Edited By: Ananya Khandelwal
The headlines of yet another November morning read– “Victim or Villain?” Attempted Matricide!” They say that there is a special bond between a mother and her child. I, however, share a very peculiar bond with my mother which the entire humankind has begun to question so much so that I am having sleepless nights. My life story began just as it does for others. I was carried for nine months in my mother’s womb and the entire nation celebrated my birth. Everything remained normal for a few days but as I grew up everybody started avoiding me. They say that the days seem dull and the nights seem darker whenever I am around. People despise me so much that now I am blamed for hurling my own mother to death. Trust me though, I’m not guilty. In this rant of my unjust life story, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Smoggie. I am sure you are aware of the story humans generally tell, but here I present my side of the story.
While I was in Mother Earth’s womb, under the guardianship of humankind, I was taken immense care of. I was given the perfect proportions of nitrogen oxides and Sulphur dioxide to feed on and the air pollution increased day by day just so that I could be born healthy and strong. My arrival as a newborn was celebrated by the entire nation amidst the busy festival of Diwali. I was amazed by human creation when they sent food for me through rockets and other such firecrackers that shoot up in the sky, explode with a boom, presenting an al a carte of delicious eateries. Some inhabitants of particular states are a little more caring than the others. Despite the strict orders from the Supreme Court to halt practices of stubble burning ( in Haryana and Punjab) these inhabitants took the risk by continuing to practice crop burning just to feed me. I am truly indebted to humankind for all the affection and generosity they bestowed on me.
However, the tables turned as I got about 2-3 months old. I began to be treated with such hostility and indifference. People, the very same people, whom I shared so much affection with began to avoid me. Every time I approached people they would say- “Its Smogg(y)ie in here! Turn on the air purifiers please.” Air Purifiers and masks, the well-equipped bodyguards of the human species, block me from meeting my own people. I wonder why I am inflicted with such cruelty all of a sudden? It crossed my endurance limit when I began to be blamed for matricide. Rebuked for harming Mother Earth and attempting to destroy her atmosphere, humans are questioning my existence. I have not changed my attitude and I still adhere to the same ethos I have been brought up with. If there is something so unwanted about my existence, then why did humankind give life to me in the first place?
Human behavior is truly undecipherable and I have not been able to understand the cause of such hypocrisy. While I linger around in the cold until summer arrives and I dissipate in air, let me know if you find the answer to my dilemma. Just take in a deep breath and I’ll be there.