Spice of Life | Cut the cacophony and embrace silence

Though a lot is being said and done about the air and water pollution, we are yet to take note of the rising levels of noise pollution in the country. Light signals have been installed to regulate the traffic but a few hasty drivers want to rush through by the sheer force of their honking skills. Sometimes drivers even keep blowing horns at the traffic lights, too. Food delivery boys whizzing across the length and breadth of the cities even after midnight and stray dogs giving them a hot chase along with an aggressive woofing are also contributing generously in making our nights noisier and jarring. While strolling barefoot on the golden sands of a paradise-like beach, my friend asked, “For how long do you think, we can enjoy the intense calm and quiet of the picturesque island?” I replied, “Maybe a week or a maximum of 10 days.” In the same breath I added, “But I assure you that a native of the Maldives won’t be able to stand the noise and din of our cities even for a day.” [email protected] The writer is an Amritsar-based freelance contributor