Thursday 16 May 2013

Next Life

Rahi was picked up from sector 4-5 RK Puram, emaciated, he was shuffling, hobbling, ungainly, sickly...don't know where he was wanting to go, what he was wanting to do.

" Hey ma! lookkk, loookkk, let me see him."   " I will not keep him home, check what's wrong"

Handsome black but skin to bones.. i knew he was sick.. 2-4 months old, male.. limping and had fits to the beat of his heart..i knew he was sick, but he should fight.

"MA, come out once!"

I picked him, put him in the car's back seat. Started the car, for home.. On the way he howled for the lack of information, or knowledge or destination or certainty.

Got home, parked the car..Put him on the ground, i knew that he could live or would not.
Drank the milk left the soggy roti...

He will need to stay the night, outside, alone, with his madness, with himself.

Slept off..Last i know, my brother was mopping the restroom floor, he told me that Rahi was resting at the door, beside Muddy.

Morning

Woke up at the sound of my samsung phone, irritating tune but loud and effective.

Washed

"Ma did you meet Rahi?" No, go check.

Rahi was not beneath the building, he was not in the adjacent park, he was not on the terrace.

Rahi was at the Basket ball court, under the low, red cement benches. He still had the fits, his jowls were dry and cringed and lined with caked mud. dried saliva and mud.

Home..stairs.

A small bowl of milk and bread..lapped and clean..good boy, fight fight!

Called friendicoes, asked for doctor, 9:30, Jangpura

9:30
Now the part in which Rahi travels with me in an autorikshaw i will not describe because he what, he wanted to live, he wanted to throw away his dry maddening paranoia, his maniacal virus, frothing thirst. Auto almost 10-12 kms.. face covered with my pyjama cut.

Reached friendicoes, I knew where it was even from outside!

Gave the auto guy ten rupees extra. He helped, swift and without jerks he had made me reach Jangpura. He asked me once, " Katega to Nahi?", i told him what rabies is and what it does. After that he just drove, and got me there really fast.
Good man.

Took Rahi inside, AC, one room 10 * 8 ft room, divided into two, one side admin, one site small clinic with marble tables.

Laid him down, he needed rest, before the rest..

Doctor came, checked his beat, i said rabies, he said distemper, no chance, mercy killing, fill form and go.
I said I want to be.

A fair, broad, wiry man with moustache, wearing a doctor's gown of the best blue color approached.
Rahi was howling, wining, crying, conveying, I don't know!

"Kitna time lagega?" I wanted to ask kya hoga..
Kuch nahi hoga, he said.

Next life Next Life Next Life Next Life. Five seconds

The last warm breath made a last impression on the black marble table.. Next Life boy, fighter.

He was calm, no fits. But he won't close his eyes.

Thank you FRIENDICOES, Pooran, Resham, Doctor Saab, Man in the Best Blue coat, of little words and big work, Cleaner Bhaiya,

For RAHI!! Sob Sob :(