The 5th leg

I had gone to the local market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. I had stopped near a farmer who was selling fresh fruits. I was picking up the apples that I wanted to buy. While I was carefully examining the apples I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I thought it must be a friend or a relative who wanted to speak with me. I turned around to see a man. This man appeared to be someone from remote village. He had covered his head with a white cloth making a traditional pheta (traditional way of wrapping a cloth on head). He was wearing a kurta with dhoti in traditional way. This man appeared to be in his 50s. I had never saying this man in my life and I did not even know him. I could not understand why he tapped on my shoulder.

I looked at him angrily and asked him, "why did you touch me? Should I hand over you to the police? Do you not know not to touch anybody in public?" I was furious because I do not like being tapped or touched by anyone, especially by a stranger.

He folded his hands to apologize, "sorry madam. I am a poor farmer. I needed help. I did not intend to make you uncomfortable. Please do not call the police".

I decided to mellow down because he did not appear to be a man with bad intentions. Plus I was in a public space so if I needed help I have hundreds of people around me who would come to help me. I asked him, "what kind of help do you need? Don't ask for the money"

He said, "I have my cow here. She is not yet fully grown. She was born with 5 legs. The doctor in the village said that this 5th leg will not be troublesome. When she was young it never troubled her. But now she is growing and it looks like that leg is hurting her. Her back is becoming purple. Village doctors did not understand so I brought her here to the city. I heard that there is an animal doctor in this area. Will you show me where the clinic is?"

The man had made his request clear. Behind me I saw that a cow was with him. She did not look a fully grown animal. She had a lake protruding from her back, which I knew was a congenital anomaly. Her back that was white throughout at turned reddish purple around the fifth leg. To me it looked like the 5th leg was either infectious or it had been the beginning of gangrene. I was sad to see the sorry state of the cow. She was helpless and uncomfortable. She was trying to shake her back again and again as if that would shed off the extra leg. She definitely was in pain and needed help. Looking at her condition brought tears to my eyes. By this time my anger had completely melted away and it was replaced with sorrow and empathy.

I was neither or doctor nor a veterinary physician hence it was not up to me to diagnose. But it was up to me to lead the man and the unfortunate cow to the vet nearby. I guided the man to the clinic. He thank to me and said, "may Gaumata bless you".

I accepted his blessings with happiness as well as sorrow in my heart. I prayed that the cow would find an appropriate cure for her discomfort and wood return the village in a healthier condition.