Ah yes, nothing says “weekend getaway” like cracking open a cold one and lighting up a cigarette—right in the middle of a forest. Because, you know, trees are just giant wooden ashtrays, and dry grass loves a good spark.
It’s become quite the trend now: gather your buddies, trek up a scenic hill, and then treat it like your backyard bar. Never mind that it’s a protected natural habitat or a fire-prone zone—what matters most is that Instagram story with the sunset and your cigarette silhouetted just right.
Recently in Pune, officials have had to actually say out loud that tossing lit cigarettes on dry hills is causing fires. Fires! As if that needed explaining. But apparently it does, because some people believe forests come with a self-extinguishing feature.
And let’s not forget the ever-evolving ritual of leaving behind beer bottles and snack wrappers. A true gift to nature. Because clearly, the only thing that could improve a lush green hillside is the glitter of broken glass and crumpled plastic.
Look, we get it. A little chill time in the lap of nature is great. But maybe—just maybe—we don’t need to bring every bad habit with us. Forests aren’t party spots, and hills don’t need your secondhand smoke. They need people who know how to enjoy them without treating them like garbage dumps or bonfire pits.
So next time you head out to a hill or forest, leave the booze at home, put the lighter down, and try something revolutionary: respecting nature. Wild idea, I know.
But who knows—if enough people start behaving like actual adults, maybe we’ll still have forests left for future weekends.
Just a thought.
