Welcome home, Manzil!
It was around 8 o' clock in the morning. A soft toy,wrapped up warm in an orange cloth, cradled in a small cardboard box, arrived in an ola taxi with Irene and her friend Lakshmi. When I saw Manzil from the first floor of the house, it looked cosy and luxurious. What a pompous way to arrive, I thought as I looked down with excitement.
Only on closer looks, did I painfully discover his injured body and the paralised legs.
Irene and her friend were kind enough to rescue and bring it home.They found the pussy meow meowing out of pain, near their hostel premises on a rainy night two days ago. Seeing the helpless cat, they carried it to their room. My sister should be writing about Manzil because she is the reason why Manzil is here today and probably alive now. Since they couldn't keep the kitten at the hostel and couldn't possibly abandon it, Manzil was relocated to a safe place, where it need not have to live in fear.
Of course Strauss was apprehensive and is still confused about the "meow meowing" from the cardboard box. He stretched up his fat body to steal a glance at the pussy cat. And he went wild when we tried to feed Manzil and pet him. Amma gave special instructions to give extra care to Strauss, lest he would turn green with envy and die of a heart attack!
Manzil reminded me so many things I was unaware of. He showed me how painful and hard life can get. He made me realise that it was sheer destiny if I enjoy a life that is not miserable and heart wrenching. And more than anything, the fact that the world can get really really harsh at you, no matter who you are.
The open wounds on his body with the puss oozing out, the repugnant smell of the rotting skin, the helpless meow, the desperate longing to push the legs forward and move, the numb right leg and the dead tail. Hardly two months into this world and so much of pain! I could only feel the bundle of bones when I lifted you up. The rib cage pierced my hands and heart.
But the gentleness of your pale green eyes has the charm of a thousand stars, and the hope of a better life! That's why you are Manzil for us. Thanks to Amma for choosing the name, though the justification she gave was quite interesting. She thought it blends with monsoon, and I think that the sound rings with the music of rain..the season which brought Manzil home!
Only on closer looks, did I painfully discover his injured body and the paralised legs.
Irene and her friend were kind enough to rescue and bring it home.They found the pussy meow meowing out of pain, near their hostel premises on a rainy night two days ago. Seeing the helpless cat, they carried it to their room. My sister should be writing about Manzil because she is the reason why Manzil is here today and probably alive now. Since they couldn't keep the kitten at the hostel and couldn't possibly abandon it, Manzil was relocated to a safe place, where it need not have to live in fear.
Of course Strauss was apprehensive and is still confused about the "meow meowing" from the cardboard box. He stretched up his fat body to steal a glance at the pussy cat. And he went wild when we tried to feed Manzil and pet him. Amma gave special instructions to give extra care to Strauss, lest he would turn green with envy and die of a heart attack!
Manzil reminded me so many things I was unaware of. He showed me how painful and hard life can get. He made me realise that it was sheer destiny if I enjoy a life that is not miserable and heart wrenching. And more than anything, the fact that the world can get really really harsh at you, no matter who you are.
The open wounds on his body with the puss oozing out, the repugnant smell of the rotting skin, the helpless meow, the desperate longing to push the legs forward and move, the numb right leg and the dead tail. Hardly two months into this world and so much of pain! I could only feel the bundle of bones when I lifted you up. The rib cage pierced my hands and heart.
But the gentleness of your pale green eyes has the charm of a thousand stars, and the hope of a better life! That's why you are Manzil for us. Thanks to Amma for choosing the name, though the justification she gave was quite interesting. She thought it blends with monsoon, and I think that the sound rings with the music of rain..the season which brought Manzil home!
I'm sorry that the world was cruel to you. I'm sad that you bore so much pain and fear at the start of your life. I hope you will live to see the joys of the world, and I'm glad that we got you on a Ramzan day.
Eid Mubarak!
Eid Mubarak!
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