Small life

"It was 1982, when they introduced television to Sri Lanka. It was February 15, I remember."

Time traveler said, his gaze roaming to a transmission tower located somewhere far.

"They now call it the idiot's box." Javika said.

"I'm not surprised. You should see the way people watch TV everyday."

"But father..." Javika said thoughtfully, "don't you think it's some kind of entertainment? I mean even your generation had some fun too."

"Of a different kind Javika," Time Traveller corrected, "we had entertainment too. But we never were couch potatoes. We did, or rather had to, go out for entertainment."

"What's the difference?" Javika asked, shrugging.

"Difference is the feel. It's not like being stuck indoors. It gives you a lot more benefits. You get some fresh air and above all there is a lack of laziness."

Javika was absorbing her father's words. Time Traveller went on.

"Going to a theatre is so enchanting. It means a lot to me. Getting ready, perhaps catching a friend or two. And at the theatre the dark is so mystic and mysterious. I don't try to understand it. Sometimes the open space of theatre...you cannot just put those feelings into words. I may be wrong, but life seems so big there. Not so small as in the small screen."

"But they have big screen TVs too."

Time Traveller smiled.

"There you are. You just proved my point. Why do they enlarge the screen? Because people need to see it much bigger. So no wonder going out is very much preferred above anything else."

"You want me to quit watching TV?"

"Now you have to understand this. I don't call it an idiot's box. You can watch whatever you like. It gives you education and various other things of entertainment. But remember just ones thing."

"I know," Javika chipped in. "Life is so small there. I keep it in mind father..." Javika fell into thought for a while, "the next time I sit in front of a TV."

- Sachi