Hi.
My CAT classes have picked up pace, forcing me into a cramped schedule comprising of my college work, project work, research work and CAT work. It was on one such occasion, that i witnessed a scene , which made me rethink of life.
I was walking on the roads of Sec-Bad in the early morning. Time was nearly 6.17 am, my class was at 6.15, and my ambulatory movements gave me no comfort. Further still, it was drizzling, and i had to duck under a few sheets of paper.
Imagine the empty roads, the steady drizzle, the occasional cycle passing by , and a cool morning breeze. It was enough to make my day bright. As i was nearing my institute, suddenly there was the most ferocious growling noise i heard. Not a single growl, but around 6 dogs , baring their teeth and growling at something.
I was rooted on the spot, trying to decide something. The canines had not spotted me yet, or made a move. They were busy growling. I was almost about to take another path, sighing , as i was already late. Menace of the dogs is quite common here, but today it seemed threatening.
After all, what is more scarier on the roads than a pack of mad dogs at your heel.
Suddenly i heard a human voice amidst those harsh sounds. I wondered how brave the person was, who braved the dogs. I got back my courage , and started walking briskly, fully alert and focused only on the road in front.
Now even the mutts saw me approaching, and it was a do or die situation. I wanted to nod at the brave dude on the road, and looked sidewards.
SHOCK of my LIFE !!
It was a blind old beggar , walking randomly on the street, unaware of the dogs till he came close enough. Now he was also scared like me, probably even more, and was frantically kicking his legs in the air, shouting at the dogs.
The dogs themselves were still menacingly rabid, growling at every motion of the man.
Suddenly one of them came sniffing to me, and my adrenaline was getting pumped up !! I couldnt leave the poor dude for the dogs. I was already late anyway. But if left alone, he was bound to kick one of the mutts and end up being bitten.
I was still wondering what to do, when a milk van came out of nowhere. All the dogs suddenly stopped, and the man hopeessly turned in every direction to get a sense of what was happening.
The driver had apparently thought the man would walk away, but there was no movement from him. All 3 of us were subconsciously aware of an accident that was about to happen in a few moments. Didnt know what to do, so i shouted at the man to move.
No avail.
The driver suddenly turned his vehicle aside, missing the man by a couple of inches, and in the process, crushed a poor mutt under the front tyre.
Gruesome .. I couldnt bear the sight. The driver stopped and started to yell at the man. I called to him and told the driver he was blind. All of us were silent. Even the dogs. All of us were looking at the mutt under the tyres ,, except the blind dude.
There was nothing to be spoken anymore. The blind man continued , kicking in the air, unaware of what had happened. He still expected some dog, and i couldn't bear his helplessness.
It was strange. Should i pity the blind beggar who still kicked in the air.
Should i pity the mutt that lay dead ?
Should i scold the driver as he could have hit the man.
Should i laugh at myself for going there in the first place.