On a particularly gloomy morning, I woke up to find myself
on the big bed. A litter of clothing and a large bag occupied the space next to
me. Rain pelted down outside, sliding down the window pane like tears.
We rushed to the airport for a long and hard journey to
India. I gathered this was no vacation from conversations overheard and the
urgency of the trip. Reaching our destination across the other side of the
globe, I sat forgotten in a room. I observed many people walk in and out of the
room, muffled cries through the night, quiet conversations, and plenty of hugs.
I gathered that a tragedy had befallen the family, in the
extended family we had cruised with, and a sadness set in into my folds. One
early morning, before the sun rose, I found myself stuffed and dragged into a
car, into a train, and then into another car. By midmorning I found myself
sitting on the banks of the mighty river Ganges, surrounded by the mystical
mountain range, the very impressive Himalayas.
Getting back into the car, we travelled toward a cleaner
part of the river and crossed to the other side on a swinging bridge. Monkeys and
langoors swung from cables and ropes around the bridge, unperturbed by
the fast flowing current beneath them. They jumped from cables to trees to the
bridge as if putting on a show for everyone on both the banks and for those in
between. As we dodged donkeys and motorcycles and massive amount of human
traffic crossing over to the other side, a light rain began its pitter patter
gradually increasing its intensity. My family rushed to take cover under a peepal
tree across the bridge.
As we huddled under it, a beautiful calf joined us under the
canopy of the leaves. He pushed its way in, joined our small group and stood
tall and proud among us. His light brown coat shone on his young skin and
stubbles of young horns sprouted on his head. He nuzzled his way in further
into our group as we all became fascinated with the beautiful, friendly and innocent
creature. My family fed it guava they had carried for the journey from their
tree at home, they took pictures of the calf, for which he posed and modeled
charmingly, and then they christened him. They named him BOB. It was
then I began to ponder, what if I had a name. I guess that question will remain
with me for a long time to come.
to be continued...
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