AN ACCIDENTAL SALVATION

 

                                                          AN ACCIDENTAL SALVATION

 

 

 

The day began like any other; Riya was late for school as usual and her mother hurried her on. She had her breakfast hastily and started for school. The school had planned a field trip to the Bhigwan Wetlands for the students with the aim of acquainting them with nature. This was Riya’s worst nightmare. As she thought about how she hated marshes, the bitter memory of being pushed into the mud crossed her mind. She dismissed the memory as her friends dragged her towards the wetland. Riya, however refused to step out of the bus and looked out the window at her classmates as they milled around the lake. The visit soon came to an end and the group headed back to school.

A few days hence when Riya and her parents were on their way to visit some cousins, their car broke down. Coincidentally this episode took place a few kilometers from the Bhigwan Wetland. The sun had well disappeared behind the mountains, it was almost twilight. The evening was chilly and the wind blew her hair in Riya’s face. Abandoning the hope of finding help as the day drew to an end, the family decided to make camp near the lake. Although Riya was most unhappy with this decision, she trailed off in search of firewood. Soon, Riya and her parents were huddled around the fire. They had piled up some hay they had found near the marsh that would provide as a makeshift bed. Not long after that, the three of them went to sleep.

 

  Riya was unable to sleep so she lay with her eyes open. No sooner did she behold the wonder of the magnificent sky than she fell utterly in love with it. She watched for a long time the juxtaposing colors of the night and looked fondly upon the opaline stars. She could stare at this marvel forever.

The gentle breeze lulled her to sleep before she knew it. She awoke to the sun shining in her eyes and warming her cheeks. Her parents were already awake. In no time, their car was towed towards the town. On the way back home, she asked her parents to stop near the marsh. How indifferent she had been towards the beauty of nature! She vowed to never be ignorant towards mother earth and her thriving world.

Riya had made it a habit to visit the wetland every weekend to escape the noise and pollution of the city. She would camp there every week along with her friends

.

All was smooth sailing for a few months but this peace was not perpetual. The government had announced the reclamation of the Bhigwan marsh. This news came as a shock to Riya. She was disheartened. She consulted her parents and teachers about the same. Everyone was against ridding the planet of this scenic landscape.

Riya filed a petition to stop the reclamation. The director of her school , however opposed the motion. He was just another lackey of the government- not a serious threat if it wasn’t for the immense power he commanded. This was a problem indeed! Riya and her supporters would now have to resort to stricter measures. Bearing in mind the fragile nature of the situation, the group launched a protest at the site they sought to conserve. The protests were gradually gaining momentum. The government was to begin the reclamation on the 1^st of May. That was two days from now and all the protesting crowds were buzzing with tension. The director had threatened to suspend Riya and her “psychotic clique”as he had called them if they did not suspend the campaign. The children did not give in to his threats. Parents and teachers supported the notion and assured the children that it would be alright. 

The government had served its final notice. The infamous project was scheduled to begin the following day. However, the government recognized that the Covid -19 pandemic was a solemn catastrophe. They were unwilling to risk the health of the workers and officials involved in the project. The centre had imposed a nation- wide lockdown.

The physical protests had proven to be effective. But due to the national curfew, it was not possible to continue the same. This was an obstacle in Riya’s mission to save the marsh but it did  not discourage her and her comrades. This was a war the government had started but it was theirs’ to finish.

A new campaign was initiated with the help of social media. The nascent campaign had quickly transformed into a national movement. People from all over the country had come together despite their differences. This was a splendid show of national unity. The proverb ’Strength in numbers’ was true after all! Owing to the severity of the protest and nation -wide discontent, the government had to annul the Bhigwan reclamation.

 

    Riya sat by the lake once again and gazed at the vermillion hues of twilight, basking in the golden aura of the setting sun. The plea of the nation had been heard and Riya’s mission had been successful. Her marsh had been rescued. Her dream had become a reality and her vision an inspiration. ✨

 

 

-Ananyaa Joshi

STD VIII