Out on a Limb

This was one of those insignificant incidents, which a person is bound to forget. Or simply ignore.

You know, they say that... A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience.

It was late evening. My temperature had suddenly soared to some weird number, and having no other option, I went to the local doctor. He treated people in his house and everyone had to wait in a room while a person was inside.

There were some newspapers on a table and a few chairs here and there. There was an iron bench in the corner of the room.

There were seven of us: An old lady, in an old white saree. It was obvious that she was a widow. Then there was this couple, who were talking to one another in hushed tones. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but all the same, I wasn't interested. The fourth person was a lady, with a bored look on her face. She was probably accompanying her daughter, who had dark circles under her eyes, and coughed a lot. It was obvious that she considered waiting for the doctor a nuisance. And then, us - me and my dad.

Whilst I was waiting, I saw a man walk out of the shawdows. I sneaked a glance at him, and was horrified to see that he had only one leg, and badly damaged crutches. No one accompanied him, and it cost him a great deal of strength to move even a single step forward.

The old man. Yeah... he had a very stony look on his face; it seemed to me as if he hated life. He probably had no one to care for him or look after him, maybe thats why he looked so lonely.

He wore a tattered dhoti and a shirt. He limped to the pole, rested for a while and then entered the room. He knew it would be real hard for him to get up if he sat down, so he remained in an upright position. The old lady, seeing all this, and overwhelmed by pity, simply told him that he could go next; she would wait. She was truly helpful. His expression remained the same, and even though he dint show gratitude, I could sense it. Maybe. Not.

I pitied the guy so much; he seemed grief-stricked, but somehow seemed to have hardened himself, jus like a coconut shell. His face showed NO grief or pain, jus a strange loneliness.

Ironically, the couple hadn't even noticed him. They were still talking, in the same hushed tones.

The woman and her daughter were, in plain words, horrified. The lady was appaled, because she was probably a huge snob who did not want to see some poor old guy in a clinic.

*distorted views*

While all of us were waiting, the old man himself started speaking to break that eerie silence. "The doctor gave me some medicines; you know, those 'high power' ones. Their side effects must be the cause of my illness", said he. She nodded, and smiled a quiet, understanding smile.

Finally, some person came out of the room and the old man slowly trudged in. He didn't come out for a long time. Everyone outside was getting restless, especially the lady. She shot a "its-because-of-you-that-I'm-getting-late" look at her. The old lady was smarting under her angry gaze. She quickly took a newspaper and pretended to read it, to hide her embarrassement.

After some time, the man came out. the woman stood up, and walked inside before the old lady could. The old lady just sighed and sat down again to wait.

The couple was still talking. I'm sure they hadn't the slightest idea of what had been happening all this time.

The old man, walked out, givin a disgusted look to the lady who whipped past him. I watched him slowly limping away into the darkness.... till the faint outline of him leaning on his supporters vanished.

The old lady went inside as soon as the the other lady came out. Shortly afterwards, I went in.

The couple had to be Asked to go inside, they were so engrossed in their conversation.

Afterward, while walking back to the car, me and my dad, we saw the old lady knocking on a green door. The place had a haunted look about it; it was deserted and... forlorn.

The man was nowhere to be seen.

So yeah. I never saw the man again, and probably never will. But... there was this look on his face... this haunted look that I'll never forget.

Even though two years have passed since I saw the old man, I can still recount ever little detail accurately.
Its been etched in my memory. Literally.

"I cried because I had no shoes. Until I saw a man who had no feet"



P.S.: to be edited n improved upon.