“Why so glum, Lady Flora? Is it because the number of visitors to see you aren’t as high as previous years?” Sir PM checked on his old friend during their weekend walk in SoBo; this time, they decided to stroll around Wodehouse Road where the Holy Name Cathedral was located. “You seem awfully quiet,” by now, Sir PM was genuinely concerned about his friend’s silence.

“Oh, Pheroze, where do I start from? As another Christmas must be spent with restrictions, it is turning out to be a disappointing realisation of how we live in such challenging times. Just when the world was beginning to believe that everyone was out of the woods, Omicron, the new variant, has made its presence felt in a big way. I remember that queasy-in-the-tummy feeling that took over last year as well during Christmastime. I was hoping to attend service on Christmas Day [pointing to the cathedral] but now with protocols and rising cases, I am not so sure. What a dampener!” rued Lady Flora. Her voice wasn’t the usual cheery tone, and Sir PM racked his brain to think of a topic that would make her feel better.