Oxford online dictionary defines Human as "showing the better qualities of humankind, such as kindness", but today I realized that even though I have this so-called kindness within me, I cant claim to being a human as I cant do anything to exhibit it, meaning there is no course of action I can take as its effect. Is feeling pain for others is human, or doing something to alleviate this pain is human; for every animal feels the pain of others, even a dog attacks anyone assaulting his owner.
The case in analysis is of a person who saw a feeble dog which was unable to walk, eat or drink anything. maybe it got injured in a fight with other dogs or some vehicle ran it over, but it was not in a position to do anything other than lying and seldom howling as it felt the pangs of pain striking through its body.
As the dog was lying at the doorsteps, the guy felt it was his duty to remove the dying dog from the way, lest he may not be able to sleep in the night by its continuous yelping of pain. He tried to shoo the skeleton away but with last few gushes of strength, the dog leapt towards the boy to keep him from touching itself, now afraid of all living things. That was a tough nut to crack, thought the boy as he ran inside to get something to restrain the fighting dog. Somewhere in his heart he wanted the dog to run away on his feet as he was feeling pity for the creature, but he had a more important task at hand:- protecting his home from getting soiled. As he went inside, he heard the ring of telephone. The fruity conversation with that someone special soon made him forget what he had come for. The time passed by and he got busy in another chore.
Few hours later when he realized that it was time to have a look at the beautiful evening, he saw that someone had already moved the dog to a nearby piece of empty land. With relief came the mixed sense of emotional distress at the condition of the canine. He wanted it to regain life. He tried by getting a piece of bread for the dog, but decided against it as it looked in no condition to eat and this may abet the ants or another beast towards the helpless creature. He could just manage a piece of jute bag to save him from the chilly night. Not able to do anything else he resigned towards his home with a heavy heart. Soon the love of sports and glamor of tube made him forget the whole episode and he went to the bed with his earthly problems.
As the cool morning breeze swarmed his face and the rays of light illuminated his face, he returned to the spot half-hoping to see the dog dead, but to his utter disbelief and dismay, it still had signs of life, albeit no energy left to convey the grudges it had with the world. The only other sign it was alive was the continuous trembling body, the panting tongue and half closed eyelid. He came back to find that he was unable to eat anything as he was witness to the most gruesome sight of his life. This time he could hold himself back and hurried towards the phone. As he found the phone of his dad engaged, who was the only source of guidance or information he had, he ran back with some bread and vegetables to try to keep the destitue and exposed dog alive till he could arrange some help. He stopped in his tracks as he looked at the site in front of him. Nothing had crushed him more than the sight in front of him till date. There lied the poor animal without any movement, any sound, any life.
The dog had died.
The character is me and the feeling I am having right now is of utter disgust and disappointment towards myself. It feels like I am being squeezed in the stomach. Writing this story is the only way I could make myself keep my tears from coming out.
