She was alone, completely drenched, shivering very badly, frozen and stiff. It was pouring down very heavily. I quietly went and stood besides her, holding my umbrella, covering both of us from the unseasonal rain. She didn’t mind that. I had been seeing her around for quite few weeks now. I couldn’t take my eyes off her when I first saw her. Her small, but dark brown eyes were so expressive. I would look towards her adoringly and often she would stare back at me, which would give me a “sense of recognition”. I had tried to approach her on more then a occasion, but she would always retreat back. ‘why was she so petrified of me?’ It would irk me then. I remember once I was almost at a hand-shaking distance, but then I saw her mother who was right there along-side her, which scared the hell out of me. So our association never went beyond looks and stares. Today was the ideal opportunity to break the ice.
And then she collapsed ! The weather had taken it’s toll on her. Without thinking for a second, I took her up in my arms and rushed home. Mom opened the door, and not surprisingly, was shocked on seeing the unexpected guest with me. “Are you out of your mind ? ” was her instant reaction. But then, looking at the semi-conscious living being in my arms, who was still trembling profusely, she understood the whole situation. As I entered, mom asked me to lie her down on the sofa. Soaking a piece of cloth in hot water, mom placed it over HER fore-head. I sat there just watching her silently, and trying to figure out what was it about her, that made me feel she’s my responsibility. Slowly, she re-gained her consciousness completely. And as she opened up her eyes and looked around, she panicked for a few seconds before she saw me sitting besides her. I could make out that she felt comfortable on seeing me around. While having her lunch, she was not at all ashamed of flaunting her whole-some appetite for the potato sabzi & dal-rice made by mom that day. ‘What about her mother?’ and I thought so. ‘She must have been so worried and concerned for the where-abouts of her child by now.’
I wanted her to be there with me for some more time but for her mother’s sake, I decided other-wise. How I wished it rained for some more time. She’s so very … Wait ! where was she ? Well, I never realized when she had got up and walked towards our balcony. I didn’t know for how long she had been standing there looking out towards the rain. But I wasn’t going to lose this moment and grabbed my camera immediately. With the background of dark clouds, drizzling rain, some greenery and herself being in the foreground standing rock-steady, the described picture-perfect image remains the best one in my collection. Once done with that, I enjoyed the view, standing along-side her. Unconsciously I put my hand over her, and she didn’t mind. She wasn’t petrified of me anymore. A small spell of rain can work wonders. The moment lasted for, maybe, just about a minute or so, but it remains one of the most cherished moments till date. One look from mom and I knew she wanted me to drop our guest back as soon as possible. With a heavy heart, I decided to follow my mom’s order.
I dropped her to where I had picked her from … Her mother was there, waiting. She didn’t even growl or bark at me. She knew Angel had been taken good care of. Yes, I named her Angel. My bonding with Angel is something beyond words, and literally. Cause we never spoke with each other and yet we spoke !
Since then, whenever I go out for a walk, I always make it a point to carry ParleG biscuits, Angel’s favourite. Often I see her near our Society Complex, sometimes outside the Grocery store, at times sleeping on the foot-path, but mostly I find her .. at the same spot where I had picked her from ! And I don’t know, each time, whether I find her out or she finds me.
