The Rodent (Anu)

The train rumbled along it's tracks, rattling everything in it's vicinity. The old man tossed around in his old blanket, but his sleep was not disturbed.

After spending almost half his living in the train station, a mere local train wasn't going to disturb his sleep. Huddled up in a corner with his few worldly possessions, which included a raggity quilt, a few clothing items, and an iron pendant(of which he was particularly protective of) and a sturdy pair of sandals, the old man was definitely a pitiful site. 

However, he considered himself quite lucky for having cover during the rainy season-provided by tin roof over the station, considerable warmth during the winter season and enough resources to survive. 

Every morning he took out his walking stick and walked along the platform or on the streets outside, looking for work. Sometimes he would help the passengers unload their luggage, other times some acquaintance of his would hook him up with some odd job. He was well-known to the people who frequented the train station, they liked his lively manner and his oddball sense of humor.

After a particularly tiring day, the old man returned to the train station. There was an unusual rush at the station, the loading and unloading of luggage was going on the whole day. His back ached and he longed to lie down. 

As he sat down near his usual place, he heard a rustling noise coming from the pile of newspapers kept near his quilt. Curious to know what was there, he shifted those papers around and a tiny, furry head with beady eyes peeked out. With it's snout in the air, it sniffed around the old man's hand, but did not bite him- which surprised the old man. Cautiously he stroked the head of the rat, which the rat graciously allowed. This rat's behavior astonished the old man. After all, the various encounters he had with different kinds of rodents usually were violent and ended up with the rodent dead. The rat felt a little braver and jumped out of the newspaper pile, to settle down on the old man's quilt. He let the rat stay there, thinking it would be gone by the morning.

As the sun shone down the next morning, he was surprised to find the rat still lying on the quilt, looking peaceful and serene. He got up and washed his face, going about his daily routine. The rat didn't move, so he left it there. 

After going about his day, he came back to the train station and settled down at his usual place. Again the rat came out and settled next to him. This routine was followed everyday- the rat came out at night and slept on the quilt with the old man- and the old man just let it be there. Slowly, he began bringing the rat some food and water. Sometimes he treated himself to some pav bhaji or vadapav, only to save some of it for his rodent friend waiting at the station. Any bread based item was divided into two parts, one of which was pocketed for his furry friend. The rat was grateful for the food, and the old man was grateful for the company. 

He hadn't realized how lonely he was for all these years, returning to the almost empty station with no company at all. But now the rat provided him with some entertainment, jumping around his legs and rolling about in his quilt. They definitely enjoyed each others company.

One day the old man returned to find the rat lying down and not moving at all. Alarmed at the sudden change in his once active friend, he picked it up and tried to give it some water. The rat didn't move much , nor did it accept the water given by him.

The old man knew something was wrong, maybe the rat entered the kitchen of some dhaba and they put out rat poison for it, maybe it was some kind of pest control scheme initiated in the station.

He felt absolutely devastated. The rat was now not moving at all. He picked it up and put it in a small shoe box- he had been saving it because he knew this day would come some day, not so soon though.

The old man picked up his things along with the box and trudged out of the station.  Dragging his feet as he walked, he knew that he would not be coming back there. He had to leave the station, the memories it carried were too painful to remember