Him

By Parul Singh

It was the darkest month of my life because someone left me without saying goodbye. I was frozen. My palms were cold and my heart was heavier. Maybe because I had been crying for over an hour or because of the cold weather, I couldn't feel my tears. My eyes were swollen and I was at my vulnerable self when I met him.

He looked at me with his big brown eyes as he adjusted himself right beside me. We have had met a couple of times before but never interacted or initiated any conversation.

His sudden reaction to my sobbing made me a little uncomfortable but I didn't protest. You see, he wasn't someone ordinary; far from it.

People never stopped talking about him from the moment he came into our neighborhood for staying. To them, he was intriguing and interesting. They never got tired of speaking about him.

That he accompanied them for their morning walks if and when they want him to. That he was all awake, listening to their heartbreak stories. That he was fond of party numbers, random gatherings, and loads of friends. That he loved socializing. That he cherished humans.

Though, he was picky about food and loved the people around him, but he disliked sharing food and never liked when someone watched him finishing his meal. He never shied away from showing affection and care. He was not touched by the art of judgement. He would sit with you when you have failed to get up from your bed because you just don't feel like it.

He would also dance with you when you have given your best presentation even though he doesn't know how to dance!

You see, he wasn't ordinary. His presence and absence both were noticed and affected people instantly.

The other day, mom said that he's simple and one of us - just not ordinary. He is a part of the crowd but far from it. At times, I wondered if he's even real!

I never saw someone appreciating and acknowledging people without being biased. I never heard of someone cherishing people for who they are instead of expecting them to behave accordingly.

Each day, he would find a way to tell people that he's proud and he's going to cheer for them no matter what. He admires things which aren't obvious. He listens. He understands.

The reason why I didn't tell him to get up and leave me with my grief because he isn't ordinary. He might have lost someone because he didn't tell me to cry silently or don't cry on the first place. Instead, he was just sitting there, looking at me, wagging his tail and giving his hand for that's what he does to show that "it's okay."

The reason why, he is someone I look upto till date for he is the one who's keeping our world a little better with each moment if his existence. Introducing you all to my muse for life - my neighbour's pet (jeeno).

By Parul Singh