By 
UNLOCKING 1.0 & Beyond
So now the forced party is over, Yes the party because we all were confined to our homes and the commerce and business had stopped. It was universal so we had a sense of being together in this. The plight of migrants walking on the highways and sheer mismanagement of their home journey can bring tears to your eyes at the same time put curse words for all stakeholders responsible for this. But now the economy is slowly getting the green light, while the red and orange zone is waiting in the lurch and finally good sense prevailed and we now have only two zones – Containment & Non-containment. Of course, the sentiments will be down to the graveyard, moving around will be cautiously done. For me how do we open the office were without being sure if the housekeeping who comes to clean the office is not COVID positive. That’s the starting point then comes to your office boy travelling in local transport, milkman to replenish the coffee machines and other staff members who travel publicly. Will we endanger their lives and others and how long can WFH be actually working? Difficult questions with no easy answers.
I was trying to analyze all possible scenarios which will unfold as we open our gates considering all angles. But universally whichever country cracks the vaccine first will be the king, just praying it’s not the Chinese. “Dua” and “dark” both from china will make the world dance to the dragon.
Scenario 1 – Idealistic
Everyone wears a mask, maintains social distance, WFH continues, offices work on 10 -30% capacity, our hospitals and medical facilities keep pace with the number of COVID Cases and slowly we limp back to normal. One confirmed news break from any of the 100+ pharma companies globally of a possible vaccine or cure dose will push the economy into full throttle. If that happens to be an Indian pharma company – Serum institute of Adar Poona Wala for Example [ haven’t you seen him suited in news channel these days] will really put India on a space X rocket which will take us towards the “superpower” colony. Just like Elon musk has sent the two nasa astronauts. And yes China retreats from the borders and a pact is achieved for no more claiming of Indian land in return of no more uninstalls of TikTok.
Scenario 2 – Most Likely
As we open up our COVID cases will surge through the roof 10 lakhs, may be 20 lakhs with 2-3 % succumbing to it. We will develop herd immunity and develop antibodies and by September or October virus will mutate and give us a real Diwali. Yes, hospital beds will be scarce there will be mismanagement, political blame game will be all time high, economy and job losses will be so deep that everyone will be willing to work at 30%- 50% of their income with loans and defaults at alarming rates. By October we get a grip and things tread back to the new normal and most likely vaccine developments show impressive results. Meanwhile china & India continue the dog fight may be a few tanks fire canons, sorties by fighter jets on each other, show of muscle and nothing significant. Just like when you have those street fights “Hath Laga kar Dekh” and by July end Indo X china “Bhai Bhai “T shirts begin to sell again. Tiktok uninstalls continues and Micromax, Intex, Xolo, Karrbon and other earlier versions of Vivo & Oppos of the world start relaunching their smartphones. It’s a possible scenario.
Scenario 3 – Extreme Situation:
Its July 15 ,2020 and the COVID scoreboard reads 50 lakh cases in India. Lockdown5.0 again gets implemented, doctors and nurses are taking the hard decision of whom to save. China Vs India intensifies its fight and Pakistan, Nepal & Russia join the party and the rest of the world comes with India to corner china. Tension at border and nerves are stretched it’s a cold war but nothing happens at the end. Deaths and infections are everywhere, our medical facilities begin to collapse and there are protests and riots everywhere. Those who lose their loved ones because of callousness, in all likelihood will lose their sanity too. Its grim news and madness everywhere and illegal sales of guns’ blossom.
It’s the Economy which is now to be saved because suicides and mental state is killing more people than covid.
In all the above scenarios by October either we will have a vaccine announcement or we will have herd immunity. Now comes the lawlessness, going outside, walking will be dangerous snatching, kidnappings will be frequent. Joblessness and poverty will push the dragon in people to fend for themselves. Now comes the Phishing scenarios, We have faced this recently where a concentrated effort was taken to get money transferred. My accountant –Tanaya Ghosh received a fraudulent mail from my name, [ Email id was different] asking her to transfer. Normally none will check the email id just the name but her good sense prevailed and she double-checked with me. In most business, CFOs and Accountants are powered to make transactions up to a capped upper amount.
We have to tread the next 3-4 months with caution & sanity. I have had friends who in spite of being financially well off getting panic attacks even now. Our belief in the human spirit must be reinforced that’s supreme and faith in the supernatural power above you, maybe its a way of resetting the climate, so we don’t have to travel to other planets to set up shop. Are you still seeing Toronto or New York from your bedroom anywhere in India?
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