What’s the world coming to? Today started out as a bright
and sunny day, but got plenty of shades darker as it proceeded. As I got ready
to go to class, the unfortunate news of three students of my college passing
away, flew along with the gentle wind and breezed through my unsuspecting ears.
Apparently, four students had got into a car accident while coming to college
this morning; three had died on the spot and one was in critical condition in
CMC. All of our morning classes got cancelled out of respect for the deceased,
which was obviously a correct, and humanitarian, thing to do. However, what
disturbed me more than the gloomy news was the fact that my fellow college
mates were more concerned about making sure that their classes had been
cancelled.
As you never know what’s true in VIT and what’s false, I got
dressed and went to the campus. I had stepped out of the hostel into a sunny
day, but stepped into campus under a gloomy sky. A few drops from heaven tinged
my skin, and it appeared as if Mother Nature herself was mourning this huge loss.
I made my way towards scattered crowds of people milling around. You’d expect
some silence and lowered eyes, but what I saw were happy faces and all I heard
were students regaling with excitement on getting a free morning.
Now, I am not implying that because some strangers had died,
you should make yourself miserable or cry your eyes out. It is great to find
light in the darkest situations. But, showing such disrespect and indifference!
Was free attendance for a few silly classes really worth the price of three
lives? Have we really become so shallow? Can we not feel that haunting sense of
loss? If it is so, then civilization, as we know it, is heading towards its
doom.
