January 18, 2021

Returning to work mid-pandemic

Don’t know how to react to this ‘new normal’? Turn to standup.

2 min read

1. Your co-workers: Ask why you haven’t hung out with them even once during the lockdown

You, while looking around at the mask-less crowds outside your window:

two panel image of a comedian saying, "apparently the number one cause of human death is other humans"-pandemic
Picture courtesy: Buzzfeed

2. Your co-workers: Talk about how responsible it is that the office is urging everyone to wear masks and sanitise their hands

You:

Comicstaan GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
GIF courtesy: GIPHY

3. Your co-workers: Come in early, dressed in their best conference attire (even though there’s only three of you in the office)

You:

Comicstaan GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
GIF courtesy: GIPHY

4. Your co-workers: Start talking about their lockdown relationships and ask if you found anyone as well

You:

three panel image of a comedienne saying, 'it's January now so I've been single for what..oh, 23 years'-pandemic
Picture courtesy: Buzzfeed

5. Your co-workers: Tell you about the party they were at last night, where they, “only removed masks for karaoke, yaar

You, to yourself, as you decide to work from home from now on:

Comicstaan GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
GIF courtesy: GIPHY

6. Your co-workers: Make effortless conversation amongst themselves

You, struggling to remember the rules of small talk:

Comedian Biswa saying, 'neha do you like kanda poha do you want to have babies'-pandemic
Picture courtesy: Buzzfeed

7. Your co-workers: Talk about how weird it is that people still aren’t going on holidays because “covid is over”

You, fixing your mask tighter around your face:

Im Crazy Amazon Prime Video GIF by Comicstaan - Find & Share on GIPHY
GIF courtesy: GIPHY

8. Your co-workers: Insist that getting the vaccine is worse than actually contracting COVID-19

You, wanting to end the conversation ASAP:

Comicstaan GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
GIF courtesy: GIPHY

9. Your co-workers: Brag about how they won’t get the virus because “alcohol is a sterilising agent bro” and they’ve been going to every happy hour bar they find

You, grimly:

Amazon Prime Video Your Turn GIF by Comicstaan - Find & Share on GIPHY
GIF courtesy: GIPHY

10. Your co-worker: Tells you about how they are maintaining physical distancing, limiting exposure, and continuing to sanitise everything that comes into their house

You, turning red with excitement and relief:

Comicstaan GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
GIF courtesy: GIPHY
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India Development Review

India Development Review (IDR) is India’s first independent online media platform for leaders in the development community. Our mission is to advance knowledge on social impact in India. We publish ideas, opinion, analysis, and lessons from real-world practice.

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