6 December...
every Dadar resident identifies with this day. It is the day every Dadar resident takes an involuntary off. The reason? Ambedkar jayanti. Not that I have anything against his followers,but what they do to my clean, peaceful locality is just plain horrid. Although as a "journalist", I must be tolerant etc, etc about them, I cannot help but force myself to sit at home.
2009 however, was different. I always thought myself to be this strong person, unemotional, detached whenever I choose to be. Little did I know the events of that day would change how I saw 6 December. I was in my room when I happened to look at my turtles in the tank. While I thought they were sleeping, obviously since it being their hibernation period, one was strangely still. Since the shock I felt at that time is still indescribable, I'm going to just make this quick and say that Pilli, as we lovingly called her, had passed away. As if this was not enough, I had to do the heart-breaking task of telling my sister who does not even live in this city anymore.
In the evening, dad and me had to do the toughest part - burying her. The best place would be the beach, dad said. For those who do not know, on 6 December, the main road near my house is shut to accomodate all the people who come from all over the state to pay their respects to Dr.Ambedkar. One can therefore imagine the crowd (not to mention the noise, the filth, the stench and what have you). This time, I did not feel a thing.
We set out, dad holding her, me just walking, which was nothing short of a miracle considering how numb I felt. We walked out on the road. All the noise was muted, the roads empty and the air nothing but a vaccuum. This is how it feels when you lose a pet.
No.
This is how it feels when you lose love.
PS: Rest In Peace Pilli...
