Complex Complications

[Spoiler Alert! This is not going to be about mathematics or mental issues! Well, there's probably a bit of both too, but I won't spoil it for you. As always, it's kind of serious, disguised as humour.]

Like many of my readers I live in a gated community which is referred to as a "complex" - and I was about to find out why when we locked down a week or so ago. The thaali banging and clapping that preceded lock-down saw a foreign-returned family of residents in isolation "celebrating" the defeat of the virus on our terrace. Some of our neighbours called others to join the action on the terrace. Others expressed shock and awe and clapped from the safety of their homes. Naturally the airwaves were full of advice - what didn't reach us through the official groups reached us through strategically placed "posting errors" that we have become used to now. To complicate matters the four-hour window of respite that was afforded helped a number to jump quarantine and mingle freely in the market, stocking up for the days ahead.

The Executive Committee, that long-suffering butt of everyone's complaints, immediately put its collective thinking cap on - albeit over the internet - and came up with some quick plans. No maids and drivers to enter or leave the premises during the lock-down. Security guards to be contacted and given some options. The offer to stay on the premises for the 21-day duration was rejected as they have families too and live close enough. They needed a letter of identity which our Secretary provided overnight. Since local shops are closed, an appeal went out for volunteers to provide morning tea, breakfast, and evening tea for the guards who would be manning the portals. The response was overwhelming. Despite careful scheduling the guards actually got back and requested for less as they didn't want to waste. Of course, a few extra cups of tea help to while away the hours.

Naturally, plenty of suggestions and opinions saw the light of day. One of my favourites was that we could give the guards cooking utensils, a fireplace and raw materials so that they could amuse themselves by cooking as there are no vehicles going in and out. You can imagine how this was shot down with alacrity by residents and the guards themselves! Another was the idea that the lifts could be provided with a batch of toothpicks with which riders could punch the buttons (on the inside). This was thankfully left bereft of response. Other creative suggestions would probably fill a book by themselves, "Creativity in the time of Corona".

Some quick suggestions were equally quickly acted upon -- hand sanitizer at the front gate for anyone coming in, Dettol treatment on all the lift buttons, warnings to all the kids to stay indoors, and a few other preventive measures. This was all carried out by members of the committee acting in their capacity as (reluctantly?) elected community leaders! Behind the scenes, on the Committee group, there were arguments, counter-arguments, suggestions, counter-suggestions, opinions and counter-opinions exchanged to deal with the situation. A few inevitable flare-ups were contained by quick explanations, apologies and emoticons!

Our loyal sweeper continued to arrive for duty as he stays nearby. He collects the daily garbage from each flat and from the building, puts it all together and gets it across to the corporation disposal vats, despite lock-down. Imagine the complications had he stopped. And he did - well, he was stopped as he was taken ill with a cold and cough! The guards along with one of the members arranged a replacement till he gets better. Moreover, the committee has proposed a bonus amount to be paid to the guards and the sweeper when this is over. We know how essential these services really are. The committee also arranged to pay salaries in cash on April 1st despite lock-down (no jokes!). This includes a bank transfer to our caretaker who lives in a village from which he could not come as public transport has been suspended. That's all the math you will find in this article!

Under what "statute" has the committee been formed? Out of nowhere we received the note from a resident who introduced herself as a lawyer. Most people ignored, but some hastened to dig out the Memorandum of Association, though thankfully this didn't get to court -- not even the courtyard. But what did happen in the courtyard is that a maid who was prevented from entering, for her own and her family's sake as much as for that of the residents, was called by her employer. The employer claimed that the maid was a "nurse" and therefore essential medical staff -- the local councillor, asked to intervene, sent a posse to enquire only to discover that the maid had absolutely no idea she was a nurse! This was followed by recriminations and language just short of abuse hurled at the long-suffering committee. Anyway, they stood their ground with many of the members expressing solidarity and support. Another day in the life of the complexities of a complex (sigh).

People need to eat too, and consume medicines and some require additional assistance. The committee advised all to collect their goods from the gate at which all deliveries would be stopped. Up to a point this has succeeded. In other cases, individuals have offered to help reach supplies to the indisposed, invalids or otherwise incapable. It's amazing the level of support that individuals will provide when the chips are down. It's equally amazing the level of resistance and difficulty that a few others will create to assuage their own egos. That's why this unfortunate period has been called "complex" - it has brought out complex inter-personal behaviour, some of which could fit one of the well-known ego-state complexes.

I am sure there are several other building societies or complexes that have done similar things but I wanted to record this for a time when we get through all this and can sit back and have a laugh.

Stay home! Stay safe! And be very careful about the madness of Day 22.