The chase

I don't know what was I thinking. I wish I knew what was I doing. Actually doing nothing. Sitting on the bench of bus stop, I was doing nothing except for gazing at the cars, buses, drivers, vendors, pedestrians and drifting in the silence hidden behind the facade of honking, screaming, yelling and screeching. It was an hour or so may be. My friends called me crazy and insane. It was one month past my divorce and my lost job. They think I still haven't let that quite sink in me. But the truth is I am in a maze or in some sort of hallucination may be. I don't think about any of them. I don't remember seriously where was I then and who am I now. But when all this existential crisis seems to be choking me, all I do is come and sit on this bench at this bus stand with a blank mind. When I get back my senses, I spare a few minutes wondering how many faces are real souls and living a real life bla bla bla.

Today was one such day of just another days. But something suddenly happened. Exactly what, I couldn't figure out myself. I was not that blank like previous times. A cat- white fluffy cat with pink ears came and sat at my feet. She looked at me with big bright brown eyes, meowed once and without anyone noticing suddenly got into the bus. And me without much consideration, decided to follow her. Yes, I was following a cat. I stared out of the window for one second and immediately turned around to make sure the cat didn't leave the sight. I travelled for good forty five minutes I think. It must have been the fourth or third last stop when the cat got down. And so did I.

She took a left turn from the main road into a super- crowded market. It was like a labyrinth in a treasure hunt. I had to keep up with the running cat and simultaneously save myself from the huge physiques who were pushing past me in that narrow lane. The chase there went for five minutes I guess and I ended up at a t- joint. No sign of the cat but here I was, in an unknown part of the city. I took out my phone to check the map and know the name of the place but it was blank. Battery had died long time back. I at least knew where the bus stop was. I just had to walk down that market street. Yet, I was totally engrossed in that self made mini meaningless adventure. I took out a coin from my wallet. Heads- left, tails- right. I flipped the coin and head it was. It was greenish and serene colony with all blue doors. I kept on walking and walking but neither a cat, nor a dog and nor any birds I could see. It was just me in that eternally hot summer afternoon invading an arcane and long lost corner of the city.

The second thing which had caught my attention that day in my expedition was a bright danger-red color door amidst all sky blue doors. I stood still in front of that door gazing at that red color. The vibrant energetic color and yet it gives you such negative vibes like "caution: you are about to enter a dead zone. I was just about to leave when the door was opened with a noise. An irritated senior citizen opened the door and snapped, "Are you a trespasser? You better not be because I am gonna kill you myself." I struggled for words to come out. "I was not trespassing, I.... I..... just that...." "Just that what? I have not got the whole day for your non sense?" The old man snapped back. "I was just..." I again started saying something, a sound appeared from somewhere, "Meow.... meowwww!" My white fluffy cat!

"Heyyy, my kitty! Where have you been? I looked for you every where. Dare you again leave me like that." The man took the cat in his arms and started stroking it. And then he looked at me, but this time with a smile. "You brought back my cat. I am so sorry I snapped at you like that. It is the only thing I have in this world. Thank you!" He said many more things which I never listened because I was busy computing if it was fate, coincidence and if I have just saved myself from getting killed and now I was totally desperate to throw myself on my couch in my home. "Heyy, would you like to come inside and have a cup of coffee or tea?" "No thanks, I should just keep going." I bid him farewell and came back without going anywhere else.

It is a secret which I have kept hidden in my voids that a cat gave me such a nice adventure. It got me killed and also saved my esteem, all at the same time. And what I still think about this entire thing: just keep walking on whatever street or lane it is. Don't stop, don't look back and return. There is always a door at the end of every such lane which will open only to gift you good things, good time and good memories.