I am a plastic bottle, I love my existence.

I am a plastic bottle, the one in so much abundance that my existing count is beyond a prominent human rant about population explosion. Yet a very few care to even finish off the substance I hold liquid/solid /blah, forget eradicating my existence!

The entities I hold are consumed within your subconscious sense, right from helping you gulp a medicinal tablet to helping you dilute your alcoholic drink. The most I am used to serve you is what the earth is made of, say 71%. And still you’re so helpless that you pay minimally, yet contemptuously, to fulfil your appetite.

I exist everywhere. The abundant smaller me in a polished board meeting, the abundant larger me in any tourist destination, the largest me in every household. Is there a difference between the background music at a wedding reception and my existence? Well, we’re both irrelevant, but more promptly, we fundamentally exist!

I mentioned about human population. Imagine this to be X. Even if one of you used say 1,000 of my owned entities in your entire life-span, which is highly underestimated, you shouldn’t be a ‘literate’ to understand the quantum of my existence. 1000X. And here I am just talking about my family, bottles. My ‘khaandan’ is diverse enough with one new cousin born every single day.

Why’s the number discussed here? Am I a disgraced specie?

Let’s per say think how am I born?

My ancestors were produced in the 19th century, because humans were over exploited a wild-life creature and while in the early 20th century, a well-defined version of me was born. Thanks to rapid urbanisation and the need for progressive deed! Exactly the one you’re using right now to gulp/eat out off or would’ve used today for sure in some or the other form. Today I am worth $600 billion, a whooping 335 million metric tons produced every year, which is incremental to serve your purpose, thanks to your love :)

Beyond Krishnakant helping me pull out the above stats from the web, I’ve been exponentially growing with every second/minute/hour like that uncontrolled growth of a cancerous tumour. The one which you’re world is constantly striving to find distinct solutions for. Breaking news: I am more vicious than cancer bro!

You know the biggest problem with me is when I am burnt alive or when I land in a water body.

While I am burnt, I release toxins that stay within the environment, beyond that smell you dislike, obviously worse than when you fart, I remain in your proximity for ages, finding a way to harm your body. Correction: finding a way to eradicate YOU!

When I find a waterbody, I become invincible, my age — forever. What’s worse here — you consume the substance I hold, but the species in these waterbodies consume me. Now imagine, you order that fancy, descriptive, culturally inspired cuisine with sea-food as a suffix. Somewhere, in the most minuscule form, it has me. Progressively, I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d have a mention in the description of this dish, I should right? And you need not be happy if you think you’re vegetarian and immune to this virus, the burnt me serves you well enough. Though, my existence in these water bodies is well ahead of your imagination. And while I am ranting, I am growing every second/minute/hour.

What I’ve learnt is a prevalent lack of awareness within the human race about what happens to me when you’re done consuming the product I hold. It has a broad mention in you’re environmental science textbooks as you grew up. But, it doesn’t lead to an action other than helping you improve your CGPA. At times I wonder, why can’t this be a larger subject taught to you guys when you’re actually a grown up and when you’re too sensitive about that hyped-up term — life!

There are some generous souls and group of people who’ve understood the importance of my post life crisis. They’ve been jamming and doing everything they could to sensitise everyone about the harm I’d produce. But I feel bad for them, because not everyone gives them a conscious ear. Though, subconsciously, everyone knows my post life existential power. But I am sure just thinking about this won’t solve the purpose.

What gets me a sigh of relief is that most of the prominent powerful authorities on earth have now identified ways and measures to solve this problem. There is a process, when followed, could help you all fall in that safe zone, not immediately, but with time. But again, read those 2 words carefully — when followed.

So promise me something, the next time you’re thirsty, you’d get a bottle out of your bag/table/kitchen that you’d re-use. Ironically, that’s the maximum use of me in your day-to-day life. Even if you do have to buy me, please ensure you dispose me in that right way. Use the privileges and resources organised by your local authorities to help me R.I.P.

I’ve started this journey with Krishnakant. This bugger’s promised me he would avoid using me to the maximum he can! And I am genuinely ok with this sort of hatred and no display of emotion towards me.

After all, I am a plastic bottle and I do not wish to love my existence.