By: Tabassum Chowdhury
It was raining incessantly. I was weighed down by my soaked denim jacket. The worn-out shoes could no longer bear the constant battle with rainwater so I abandoned them. My hair was a tangled mess and no one would be surprised if birds were feeding on it. Out of all the seasons, the monsoon season was the worst. It was the time of the year when food was scarce. During this timeless people would hang out at the cafeterias and hence not many leftovers. The noise of the falling rain combined with the growing growling of my stomach deafened me.
Right after passing another food store with a bolted gate, I caught glimpse of something gleaming in the distance. I wanted my mind to remain stuck to the idea it was a mirage. It was a freshly baked bread, a scrumptious delight that made my mouth water. I was not the only one who was fascinated by the soft golden meal. I picked up the loaf, the size of my shoe, and tore a small crumb. Even before it made its way into my mouth my eyes met a pair of sea-green ones fixated on me.
The dog felt like my reflection, poor, hungry, and alone. Just like my body underneath my drenched clothes, it was shivering feverishly coated by its wet fur. I began tearing off crumbs from my loaf and in a moment the dog would savor it. I was so caught up in serving the animal that I let myself starve. Eventually, there was nothing left from the meal to satisfy my own hunger. The depth in its eyes radiated such innocence and generosity, I was glad that I gave away my share of the bread.
Ten years later, it was monsoon but this time I was not soaked, I had an umbrella to protect me, proper shoes with soles and no holes. My denim jacket did not weigh me down and somehow my clutch bag felt heavier. But there was something alarming about the atmosphere. After a while, someone grabbed my hand and seized my bag. Just when the second person was about to reach my neck to snatch away the necklace, I heard a high pitched shriek. A dog bit his ankle and it was not just any dog but the dog who ate my share of the bread. The two of the robbers left with empty hands and painful legs. I greeted my old pal with a warm hug and was beyond happy to find a friend in return for bread.
Note: The moral behind this short story is that humans and animals are capable of a reciprocal relationships. Even then animal abuse is a global concern. Rabies is a fatal disease spread by dogs in about 150 countries. But the disease cannot be an excuse to relentlessly kill them. The right method to fight against rabies is adequate vaccination and educating the citizens more about this matter.
(Image from here.)
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