Riya Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; May 11, 2020)

Having been in self-isolation since five days before the official Coronavirus lockdown was announced, Hina Khan feels she has mastered the art of patience while staying at home. From cleaning her house to sketching and now fasting during Ramzan, Hina talks about how the month is different this year, her biggest takeaway from the lockdown and how she’s happy spending time with her family.

Hina says, “Each year has been tough during Ramzan as I’ve been working while fasting. But this year, there isn’t any work to do, so resting at home and breaking the fast later in the day is all there is to do. I’m making the most of this time to ensure that I observe the festival to the fullest. My only wish for everybody is to emerge physically and mentally stronger from the lockdown. I’d be ecstatic if the situation improves by Eid.”

Talking about her daily routine, Hina says, “It is mainly household chores and activities I haven’t been able to do due to my hectic work schedule — cleaning the home, trying my hand at cooking and pursuing a new hobby like sketching.”

Hina says the one thing she never expected to do was wash a doormat. “It came quite as a shock when my mother asked me to wash the doormat, but it turned out to be quite funny, and I had a hearty laugh while getting it done,” she tells us.

What she has learnt from the lockdown is patience. She says, “This is an important time, when none of us are certain of when we’ll get back on our feet, so keeping patience and being composed is the only way of handling it better. I feel this is one thing I have managed to conquer pretty well.”