The other day, when I stepped into the lift to reach my office which is on the third floor, a reasonably huge man entered the lift along with me.

He looked at me and asked. “Why do you still wear the mask? Is it due to Corona?”

He was not the first one to ask me this question.

I wanted to say, “So that I don’t get to smell your body odour, and I don’t get to inhale your exhaled breath in this compact lift!”

Instead, I replied, “I like to wear it. I feel safer.”

“Oh yes, it always protects us from common cold and dust”, he chipped in.

I felt like asking, “Then why do you ask? And why don’t you wear it?”

Why do people ask me such a question? Is a mask worn only by those who are sick or prone to catching diseases?

In fact, I always wanted to wear a mask even before we were attacked by the deadly virus. But at that time it would have looked too obvious and odd. Though now too, when people ask me such a question, it is because I am the only one wearing it.

A mask not only protects me from the common cold, but also dust, as I am allergic to dust. If someone doesn’t recognize me while I am out, it’s all the more good for an anti-social person like me. I don’t have to give fake smiles to people whom I don’t want to. I can easily ignore someone, as that person will never recognize me. And when I laugh, I don’t have to expose my not-so-beautiful teeth!

Some people eat non-veg, onions and garlic. (Sorry, this is not to harm anyone’s sentiments). But, some of them just don’t care about the bad breath that it causes. There are ways to avoid such discomfort to others (one can google that). I literally used to stop breathing when I used to be near such people. I must say my nose is very sensitive to bad odour.

But now, when I sometimes have to discuss some official work with such careless individuals, my mask saves me! Thank God I don’t get to smell what they had eaten the previous night!

I all the more wear a mask when I catch a cold so that I don’t spread the virus. But, I don’t understand why people don’t do it.

Do they think, “If I have caught a cold, there’s no harm in spreading it to others?”

Where has the social responsibility gone? Has it been dumped with covid?

We work in closed environments. It’s very easy to catch diseases spread by air. Such types of diseases are innumerable. But right now, let’s stick to only the common cold. I’ll be more than happy if my mask saves me from it.

An office colleague of mine is always sneezing. She says that she is allergic to dust, scents, and cold weather, and therefore no medicine helps her.

I suggested, “Why don’t you wear a mask? It will benefit you.”

To which she replied, “No way. With masks, I don’t get fresh air and I have to inhale my exhaled air.”

I did not understand her logic. But I am sure she’ll get some respite by wearing a mask.

Sitting in a closed office with people like her is yet another reason for me to flaunt my mask!

When we go to the cinema hall which is yet another big closed space, I don’t know what I am exposed to. I always feel safe with my mask.

Summer brings with it body odour due to excessive perspiration. Not everybody uses deodorant or perfume. My mask acts as a boon at that time.

But my kids make fun of me. They say, “Mom, you're the only one wearing a mask. You look like a joker. Stop wearing.”

To which I reply, “Joker Mommy, or Mommy Joker, that's what I am.”

And the mask saga continues…