Sunday, January 25, 2015

Pet me, O' Traveller

She walked hastily from college, as the sweat trickled down her temples and onto her earphones. She chose fast songs to keep pace with and dodged the afternoon sun as it followed her through every turn.

It had been a frustrating day. Her alarm clock went off too early, her coffee had burned her tongue, she ran out of paper mid-lecture and the chilled ethanol she added to her eppendorff tube refused to unearth DNA. After shoveling a plate of cold paneer and rice from the canteen down her throat, she made her way to the station. She wanted to return to the unkempt bed she was made to leave so soon that morning.

She brushed shoulders with the humanity that flooded the stairs and platform to reach where the ladies' compartment would arrive. As she folded her earphones into her bag and dug for the book she was reading, she saw the crowd to her right part. Through the sea emerged a brown, four-legged, drooling canine. He headed full speed toward her and jumped up onto her. She caught him in her arms and ruffled his short fur. He was panting excitedly and his face seemed to house a giant grin. His tail was wagging in euphoria; he would take off if it swished any faster. She got down on her knees to pet her old friend- the one who wagged at her sight ever since that packet of Parle-G biscuit three years ago.

The train pulled into the station and she gave his back a farewell jiggle. She got on last and looked wearily behind her. He was trying to get on with her. With a heavy heart, she signaled back toward the platform and unwillingly, he listened.

His nose still bobbing up and down as the train left, she waved goodbye with a smile. Somehow, it's always the furry ones who manage to leave one on her lips.

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