A Journey That Changed His Life

It was dark everywhere, all the street lights were off due to power failure. In heavy rain, Vijay was searching for somebody's help to get a lift to his house. Finally, one man stopped his car and gave him a lift. Vijay removed his raincoat, folded his umbrella, and entered the car. He politely asked, "Hi, can you drop me home?", and the man replied, "Sure why not but where do you stay?"

Vijay: "I live near Juhu Beach."

That Man: "Oh, great, I do stay there itself, what's your name?"

Vijay: "My name is Vijay and yours?"

That Man: "Myself Abhay".

Vijay: "What do you do?"

Abhay: "I am a researcher, researching climate change."

Vijay: "Oh, great but what is climate change? Is it something changing our climate artificially?"

Abhay: "No no, it is not artificial, it is different, I will explain, first let me know what you do so that I can explain you in a better way."

Vijay: "Yeah, I own an electronic shop near that stop where you picked me up & I have passed class 10th, not studied much due to lack of interest in learning."

Abhay: "It is ok, but you know, there is no age for learning!"

Vijay: "Yeah I know but it is too late now."

Abhay: "Yeah, but I am not telling you to go to college and learn, I am talking about updating yourself with the present world."

Vijay: "I am active on social media all day promoting my shop and I am good at making reels also."

Abhay: "Hahaha, that's great, but do keep yourself updated about the environment."

Vijay: "I don't have many resources."

Abhay: "That's why we are working day and night to create awareness about the environment."

Vijay: "Maybe, but it is not reaching us."

Abhay: "Hmmm, we have research papers but it is too complicated for you to understand."

Vijay: "Then you only tell me how I should keep myself updated about the environment?"

Abhay: "You better follow our social media page, there you'll get all the information in simple language. Do share among your friends."

Vijay: "Yes I will follow but tell me what climate change is?"

Abhay: "Yeah, this summer, how are you feeling compared to a few years ago?"

Vijay: "It's too hot these days, you know when I was a child, summer was not too hot as compared to these days."

Abhay: "Exactly, that is called climate change!"

Vijay: "Means?"

Abhay: "Means increase in atmospheric temperature for a longer duration. Our childhood summer was much cooler than the present summer. This is called climate change."

Vijay: "Oh, it means the rising temperature is all about climate change?"

Abhay: "Yes, increase in the average temperature of Earth."

Vijay: "How is it happening?"

Abhay: "This is due to human intervention, as per the scientists, 95% of climate change is due to human activities, like cutting trees, burning more fuels, emitting more carbon from industries, using more natural energy, etc are the causes of climate change."

Vijay: "What will happen if we don't care?"

Abhay: "You know Vijay, if we don't care now, near future, there will be food insecurity, water scarcity, increase in sea level, cyclonic storms, heatstroke during summer, it also impacts animals, birds, & this will affect the whole ecosystem."

Vijay: "Oh, means in future, if we don't care, we won't get water, food, and good living?"

Abhay: "Yes Vijay, we will not get drinking water, plant growth will be impacted due to heat and we'll not get food. Our Earth's ecosystem will get imbalanced."

Vijay: "Omg, it is a serious issue, how to avoid this?"

Abhay: "One more thing Vijay, abnormal raining in Mumbai is also due to climate change!"

Vijay: "What? How is that possible?"

Abhay: "Due to high heat, air carries more water vapors and that water will fall as a rain, abnormal raining is also due to climate change."

Vijay: "Hmmm, What is my role? Is it avoidable?"

Abhay: "It is avoidable, we have to stop burning natural gas, petrol, diesel, coal, etc., we have to stop cutting trees, we have to emit less carbon from Industries, we have to stop unnecessary travel, and we have to stop wastage of water, food, & electricity. We have to use solar energy, solar-powered vehicles, wind energy, etc."

Vijay: "Abhay, please tell me what a common man can do, I will try to follow as much as possible."

Abhay: "Yeah, don't waste water, electricity, and food, use them as per your needs. Always try to avoid unnecessary traveling, don't burn plastic, papers, coal, etc. Try to plant trees, avoid consuming processed foods, etc. Use LED bulbs, switch to electric scooters if possible, and always harvest rainwater."

Vijay: "Hmmm, I will replace the lights as we are still using those old 60W bulbs, and I will not waste electricity, water, and food. I will convey this message to my friends and family."

Abhay: "Thanks, Vijay, that's the learning I was talking about. The positivity I received from you is admirable. You learned so quickly, thanks again for your positive response."

Vijay: "Abhay, how could I harm this planet? I want my generation to live peacefully and happily and for them, I can at least do these things."

Abhay: "Yes, a businessman always thinks about profit and this is all that profit our generations get if we use resources carefully."

Vijay: "Hahaha, smart man."

Abhay: "Where shall I drop you?"

Vijay: "Oh, see how fast time passes, yeah just drop me there."

Abhay dropped Vijay near his house and he left. Vijay wore a raincoat and went to his house. He told all the conversations between him and Abhay to his wife and children. All family members took a pledge to stop climate change and they had food as per their need and slept. The next morning Vijay woke up, took shower, and bought LED lights, and replaced all the lights in his house with LED lights. He left to his shop and he told all his workers about the consequences of climate change and how to avoid it. He made pamphlets on Dos and Don'ts to stop climate change and told his workers to distribute the pamphlet to every customer that visits his shop. This way Vijay took every effort to stop climate change.