Coexistence

Sometimes, animals can teach us lessons in living.

- Ramanarayanan S

Ever since they entered the building, where I stay in a 3 BHK flat, the two stray cats had occupied it as their permanent place of stay. Apart from feasting on the rats around the apartment complex, they also enjoy the privilege of getting fed with biscuits and a large bowl of milk by the occupants of the apartments.

As a part of my morning walk around the compound of my building, I have become so used to seeing the two cats running hither and thither that I never paid them much attention.

But today, for some reason unknown to myself, I stopped in the middle of my brisk walk, just to enjoy and observe the two cats happily sipping the bowl of milk left there by one of my neighbors.

One of them came running towards the bowl and after emptying a quarter of the contents, it moved away, allowing the other to have its share. Neither of them exhibited any urgency or displayed avarice nor did they shove one another. Once they had the milk to their fill, they walked away, not even looking at the bowl from which they had just had the milk. They took turns and jumped and ran around the place several times. While frolicking thus, they were least concerned when a flock of crows flew in and emptied the bowl of whatever was left.