A different sort of celebration

You must have made a lot of plans at the end of 2019, for the upcoming new year. Perhaps you etched plans in your mind for the first day of Spring and the Bengali New Year. You even knew which flower to tuck onto your auburn hair. This year, it would be quite different from what you had planned; no more braids like all the other years but a relaxed bun with a side parting. Your plans had been simple, maybe a bit too simple given what was yet to come. 

A few months into the new year, a morbid uproar in the name of Covid-19 shattered all our plans and made away with them. And today, we are worried that the world maybe falling apart amidst all the chaos. And having a good time is perhaps the last thing on anyone's mind.

While all of this is true, and you are doing your part — helping the needy and staying indoors to stop spread the disease — you realise that all things in the world, including 'the gruesome and the appalling' have a good side attached to it!

In this particular situation, it might be that your loved ones — the children and your soul mate — is locked up in the same apartment with you. The first time ever since you can remember!

Even a few days ago, weren't you complaining about him not getting enough time to spend with you or the children?

Well, look at how the tables have turned! And we say it's about time you made the best use of it.

Arrange a romantic dinner for the two of you, and if you have more members, a family dinner for all.  To make it even more romantic, make sure both of you cook together and the children help in setting the table.

Don't go for an elaborate menu, but something simple like shepherd's pie, pizza or even tehari, made at home and with all the love between the two of you.

The main point behind the cooking and the lunch is to be able to enjoy each other's company.

After the lunch is complete — get dressed up. Make sure your partner and the children are dressed up as well. Maybe this year, there's no new clothes. But that shouldn't deter you from wearing something from the yesteryears. Mix and match to brew a combination that will surely blow your partner's mind off all the tensions in the world. And yes, you still can wear that relaxed bun, just like you had planned.

If you miss the candle lit dinner of an extravagant restaurant, we got something much better for you. Turn off all the lights and illuminate the house with candles in all the corners.

There you go! Simple. And yet, incredibly romantic.

Remember to set aside both your phones for a few hours, at least through the dinner time. This is your time alone — one with your loved ones. You never know when you'll get this time ever again in your lifetime.

Because once the chaos ends, and we get back to our normal lives, having won the war against the virus, you'd both become busy. And life will take over once more.

So, while this may not be a situation that anyone wished for — there's always the chance to make the best use of it.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

Special thanks to Shamiun Ahmed