The overhead sun was not kind to the hapless persons and animals on the road. A tree here and there offered some shade but those who were in a hurry did not pause to enjoy the welcoming relief. Imaginch vainly tried to keep the scorching rays at bay with an umbrella so small that it would barely cover the head of a 10 year old. He could not hurry and get out of sun’s domain as he was habituated to closely look at things on the road or taking in the scenery, mainly to spot rash & unmindful driving. This was fodder for him to lecture to a different kind of hapless victims, who gather every evening at the park for a senior citizen’s chitchat.
The search for the agenda weighing heavily on his mind, he did not hear the shout aimed at his ears. A few moments later he felt something hard swipe by his right hip. He was as startled as the cow that almost trampled over him. During that brief encounter lasting a few seconds, Imaginch noticed the worried look in the eyes of the cow as if it had lost something dear to it. Without wasting time, the cow had already run in to a lane emitting a cry of anguish. Even in that situation Imaginch did not fail to find fault with the cow for not having raised that siren before ramming in to him.
This question was far away from the mind of the cow as it was bent upon rescuing the errant calf which had bolted away without permission. The rushing traffic on the road added fuel to its anxiety. Some of this anxiety must have affected Imaginch and he also decided to follow the cow, setting aside the chores he wanted to finish. Like an explorer, he followed the trail of the cow some time loosing track and worrying before spotting it. He began to huff and puff and only the motherly concern of the cow made him to trek along. He closed the umbrella - thinking that it might scare the cow to break into a run as he was nearing the limits of physical endurance.
The strange looks of passersby irked him but ignored them as an unsolicited window shopping. Probably they thought the cow must be trying to escape the tyranny of an old man with a folded umbrella. With a mischievous smile playing in the corners of his mouth, he imagined himself in the role of a milkman chasing his cow.
Imaginch wandered wherever the cow led him and by now his slow brain understood the mission of the cow. He began invoking the wishes of umpteen good Samaritans to rush in and help the cow and calf to find each other. By now, the cow had entered and exited through many lanes and streets as though it had a virtual map in its head, which could easily out map Google.He had a strange feeling that both of them are now in a territory that vaguely appeared familiar. A look at the board displaying the street name confirmed that they have come back to the starting place where he and the cow had met awhile ago.
Before starting the second round, the cow raised its head heavenwards and let out a loud bellow. A few seconds later a plaintive voice answered the call. The angled ears of the cow picked it up and started to run towards the source of the answering calf - mother’s instinct has already confirmed the identity of the responder. Imaginch managed to reach the destination in time to see the calf and the cow running towards each other. The scene looked quite cinematic to him.The calf straight away went for the udder for a dose of nourishing milk and at the same time got a caressing lick along the spine making it to tremble with the tingling sensation.Tears welled in the eyes of Imaginch as he moved on trying to recollect for what purpose he was out on the road and whether it was important or not!
The search for the agenda weighing heavily on his mind, he did not hear the shout aimed at his ears. A few moments later he felt something hard swipe by his right hip. He was as startled as the cow that almost trampled over him. During that brief encounter lasting a few seconds, Imaginch noticed the worried look in the eyes of the cow as if it had lost something dear to it. Without wasting time, the cow had already run in to a lane emitting a cry of anguish. Even in that situation Imaginch did not fail to find fault with the cow for not having raised that siren before ramming in to him.This question was far away from the mind of the cow as it was bent upon rescuing the errant calf which had bolted away without permission. The rushing traffic on the road added fuel to its anxiety. Some of this anxiety must have affected Imaginch and he also decided to follow the cow, setting aside the chores he wanted to finish. Like an explorer, he followed the trail of the cow some time loosing track and worrying before spotting it. He began to huff and puff and only the motherly concern of the cow made him to trek along. He closed the umbrella - thinking that it might scare the cow to break into a run as he was nearing the limits of physical endurance.
The strange looks of passersby irked him but ignored them as an unsolicited window shopping. Probably they thought the cow must be trying to escape the tyranny of an old man with a folded umbrella. With a mischievous smile playing in the corners of his mouth, he imagined himself in the role of a milkman chasing his cow.Imaginch wandered wherever the cow led him and by now his slow brain understood the mission of the cow. He began invoking the wishes of umpteen good Samaritans to rush in and help the cow and calf to find each other. By now, the cow had entered and exited through many lanes and streets as though it had a virtual map in its head, which could easily out map Google.He had a strange feeling that both of them are now in a territory that vaguely appeared familiar. A look at the board displaying the street name confirmed that they have come back to the starting place where he and the cow had met awhile ago.
Before starting the second round, the cow raised its head heavenwards and let out a loud bellow. A few seconds later a plaintive voice answered the call. The angled ears of the cow picked it up and started to run towards the source of the answering calf - mother’s instinct has already confirmed the identity of the responder. Imaginch managed to reach the destination in time to see the calf and the cow running towards each other. The scene looked quite cinematic to him.The calf straight away went for the udder for a dose of nourishing milk and at the same time got a caressing lick along the spine making it to tremble with the tingling sensation.Tears welled in the eyes of Imaginch as he moved on trying to recollect for what purpose he was out on the road and whether it was important or not!
Following a cow in search of its calf is surely a blue cross sentiment. Some could have been arranged to show solidarity with the Sr. Citizen!
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