to feed dahi chawal on i boarded the air india flight and in the at most cosiness of the seat fell into the pool of memories i reminded myself of the day krishna got his story upon roudie ldquomay i come inrdquo published on the toi app and tears propelled down as i finished reading it i got reminded of the way we had got him into the house how we had to quarrel with every other inhabitant of the flat to keep him with us roudie had changed our lives indeed he had become a lucky charm of the house who filled happiness all around with those glittery eyes and subtle movements of him i know how he had become a vital part of the house and even a minute without him would feel like living in a vacuum i closed my eyes smiling eagerness to get home could not let me sleep but i still relished this bitter and extended pause to reach home i finally reached my home town coimbatore that sullen morning from chennai coimbatore was dark today though rarely it does it was covered with a canopy of an indistinct blackish cloud i took a cab to home i did not want to call or inform anyone and rather reach home surprising everyone in that 45 minute drive to home i quickly made myself up for a happy and joyous reunion and interpreted various responses or reactions i would do when amma would open the door i was terribly happy i was also scared if roudie would recognise me how he would respond would he lick or bite or would he jump on me as he usually used to i finally reached the mangrove enclave apartments i dumped all my smaller baggage onto my huge trolley bag and dragged it to the lift and went on to the third floor there was a very rare tinge of horror that occupied the walls of the corridor i found the flat door open there were many people there inside predominantly the ones who knew us very well all were silent and immobile and stood silently facing the other side of the entrance door and then i saw that which rattled up my whole body it was roudie on a small carpet he lied immobile like dead he wasnrsquot dead but was breathing large gulps of air and his whole rib cage moved ferociously as he stumbled to breathe tears gushed out my eyes i cried lsquoroudiersquo he just moved his head in a very peculiar fashion it seemed as if he had lost his vision and could only respond acoustically i threw my luggage on the floor and knelt down to touch and with that touch of mine he took his last breath he closed his eyes smiling it seemed to me as if he died out of contentment of showcasing his love towards me days have rolled by and still we all live in vacuum a