Love Lockdown

Three couples share candid accounts on matters of space, intimacy and survival in quarantine

- Tanya Mehta

Remember that scene from one too many rom-coms, where sunlight flickers through the drapes, rustled sheets, feet peeping out from under them, and in the heady endorphin-addled rush of the morning-after, the hero whispers into the ear of his companion, “Why don’t we spend all day in bed doing nothing?” Sigh. They made pancakes, danced around in their underwear, and got endearingly competitive over video games – a day of leisure, romance, and ennui. But how does this montage play out IRL when you’re cooped up with your significant other and kin indefinitely? After the honeymoon phase wears off, cabin fever is bound to ensue. Through all the tiny spats, errands, and activities, three couples talk about how they’re navigating this extraordinary period of change while keeping their relationships strong and healthy.

PRAYAG MENON AND PORUS VIMADALAL

Porus was born and raised in Mumbai to a Parsi family. He studied fashion design for three years, after which he decided to pursue commercial pilot license training from the United States. Prayag, on the other hand, is from Kerala; his father was an army officer. The couple met during their first year of college and eventually decided to pursue aviation together. They’ve been together for 14 years, of which they have been married for four. They now live in Toronto. Porus is a photographer and Prayag, a stylist.

FIRST THOUGHTS

“Being freelancers and a couple who extensively work together ensures we are around each other a lot. So, the idea of being cooped up didn’t faze us in the slightest.”

ON SHIFTING DYNAMICS