The meat of the eye

  In a dense green forest, there once lived a Tiger. His arms were strong, eyes calm yet so penetrating and had a unique combination of black stripes. Even though he walked swiftly, his presence was always felt by the monkeys on the trees, the birds in the sky, the reptiles in the pond and the rodents in their holes of darkness. A certain vibe of authority and steadiness would reflect upon the ground that he set his paws on. All alone he had the same hunting routine and would spend most of his time on a rock at the edge of a small hill that where he would look over the canopy of the forest.

One day as he marked his territory, there was this certain scent he picked up. A scent his sharp nose never picked up before. As he tried to follow the scent and he spotted firm marks of paws on the wet ground. They belonged to someone of his own kind he realized. Feeling aggressive he went back to his sweet spot on the rock on top of the hill. Licked his paws and flexed his muscles, all ready for a fight. He climbed down and walked towards the flowing stream of a river. As he walked with his head up high he smelt that scent again. The paw marks were there, and his adrenaline was pumping. As he quietly moved towards the stream and hid behind a tree he saw another tiger. He realized she was a female tiger or a tigress. He opened his eyes wide and saw the tigress drink from the stream. He stared as if that was the first tigress he had ever seen. Her beautiful brown eyes, her thin long tongue scraping a part of the water from the stream, the way she gulped down slowly and how she was unbothered of any threat ahead. He kept looking at her, until then she felt his presence. She was ready to lunge back but he simply was hit by shock and ran away as if he saw a ghost. The monkeys were confused too that day, what could have made the tiger run for his life? He went and hid inside his cave and stayed there the entire day.

Each day he would go to the stream when the sun was over head and she would catch him lurking behind the trees. One day he went to the stream and she wasn’t there. Searching for her his eyes scanned through the waterside. A sudden thud from the bushes and there she was, right behind him. His heart was in his mouth and he did not know what to do so he ran like he never ran before unearthing small plants right from their roots. He went into his cave thinking he lost her and sat there in darkness. Suddenly the tigress enters the cave and sleeps at the entrance. He is scared but why he asked himself? He is way stronger than her, but her eyes… the night went by and both were in the same spot. Her occasional yawns would alert him but nothing happened. She went away for a hunt and he left moments after her. As skilled as he was it was just a matter of time that he caught his next prey. A full grown Sambar deer’s life was hanging in between the tiger’s jaws. Then the tigress arrived. The tiger dropped the deer and stepped aside. Too bad the deer was no more, and she started biting off his prey. He roared with anger but stood his ground, she didn’t pay heed. Finally he got the courage and started eating off the deer’s torso, still on high vigil. Two tigers feeding on the same animal at once was quite a rare sight indeed. They ate and sat next to each other with their bellies full, then went to the stream and got themselves rehydrated. After that she went to the other side of the stream. The cycle of meeting her at the river side would continue.

They started having playful fights like they were cubs. Two full grow adults behaving so immaturely, splashing water and holding each other down for brief moments. Even if a single day would pass where one of them wouldn’t come to the stream the day wasn’t complete and the nights even longer. They began hunting together and filling their bellies to the brim. Two days passed and the tiger never showed up at the stream. Worried sick she kept looking for him, unfortunately because of the rains he couldn’t be traced easily. She spent the night at his side of the river and took walks every hour. A loud moan she heard and ran quickly towards it. There he was under a rock. It appeared that his favorite throne of a rock fell because of the rain and he was crushed under it. Only half his side was visible. As he helplessly moaned he knew his bones were crushed and would no longer be able to live for long. She pushed away the rock with all her strength but yet it appeared like as if her tears were moving it. She licked his wounds and ran towards the puddle nearby. Filled her mouth with water and dropped it on his tongue till he was replenished. Later she caught a rabbit and brought it to his mouth, he could barely stand and his beautiful skin was now covered with red because of constant bleeding. He moaned and roared with pain, none of the animals were at peace. She hugged him by her paws trying to comfort him. He looked right into her eyes and he passed away as if it was an honor to die beside her…

Preshit...You are a real man

Yeah yeah, I know am never done with my self praise. So I was feeling a lil off a few days ago and I happened to read my own blog posts saved in draft. I kept smiling through the entire process of reading my own words. How life has changed so much in a matter of months. I was lost a year ago about career choices and now all is stable. That's how I thought about writing a lil today, to be a lil expressive. Not many friends to share you know.

So a few random times I have this thought. What is the mark of a real man? I've had more than a couple females who I have been close to, not all confessed about their love but there was one thing in common. They all said, "You know you are different. Not like other guys. You are a real man." On counter questioning that statement I never really got a proper answer. The more recent one explained it from her perspective and I didn't understand much. Well... To see darkness you need to see the light first. Contrast is necessary for an absolute experience.  A certain "brother like friend" was sent to me. I always was there for him and thought he was just such an innocent child. Poor guy, he is so lost and always drowning within his low self esteem. Until one day! We both were in the same situation. And looking at how he responded in a typical way how an insecure person woul...blah blah blah...basically he back stabbed me. I saw a contrast between his and my actions. Both were hiding something, but I revealed it to save someone which guaranteed me future misery and he revealed it to drown me. Aahh what men have you created father?

So whats the mark of a man? A true man? Money? People can be born rich. Strength? Not cool when I use my strength to kill someone. Intellect? Not cool when I use that to manipulate people. Then what is? A mark of a true man is his morals. He will never shy away from the truth and what is right. If he knows what is right he will never ignore it. As Kakashi Hatake said " To know what is right and choosing to ignore it is a mark of a coward." A real man defends and protects people around him at the cost of his own being. Maybe thats why she said so. I've always kept my significant one's ahead of myself. It has put me through alot of pain but hey I can live with myself when am lonely. I can look me in the mirror and say I'm a good person. Few mistakes I've made but never ignored the truth. I guess thats why she said...Preshit...you are a real man.