I got a call from Sona aunty, one of our relatives in the morning. She sounded anxious when she said her son Chintu has locked himself up in a room from the last two hours, didn't have breakfast, not even responding to her words. Her husband Subrat uncle, being a doctor was busy in COVID duty. She asked me to come over to her place. Without much delay, I started my scooter.

Though we were not in that much contact since Chintu had joined engineering, still I was worried. We used to play badminton and sometimes he sought advice from me regarding his career. Last time I met him at a wedding, he was busy on his mobile so didn't get a chance for a proper conversation. This virtual world has really taken over the real one.

I reached in about twenty minutes. Sona aunty was almost at the verge of crying when she saw me. Chintu was still inside the room. I knocked at his door calling his name but no response. After almost half an hour of try, he finally opened his door. His eyes were red and swollen. I entered his room to see everything was messed up. His iPhone was laying down on the floor in two parts. Several thoughts crossed my mind. What could be the reason? Now exams have got cancelled so the reason can't be the exam's pressure. Love maybe, but when I asked him what I heard was beyond my belief. He told, "You know didi, Tiktok has got banned. I had almost reached 1lakh followers. I have just brought ring light and other stuff for it a few days back. I also have coloured my hair just a day before yesterday. You know, the salonwala was denying to open his salon due to lockdown, but I gave him double of the price to secretly open it and got my hair coloured. Now, what will I do??" He again burst into tears. I noticed his hair to find out it was looking like the comb of a cockerel. I didn't know how to respond, wanted to ask him money for my costly petrol that got wasted for this nonsense.

I really don't know whom to refer as a poor soul here.

- Sibani Acharya