Blow it Off

Smoking is one of the worst things we can do to our bodies as well as people around us. This story is targeted at children to create an awareness about the fact "Smoking Kills". The balloon here is a metaphor for lungs and human life whereas Blowing off the matchstick is a metaphor to stop the urge to smoke. Unlike the popular phrase "Kicking the butt" this phrase "blow off" reminds the smoker at the right time when he is about to start smoking his next cigarette. As that is the crucial moment when he is going to make a choice between quitting or continuing the habit.

For illustrations I have used cutouts of different types of papers. The story and graphics are original works.

Storyboard

Somewhere in universe there was a small and beautiful planet which was resided by balloons.

All the balloons on that planet lived a very happy and prosperous life.

One day a demon who was passing by came to know about the planet and he became jealous of their happiness. He decided to destroy the unity and happiness of the inhabitants so that he can rule the planet.

The demon plans with his mistress "Cigarette" and their slave "Matchbox" to conquer the planet.

The demon sends the cigarette to lure the balloons of the planets by her attractiveness and hypnotizing aroma and smoke.

The youth got entrapped into her plan and started enjoying her closeness. But as soon as they touched the burning cigarette the balloons got burst and died.

The other balloons got scared to see the bursting incident but they were not able to understand the reason behind that and thought that it was just an accident.

The elders of the society informed the young ones that the bursting is because of the burning cigarette and advised them to stay away prom the cigarette. But the youngsters ignored their advise as they have became habitual of the aroma and the smoke. The elders were clueless about how to tackle the situation.

A young and intelligent balloon of the planet was closely watching the activities of the cigarette and he got an idea to get rid of it.

As soon as the matchstick was about to light the cigarette, He gathered all the air inside him and blew the matchstick off.

As a result the cigarette was neither able to produce the hypnotizing smoke nor able to blast the balloons.

All the balloons of the planet were happy to discover this idea of "Blow off the matchstick" to get rid of the cigarette.

Then they went to the place where the demon was hiding to free the slave Matchbox from his slavery.

A free and independent matchbox helped the balloons to burn the demon.

The day was celebrated all over the planet by lighting Diyas and from then onwards they use the matchstick only to light diyas.