YEAR 2044 - A Foretelling

The year is 2044, just 19 years from now. Due to neglect of climate change, the Earth's average temperature has risen by 5 degrees. Rising sea levels have engulfed countless coastal cities. Storms, cyclones, and other disasters have become so intense that it's impossible to escape them. Prakash and Jyoti are trapped in one such storm.

On the roof of a half-submerged building, Prakash looks out at the horizon and whispers, "I never thought the water would rise so much! The city that never stopped, never slowed down, now has no one in sight. Why is this happening?"

Jyoti replies, "The sea level was rising, but we stopped looking at the sea and built walls. Millions of people have lost their lives. Last month, millions had to leave their homes due to rising sea levels. And you thought only we would survive?" Prakash is speechless.

He asks, "Is this climate change? I heard elders talk about it, saying the weather is changing." Jyoti laughs sarcastically, "Climate change? I stopped using that term years ago. It's just a tool for governments and institutions."

She asks, "Remember when the Himalayan glaciers melted five years ago?" "Yes, I know! Our Ganges and Yamuna rivers dried up, and China's Mekong River and America's Mississippi River also dried up. Was that also climate change?" Jyoti says, "Yes, and when water scarcity led to civil war in the country, that was also climate change." Prakash didn't know much about water scarcity, born into a wealthy family where water never ran out, only became expensive.

He asks, "I heard India had dense forests once, is that related to climate change?" Jyoti replies, "Those forests had millions of wildlife. We destroyed most of them for coal mining and highways. The remaining forests couldn't withstand the 50-55 degree temperature. We installed ACs in our homes, but the trees and wildlife couldn't bear the heat." Jyoti's eyes well up.

Prakash says, "I thought this weather was normal..." Jyoti replies, "Staying indoors due to heat and pollution was never normal. There was a time when the air was clean, and curfews weren't imposed during summers. If we had woken up in time... this wouldn't be normal," Jyoti says, wiping away tears.

Prakash asks, "What was the right time? Why didn't anyone stop this destruction?" Jyoti replies, "Scientists have been warning us for 100 years, but their warnings were ignored. When we saw people dying, burning, or swept away on TV, we would feel shocked for a while. But we'd change the channel to cricket, politics, or reality shows. We forgot that the death tolls were once living people."

The sea rages on. Prakash's voice is barely audible now. "A few years ago, my parents went to Himachal for a vacation and died in a landslide. If they were alive today, I'd ask them - what were you doing when all this was happening?"