i have seen him suffer for quite sometime now. the first time i saw him, i knew he he was not like the others. he was quiet most of the time, not a lively sprite and kept to himself. he could never look at you or anyone eye to eye. he seemed to be in his own world minding his business. if you happen to cross his path as is wont t happen often, he would step aside but not before being startled by your presence. he would not notice you until you are really close to him.

i didnt enquire much about him and just let him be. seeing him hurt, someone volunteered information. he had come here soon after tsunami and apparently contracted some disease on his way here. That explained the wart like eruptions he has all over his body. sometimes i wonder if he doesnt socialise because of his looks or is probably not allowed into a social circle because of the same.

today as soon as i came i saw him suffering. he was breathing with great difficulty and his whole body convulsed painfully at every breath he took. tears stung my eyes as i saw him taking what is probably the last few breaths of this life. being of the philosophical bent of mind, i tried to console that it was just the body parting this world and that he was paying for his karma but that wouldnt stop the remorse i felt witnessing the decay of a body. i can hear his cries even now and he has not stopped calling out for help from morning. i can imagine the pain he must be feeling.

we called the blue cross to take him away, for he was just a street dog. for if he had been mine or anybody else's, he would have been taken care off long ago. And here i am trying to believe that, deep down no one is a stranger to the other. Am i fooling myself?