For a brand new beginning sans 'strain'

Visakhapatnam: As the virus-ridden 2020 drew its curtains down, many usher in the New Year with fresh hopes for a 'strain'-free days ahead. Most part of the year was spent masking the face, avoiding gatherings, refraining from travelling to various destinations and staying away from social get-togethers.

Though there was nothing much to miss, 2020, for many, was packed with tough challenges to sail through. People lost jobs and had their salaries chopped to half. "But it did teach us how to survive during hard times. Adjusting to the new 'norm' was not easy but it made us emerge stronger," shares T Siva Kumar, who works in a private firm.

Social media platforms were abuzz with forwards and videos bidding adieu to the virus-filled 2020. Cartoon images of the coronavirus, memes and digital cards popped up on WhatsApp, representing the months dominated by the pandemic in the year that just got concluded.

With the promise of Covid-19 vaccine in 2021 getting louder, many heave a sigh of relief, welcoming the New Year with open arms. "Though the detection of the new variant acts as a deterrent factor, we hope that the coming months will not be as pathetic as the pandemic-stricken months like last year," says K Vaishali, a degree final year student.

While some aspire for better days ahead, few others want the pre-pandemic days back to emerge happier with a brand new beginning as they step into 2021. With a new list of resolutions, a majority of people accord top priority to health and fitness this year compared to the one that came to an end.