Rainbow bridge

In the last week the grey cat that stays in my society complex had given birth to 4 kittens. The kittens were discovered by the security guard and another neighbour. All of us had decided to take care of the mother cat and the kittens. Our society security guard had voluntered to take the responsibility of caring for the kittens. We residents had decided to provide the supplies for the kittens to the security guard.

Yesterday I left my home to buy groceries. I decided check with the security guard if any supplies are needed for the kittens. The security guard appeared sad. I immediately realised that something has gone wrong. I asked him if the kittens were ok.

"No need to bring anything madam. Kittens died," the security guard said and I could sense sadness in his voice.

My heart sank. I was shocked. I had no words to explain. I somehow managed to speak, " what happened?"

The security guard holding his tears, " till yesterday I was trying to give them food. Two of them started stopped taking food yesterday itself. They died last evening. The remaining ones did not take any food last night. They died this morning."

I knew that the kittens were taken to the vet who stays in our society complex. I asked, "had the vet said anything about the kittens?"

"Sir had world me 2 days ago that the kittens would die soon," the security guard was finding it hard to speak.

"Did he tell you if the kittens were a sick or had any infection?" I wanted to know why these kittens died suddenly.

"He told me something but I could not understand. He gave some injection to the kittens so that they can recover. But he said that it was difficult for the kittens to survive. He knew that they were going to die," said the security guard trying to hold his tears.

" That is horrible," I had no other words to explain what I was feeling at that moment.

"Ma'am even I knew that kittens were going to die even before sir told me," the security guard whispered.

"What? How? Tell me," I wanted to get to the root of this.

"Immediately after the birth the mother cat left. This happens only when the mother cat knows that the kittens are not going to survive. Mother cats are very protective towards their kittens and the never leave. But if the mother cat leaves that means the kittens would die soon. Cats are really smart," he told me the secret that he had been guarding for a week.

"Indeed they are smart. They definitely know about their litter. Where is the mother cat now do you know?" I had tears in my eyes but I do not want to cry in front of him.

"No she left after the birth and she hadn't return yet. But I think she will come back in a few days. She is deliberately staying away from the disaster. Anyway madam do not worry now. I am sure that kittens are now somewhere safe. They are no longer in pain. They have crossed the rainbow bridge" the security guard tried to console me while trying not to cry.

I left from his cabin. I was in no emotional position to go out. I return home and I cried. Grieving is not only for humans, I was giving for those innocent lives that had been lost.

In the evening when I was standing in the balcony. I saw a bright rainbow. It was brighter and wider than the usual. Somewhere I felt that those four innocent tiny lives were riding on it. Because of their innocence that rainbow was wider and brighter. I prayed to the god that he should open the gates of heaven for those four tiny little innocent creatures.

I closed my eyes for a few seconds to pray. When I opened my eyes the rainbow had disappeared. Maybe the kittens had entered the heaven.