NEXT DAY

The morning was murky. It seemed that the Gods have decided to test Akapat too early. He sat by the fire and watched the tiger snore.

He looked at the sky. It was filled with dark clouds. They seemed to be furious and eager to make rain. Suddenly a thunderclap resounded with conviction and woke up the entire forest. There was an instant cacophony as the crowd began to caw and wolves began to howl.

Here they go again, the tiger spoke as he woke up and opened his eyes.

It is scary, Akapat said. His ears were tucked between his knees. Are you not scared of the thunderclaps?

Well, the tiger spoke as he got up and stretched himself, i am old, and i have never seen an animal die because of a lightning strike. But, yes i have seen many die of fear.

Then, Akapat said, taking his head out from between his knees, is fear a bad thing.

Yes and no. The tiger said, still stretching his body. Fear makes you weak when you have all to loose, yet it makes you stronger when you have something to preserve. It’s like fire. It can warm you and burn you at the same time.

Why do you always reply Yes and No simultaneously, Akpat asked, standing up.

Because, the tiger replied, there are always two possibilities. Always. And the life is about making choices. If you see things with a singular perspective, you may end up making a decision that was never to be made.

It took a while for Akpat to absorb this. Though he was still unclear about the meaning of what the tiger has just said. He, then looked at the sky and asked the tiger.

Will it rain?

Yes it will. Sooner than later. The tiger spoke as he scanned the sky with confident eyes. All these dark clouds, he continued are ladened with rain. And like all of us they also don’t want to carry the burden.

Burden! Akapat remarked. What burden do the clouds carry anyway.

You have to be a cloud, Akapat, to understand the burden they carry. They carry the burden of hope of all those wanting the rain and simultaneously they carry the burden of disdain of all those who want sunshine. I guess it’s not easy to be a cloud after all. If you rain too little you break hearts, if you rain too much you break homes. That balance, my boy, that balance is the most difficult thing to find.

Akapt kept staring at the tiger with admiration.

And before it rains, the tiger continued, we should start our journey. We also need to find some shelter where we can stay while it pours. It’s not a good thing to get drenched, while we can stay dry.

But, Akapat asked, which direction should we walk to? The mist has obscured everything.

That is the decision you will always have to make. Life, for most of its course will remain opaque. No matter how much we assume the control it will always treat us with uncertainty.

Your answer isn’t really helpful, Akapat said with disdain. I still can’t figure out where to go.

Close your eyes and orient yourself with what you saw before you slept. You will find the way.

Akapat, instantaneous closed his eyes and figured the night under the bright sky. He realized he was sleeping under the tree which faced the sea of green. If he draws a line form the rock where the tiger sat, and connect it to the tree, it will extend all the way to the sea of green.

He opend his eyes and remarked in excitement, i think I have found the way.

….

Do you know, man cub, the tiger asked that we often take the road which we never intend to walk.

They had hardly moved any distance from the tree when Akapat found a trail. It was a well beaten path with prominent foot impressions. He decided to walk on it and the tiger quietly followed. Thereafter, they had been walking in the silence for quite some time.

Did you notice that the track had footsteps only in one direction, the tiger continued.

Akapat, paused for a while and looked down intently. The tiger was right. None of the footprints on the trail returned back. Then he looked at the clouds which seemed at the verge of a rain. He could even smell it in the air.

You are right, he looked at the tiger. But first we need to find a shelter from the rain which is about to hit us.

That’s wise, the tiger said with intended amusement in his voice. But man cub, he continued are we sure that we will find a rain shelter along this path.

I guess there is no certainty that we would have found it along any path. Or rather we would have found any path at all.

I am impressed, the tiger said, his tail dancing in the air with joy, you do seem to have found a way.

Well, Akapat replied, whether we find a rain shelter of not, we have moved ahead and the rain would have hit us even if we stayed near the tree. We have certainly made some progress.

How do you say we have made some progress. We don’t even know where does this trail leads to. The tiger asked.

Well, no one ever came back from this route, it means it certainly lead to a place from where people don’t or don’t want to come back. Akapat said.

Or is the that this trail is so challenging that people who cross it never take it again. The tiger quipped. But of course that only time can tell, he continued.

Suddenly they were caught by a torrential downpour without warning. The rain obscured their vision and brought them to a grinding halt.

There goes the rain shelter, Akpat shouted over the noise of rain.

There goes the fear of getting wet, the tiger replied. And both began to laugh.

Soaked and splashing they deliberately walked along the beaten path until it began to disappear in the flowing water.

Drenched in pouring rain, hungry and tired, they found themselves in the middle of nowhere.

Are we lost, the Akapat asked.

No, we have just found ourselves. Now we will discover the world.

…

The rain stopped as abruptly as it started. As the fog cleared out, Akapat realized that they were in a bowl. There were hills on all sides and there seemed no way out.

Flow with the water, the tiger whispered.

Akapat looked at the tiger and dutifully stated moving in the direction where little streams of rain water flowed.

They had hardly waked for a few minutes when they saw a hut in a clearing. Seeing that,so many emotions hit Akapat at the same time that he was overwhelmed. He felt excited and scared at the same time. He was happy yet he was mad. He felt he wanted to cry, no he wanted to laugh.

The tiger sensed the change in the mood. How close we are to what want yet we don’t reach it, he said it gently. Distances, i guess are a measure of will than the way.

Akapat felt that he has just been rescued from the reverie that haunted him. He looked at the tiger and asked, who lives there.

Well why don’t we just find out, the tiger said.

What if he has a gun? What if he shoots at us. Akapat felt apprehensive.

Fear, man cub, kills more truth than the lies. No one actually knows what lies on the other side of the hill. We have to go and experience it. That is for what i guess you left your home. And the tigers don’t bother about the guns. We can roar loud enough to shake the hands of the man aiming at us.

Cautiously, they entered the clearing and walked through what looked like a plantation. Trees, neatly planted in a row lead to the hut in a symphony. However, the passageways in between were taken over by wild grass, which grew in unkempt directions. The fallen leaves gave the scent of an early onset of autumn.

A thick hedge separated the house from the plantation. Slowly, they waked inside what looked like the remnants of a gate. Inside, the flowers beds were taken over by wild dandelions. The house appeared to be dilapidated with its doors and windows consumed by time. However, the roof remained intact.

Are we lucky or unlucky? Akapat asked.

Neither, we are just incidental. We happen to be here at this time. The tiger replied..

Who comes! The tigers reply was cut by a shrill bark …

I can smell a human and a tiger, the voice continued

Then, you must be able to see us too, tiger replied, or is that you are scared of me

I am blind and i fear nothing, a dog walked out from the house.

It was a dog of the size of a sheep. Its coat looked dirty with hues of yellow and brown. Akapat noticed a little limp in his walk

What are you doing here? The tiger asked.

I am kartvya, the dog replied. This is my home and i am waiting for my master.

Has your master gone somewhere, Akapat asked.

Yes, he died, Kartavya said with despondency in his voice.

Don’t you know that those who die don’t come back. The tigers spoke with dismay.

I know, i am not waiting for him to come back, i am waiting to die and be with him in the heaven.

….

She is Smriti. Kartavya said, wagging his tail. I smell her presence around us.

Akapat and the tiger stood in what would have been a bed room. A skeleton stared at them from the bed, on which it sat with its back on the bed post. It was covered upto its torso by a worn out quilt.

Akapat was aghast. He had never seen death so close.

The tiger sensed it and gently wrapped his tail around Akpat‘s wrist. Was she sick ? He asked Kartavya.

I guess she was. She stopped eating and drinking and moving around. Then one day she became cold as a stone. But she kept sitting hear and waiting. Kartavya replied.

Whom was she waiting for? The tiger asked.

I have no idea. Kartavya replied. Actually, we never spoke. She kept me cared for and loved. She always fed me in time and always ensured that i am dry and warm. She also bathed me sometimes. You know I am blind, but I still see her kind eyes watching me.

Akapt and tiger heard his story intently.

So you keep her cared and loved now. The tiger asked.

Yes, i keep her warm and dry. Kartavya spoke. That is what I can do. And when i am able to hunt something, i get it for her too. I know she doesn't eats but I love sharing my food with her.

Akapt felt his words seeping deep into him. Suddenly he felt that he was not scared of death. He found it beautiful, beautiful because of the aura of love he saw in Kartavya.

Can I ask you a favour tiger, Kartavya asked. Will your human friend have a look around and tell me something about Smriti. I want to know more about her before we get back together.

Oh yes, yes Akapat replied, waking up from his stupor.

You know human, Kartavya continued, i was born blind and was abandoned my litter to die. I would have certainly become food for some fox or civet if she would have not brought me here. She was everything for me, my mother, my friend, my teacher and it is so unfortunate that i don't know anything about her.

Yes, the tiger said, you don't need to know about someone you love. You love everything they are and you love everything they will be.

Akapat looked around and wondered from where to start. The walls were blank. There were no pictures and no photographs. The room just has a bed , a table and a chair and a wooded box. He walked up to it and found it locked by rusted lock and chain. He tied to pull it loose but it did not budge.

There is a key to it. Kartavya spoke, She keeps it on a chain around her neck.

Akapat looked at Smriti, who was now reduced to a skeleton. A golden chain with a key dangled around her neck.

Kartavya, the tiger spoke, if she never spoke to you, how do you know her name.

I don’t know her name. Kartavya replied. It is what i call her. I don’t know where i heard it , but I liked the sound of it. Human, did you find the key.

Yes I did, Akapat said. But …

He is hesitant to take it from her, the tiger continued. Where he comes from, they not used to be friends with skeletons. Give him a while ..

It’s making me a bit uneasy, Akapat said.

I understand, Kartavya replied. Even I am not easy to her being called a skeleton. She is all I have and she is everything. And there is no way I can change the way she is.

The tiger slowly walked upto Akapat who was frozen by the bed side. Fear, he spoke looking into his eyes, if you have to, those who are alive. Those who are dead bring you no harm. Take a deep breath and take out the key.

What if we don’t, Akapat asked. Let Smriti be unknown.

You have a point there, Kartavya replied, you can decide not to. But please consider the request of this old dog at least.

Akapat felt that those words were infused with pain. He looked at the tiger and then in an instant he walked upto Smriti and took out the chain from her neck. Please forgive me, he said and walked up to the old box.

Then he sat on his knees and opened the lock, which gave way after a token resistance. Having removed the chain, slowly he opened the box.

The box was empty but for a faded photograph. On the reverse of the picture something was written in a language Akapat did not understand.

….

Kartavya sniffed the empty box and then sniffed the picture in Akapats hands. Akapat could feel disappointment running through his body as a shiver.

Can you tell me something about this picture? He asked Akapat.

It is an old picture. Akapat said, looking at the picture. Something called black and white, means it has only two shades. It has faded to quite an extent but I can still make out a happy woman with a kid and a dog. There is a mountain in the background, which I have never seen and there is a house with flowers in the flowerbed. It is something very similar to this house, but this house is not here.

May I have also a look, the tiger said. Shoving his noose in between. I think I have seen this hill somewhere. Let me try to recall.

Where was it ? Kartavya was curious.

I think it is on the other side of the green sea. It takes a lifetime to travel from there to here. And in between there are cities, teeming with hungry humans, who will tear you apart for food, entertainment or both.

How do you know? Both, Akapat and Kartavya asked in a chorus.

Well to cut the long story short, I was born not in a jungle, but a circus. The circus travelled to many places. This was one of those.

What is a circus? Kartavya asked.

It is a jail when man feeds you for entertaining him. And when you can’t entertain him, he kills you and sells your skin. The tiger replied.

Are all men bad, Akapat asked with disappointment in his voice.

No, no not really. Some are very good. The tiger said. If it was not because of a good man, I would have died in the circus. But that story later, right now, we should find some answers for Kartavya, shouldn’t we.

What can we do? Akapat asked the tiger.

Well I can see there are more rooms. We can look into them. The tiger said.

Good idea, Akapat said, let me first lock the box again and return the key to Smriti.

That is so nice of you, Kartavya said, as he licked Akapat’s hand. But all other rooms are empty other than the fire room. There Smriti used to cook food for us. It has firewood and some things to start the fire with too.

Akapat locked the box and gently replaced the key along with the chain on Smritis neck. Then he followed the tiger as they went around the empty rooms. A disappointed Kartavya walked away and sat at the door where he was sitting and waiting.

As they entered the fire room, they were invited by an overpowering smell of dampness. The room was stacked with the wood. The bag could have been filled with food sometime were consumed by time. Mushrooms of several kind grew in abundance. There was a fire place and a skillet. Some metal tools were also neatly arranged.

Outside the window of the fire room, there was an overgrown kitchen garden. Akapat walked up the window and saw it was filled with sweet potatoes, tomatoes and barley plants. He could also identify several rows of chives growing in a cascade. A tiny stream traverse the kitchen garden from one end to the other.

I think I can put a meal together, he old the tiger.

Well yes, if you can start the fire again, you can. The tiger smiled. But please don’t add mushrooms to it. Dogs are allergic to them.

……

The fire crackled in the courtyard and Katavya, tiger and Akapat sat around it, watching the sun go down.

Will you find the mountain and the house for me. Kartavya asked Akapat.

I can’t promise you, but I will try. Akapat’s voice was filled with emotion. You see Kartavya, he continued, I don’t even know where am I going.

Now you do, the tiger said. Something is better than nothing.

And how will I reach there, he asked the tiger.

Same way like you have reached here, Kartavya replied.

Well, we reached here by chance, Akpat replied spontaneously.

Or by destiny, Kartavya said. For so many years now, after Smriti has gone, I had prayed to the god to send someone whom I can hand over this quest.

You mean that dogs also pray. Akapat was astonished.

We tiger also pray, the tiger said, warming his paw.

Do we have the same God, Akapat asked. Like a dog God with tail and a tiger God with stripes.

Well I guess, Kartavya said, that all Gods are the same. It’s us who see them like the way we want to. Your walks on two legs, mine walks on four.

Makes sense, Akapat said. Gods must have also evolved with us. I am sure when our ancestors were monkeys, even our God must be having a tail, and he would be living on a tree.

But I believe that the God actually lives inside us, while we search him outside.

No he is outside, Kartavya said. I always smelled him around Smriti. I still do.

Kartavya, Akapat asked the dog. Now it is kind of decided that we will travel to find this house, are you joining us.

I want to, but I won’t be able to. Kartavya replied. This is my last night. Tomorrow morning I will be dead. I have a last request to make. Can you please burry Smriti and me together in this courtyard at the place where the first rays of the sun touch tomorrow morning.

Nonsense, the tiger roared, no one knows when he is going to die.

No my dear friend tiger, please understand. I have waited for this day for ages now. I don’t know when another man will pass this way. If I die in between who will take care of Smriti. Both of us will be consumed by time and we will never meet. He had tears in his eyes. Everyday is a burden for this blind dog, who spends his time win prayer to the God, yours, mine, his everyone’s, that make me one with Smriti. Now you are here I know my prayers have been answered.

That’s unfair, Akapt retorted, that is cruelly unfair. We have just become friends.

And so shall we remain, man cub, Kartavya said. What has friendship to do with being alive or dead. If you are friends, you are friends forever, like Smrit and me.

See i see the logic, said the tiger, but the word death makes all of us uncomfortable. Something or the other dies every moment. A flower, a leaf , a butterfly. And at the same time something else is born. It is a cycle like day and night. But still death makes us uncomfortable.

But can we choose our death, Akapat asked the tiger.

Not at all, the tiger said. It would be being unfaithful to live. We live till we live and when we die we die. And someone keeps the dead alive in their memories.

And I will be alive in yours Man cub, Kartavya said.

I admire your sense of gratitude, my friend, the tiger said to Kartavya. The man cub cooked you the best feast of your lifetime and you thank him by scaring him. You should rather let him sleep now. You like it or not, we are taking you with us tomorrow morning. Now all of us should sleep.

I will keep the watch, Kartavya said. Both of you should sleep.

Hahaha, the tiger laughed. I never ever thought, even in my imagination that a day will come when a tiger will sleep on a dog’s watch. Trust me my friend, no predator comes near where a tiger sleeps.Good Night.

………Kartavya sniffed the empty box and then sniffed the picture in Akapats hands. Akapat could feel disappointment running through his body as a shiver.

Can you tell me something about this picture? He asked Akapat.

It is an old picture. Akapat said, looking at the picture. Something called black and white, means it has only two shades. It has faded to quite an extent but I can still make out a happy woman with a kid and a dog. There is a mountain in the background, which I have never seen and there is a house with flowers in the flowerbed. It is something very similar to this house, but this house is not here.

May I have also a look, the tiger said. Shoving his noose in between. I think I have seen this hill somewhere. Let me try to recall.

Where was it ? Kartavya was curious.

I think it is on the other side of the green sea. It takes a lifetime to travel from there to here. And in between there are cities, teeming with hungry humans, who will tear you apart for food, entertainment or both.

How do you know? Both, Akapat and Kartavya asked in a chorus.

Well to cut the long story short, I was born not in a jungle, but a circus. The circus travelled to many places. This was one of those.

What is a circus? Kartavya asked.

It is a jail when man feeds you for entertaining him. And when you can’t entertain him, he kills you and sells your skin. The tiger replied.

Are all men bad, Akapat asked with disappointment in his voice.

No, no not really. Some are very good. The tiger said. If it was not because of a good man, I would have died in the circus. But that story later, right now, we should find some answers for Kartavya, shouldn’t we.

What can we do? Akapat asked the tiger.

Well I can see there are more rooms. We can look into them. The tiger said.

Good idea, Akapat said, let me first lock the box again and return the key to Smriti.

That is so nice of you, Kartavya said, as he licked Akapat’s hand. But all other rooms are empty other than the fire room. There Smriti used to cook food for us. It has firewood and some things to start the fire with too.

Akapat locked the box and gently replaced the key along with the chain on Smritis neck. Then he followed the tiger as they went around the empty rooms. A disappointed Kartavya walked away and sat at the door where he was sitting and waiting.

As they entered the fire room, they were invited by an overpowering smell of dampness. The room was stacked with the wood. The bag could have been filled with food sometime were consumed by time. Mushrooms of several kind grew in abundance. There was a fire place and a skillet. Some metal tools were also neatly arranged.

Outside the window of the fire room, there was an overgrown kitchen garden. Akapat walked up the window and saw it was filled with sweet potatoes, tomatoes and barley plants. He could also identify several rows of chives growing in a cascade. A tiny stream traverse the kitchen garden from one end to the other.

I think I can put a meal together, he old the tiger.

Well yes, if you can start the fire again, you can. The tiger smiled. But please don’t add mushrooms to it. Dogs are allergic to them.

……

The fire crackled in the courtyard and Katavya, tiger and Akapat sat around it, watching the sun go down.

Will you find the mountain and the house for me. Kartavya asked Akapat.

I can’t promise you, but I will try. Akapat’s voice was filled with emotion. You see Kartavya, he continued, I don’t even know where am I going.

Now you do, the tiger said. Something is better than nothing.

And how will I reach there, he asked the tiger.

Same way like you have reached here, Kartavya replied.

Well, we reached here by chance, Akpat replied spontaneously.

Or by destiny, Kartavya said. For so many years now, after Smriti has gone, I had prayed to the god to send someone whom I can hand over this quest.

You mean that dogs also pray. Akapat was astonished.

We tiger also pray, the tiger said, warming his paw.

Do we have the same God, Akapat asked. Like a dog God with tail and a tiger God with stripes.

Well I guess, Kartavya said, that all Gods are the same. It’s us who see them like the way we want to. Your walks on two legs, mine walks on four.

Makes sense, Akapat said. Gods must have also evolved with us. I am sure when our ancestors were monkeys, even our God must be having a tail, and he would be living on a tree.

But I believe that the God actually lives inside us, while we search him outside.

No he is outside, Kartavya said. I always smelled him around Smriti. I still do.

Kartavya, Akapat asked the dog. Now it is kind of decided that we will travel to find this house, are you joining us.

I want to, but I won’t be able to. Kartavya replied. This is my last night. Tomorrow morning I will be dead. I have a last request to make. Can you please burry Smriti and me together in this courtyard at the place where the first rays of the sun touch tomorrow morning.

Nonsense, the tiger roared, no one knows when he is going to die.

No my dear friend tiger, please understand. I have waited for this day for ages now. I don’t know when another man will pass this way. If I die in between who will take care of Smriti. Both of us will be consumed by time and we will never meet. He had tears in his eyes. Everyday is a burden for this blind dog, who spends his time win prayer to the God, yours, mine, his everyone’s, that make me one with Smriti. Now you are here I know my prayers have been answered.

That’s unfair, Akapt retorted, that is cruelly unfair. We have just become friends.

And so shall we remain, man cub, Kartavya said. What has friendship to do with being alive or dead. If you are friends, you are friends forever, like Smrit and me.

See i see the logic, said the tiger, but the word death makes all of us uncomfortable. Something or the other dies every moment. A flower, a leaf , a butterfly. And at the same time something else is born. It is a cycle like day and night. But still death makes us uncomfortable.

But can we choose our death, Akapat asked the tiger.

Not at all, the tiger said. It would be being unfaithful to live. We live till we live and when we die we die. And someone keeps the dead alive in their memories.

And I will be alive in yours Man cub, Kartavya said.

I admire your sense of gratitude, my friend, the tiger said to Kartavya. The man cub cooked you the best feast of your lifetime and you thank him by scaring him. You should rather let him sleep now. You like it or not, we are taking you with us tomorrow morning. Now all of us should sleep.

I will keep the watch, Kartavya said. Both of you should sleep.

Hahaha, the tiger laughed. I never ever thought, even in my imagination that a day will come when a tiger will sleep on a dog’s watch. Trust me my friend, no predator comes near where a tiger sleeps.Good Night.

………