! 

"Karannn, please do something or I'll go insane. I can't be like that man!" He laughed more as I made my default face that had become famously viral. 

"Offo don't be so worked up babe. This too shall pass and you won't even notice. You had taken up some classes online right ? What's the progress ? I'm sure you'll find more than one ways to keep you engaged." Ayan spoke his wise words, concealing his big fat smile that was going to pop the moment I made that face. 

Ranbir snatched the phone from me to explain "some online classes ?! Mere bhai, duniya bhar ke online classes join kiya hai isne! Guitar, script writing, direction classes, vocal training, cooking, falana dhimkana matlab everything under the sun. Kuch aur bhi hai toh suggest kar le. She's a bit of an overachiever and I always feel like an underachiever next to her." 

Round two of the laughter session began as I threw a pillow at my under achiever boyfriend. We ran around the home as he held my phone, laughing himself while I chased him. The pets seemed confused at their owners sudden madness. So they joined us as well. It was a mad affair with Karan yelling "stop it!" while Varun screamed "you go safeena!" He was overtly obsessed with that character of mine and had dreams of me going violent over Ranbir! 

Finally I was able to catch hold of him as he fell on the bed. I snatched my phone back to answer "but whose watching movies 24/7 ? he eats, sleeps, poops and then watches movies in between! That's his fkin schedule urgh! At least I am trying to be productive." I tickled him at his danger spot and that sends him on a loud overdrive while four other men watched us through their screens. 

"Do your make out after we cut the call. How can you do this in front of Karan ? Hawww," Varun as usual made me see red with his stupid unwanted logic. "Someone save mee," pleaded Ranbir in between his laughter spasms as I kept tickling him. 

"This is so much better than all the netflix shows you guys suggested," chipped Abhi as his face turned red from all the laughing. 

The whole house suddenly lit with our screaming for help and laughing noises. And it went like that for few more hours as we felt a rush of joy in each other's company. The most mundane of days could be turned into an extraordinary moment as long as we had each other. Thank God we had each other, what a relief. 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

NOTE : A simple scenario that crossed my head yesterday. I wanted to do few lockdown chaps but nothing seemed to stick in my head. But the rajeev masand iv of rk made me see some hilarious possible scenarios that I had to try. So here's one of them. Ik it's not that big to satiate most of us but something is better than nothing right ? 

Just a lil dose of their joy to keep us moving <3 

The last two chaps were more for myself so I thought y'all deserve 'your kind of chap' next :p But some did enjoyed the S. Korean chaps and it was indeed a new experience for myself as well. 

The baby chaps will come, don't you worry :D I had earlier asked on the fc story about it and you all were pretty excited but I turned up with the korean chaps lol. Sorry about that. I had a major Ranlia baby vibe that day when I asked and it went away as quickly as it came the next day xD 

It's completely fine to not feel okay, positive or happy like our Aloo does in the chap. We all go through such moments. But it's fleeting, remember that. It will pass as long as you are willing to let it pass as well. Take care, keep drinking loads of water and stay safe <3 

Jemi :)