A Little Lizard Story

 

One fine day, when I opened the main door of my flat, suddenly a little house lizard entered in. In my hometown, house lizards are a common scene, but in a residential flat in a big city, I never had a lizard around. Seeing the lizard get in, the first thought that came to my mind was, “what is she going to eat (since there are no insects in the flat)?” Panicking, I knew each moment was important, hence I rushed and brought in a broom with which I tried to guide the lizard out of the door. The lizard was trying to hide behind some objects, but she saw the open door and hence went out. I immediately closed the door. The whole thing happened within a few seconds, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

After I settled in, the thought returned to my mind that my first reaction seeing a lizard in the house was not to rush it out but a worry about what the lizard would eat? The lizard was sure to be starved if she stayed in, and hence I had to send her out before she hid. This little worry about the lizard made me understand my struggles with empathy.

A little amused, I once again opened the main door and this time, there was no lizard around. Once again, a sigh of relief.

- Rahul