The year was 2150. It was the beginning of another uneventful day on a distinct planet in the Milky Way galaxy, a planet code-named ‘Deceased-19524’. It had been, I guess, a hundred years since this mystifying planet appeared on our radar back at Neptune. Never before had we seen such an abrupt explosion of a heavenly body, and that too a planet! The scholars needed samples, and I was deployed over here, with nothing but my IPod as company. When I first stepped onto Deceased-19524, I was blown away by its extreme environment. It was as if the tiny little planet was being made to face the raging fury of Lord Sun himself. The land was barren, and ablaze with violent volcanoes and molten lava. At night, thick, orange clouds of methane used to envelope the planet. Almost everyday, a storm or two would break out and would munch away rocks, some the size of my fist, and others which make one’s neck crane when one looks up at them. At some places, there could be found little traces of a transparent, colourless liquid which flowed freely and reflected my ugly face. Hot winds whispered satanic verses, condemning me, telling me to go away. It was almost impossible for any form of life to strive on this raging ball of fire. But the omniscient scholars say that it was not always like this. Around half a millennium ago, the planet was literally known as the ‘Blue Planet’, the reasons of which are still unknown. They say that the planet was filled with various forms of life, when a series of evolutions produced one of the most intelligent races ever – the homo-sapiens. The homo-sapiens lead the planet towards a slow but steady pace towards destruction. The scholars say that the homo-sapiens were greedy, and preferred erecting sun-touching towers at the cost of their Mother Planet. They became so obsessed with themselves that they multiplied till every natural resource was consumed.
Even after 5 strenuous years of bone-crushing labor, I had found nothing, not even the tiniest hint towards success. By now, I had lost all hopes of going back home with a smile on my face. That day when I was strolling around sluggishly, I suddenly saw a tiny, white fragment fluttering on the ground. I grabbed it at once, not hopeful, but curious. My heart skipped a beat. “Father Sun! A letter from…..from the last man on Earth.”, I exclaimed, though the last word seemed alien to me. With my heart thumping like a drum, I sat down to read it:
To,
Mother Earth
14th February, 2012
It is dark and appallingly hot in here. I can barely see a thing, and my hand trembles while writing this letter. But I have to have the courage, the strength, to express myself, for it is imperative that I do it. There is still a flame of hope within me, but the flame is waning, and it wouldn’t be long before it’s shrouded by despair. I sit here in solitude, waiting for somebody to turn up and stab me in the chest. But I know nobody will, for I feel I am the last one remaining on Earth.
Everyday, I saunter by the remnants of my ancestors. I shudder at the thought of finding my son’s remains somewhere being engulfed by molten lava. I still remember the day when his stretched hand lay across me, pleading me to help him out of the quake. But I do not lament the loss, for I have no right to do so.
I have to go through the consequences of the destructive activities of my ancestors. But a part of my mind shouts out in despair – Is this fair? Is it fair to me to go days without water, when my ancestors immersed themselves in hot water tubs? Is it not unfair that my tongue longs for a touch of food, when my ancestors never felt guilty putting tonnes of grains into the bin? Is it fair to the trees, the animals, the birds, the glaciers, the soils to serve a ruthless bunch of two-legged species indefinitely, yet get condemned to death by the master himself? Is it fair that Mother Earth be eaten away, bit by bit, into nothingness? I do not know whether man was at fault, but I do know this – Man never saw the true beauty of nature. He never heard the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind. He never saw the love between a tiger cub and his mother. He never marveled at the beauty of the naked mountains rising high amongst the seas. He never noticed the delicate balances maintaining the diverse ecosystem. So busy was he with his goals of development that he never saw Mother Earth succumb to his materialistic desires. But who am I to complain, for I myself did not stop them as they went on inflicting blows upon the Earth.
Mother Earth!
Vent your ire against this last man standing
Burn him alive in the cracks of doom
Devastate his intestines,
Blast his brain into smithereens.
But, Oh my Beloved Mother!
Be finally at Peace.
Be finally at peace.
Be finally at peace.
Yours till eternity,
The Last Man on Earth
I stood at the edge of a cliff, with the letter still in my hands. A tear trickled down my cheek, and vaporized with a big ‘hiss’ as it fell on the ground. I crouched low on the ground, and brought my trembling fingers close to the soil. As they dug deep inside the soil, I muttered with a voice heavy with grief – “Mother Earth”.