November 11. “Button, I saw a beautiful sight on my way back from the suburbs this afternoon.”

“Would you like to tell me about it?”

“Without doubt.”

“Then, tell me.”

“I saw this old, toothless and grey women with at least a dozen plastic bags spread out in front of her and about 15 to 16 cats all going meowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww and eating off her hands. It was an amazing sight.”

“What was she feeding them?”

“I don’t have a clue but it was only happiness that lit up her weathered face as she sat on the pavement feeding them.”

“How do you notice these things? I would have missed such a sight.”

“Simple observation. This is one more thing Dost has taught us. When the family goes for drives, he always tests our powers of observation by asking us questions on what he always observes along the way. His observation powers are very strong. When he was an editor, his subs had nicknamed him Mr Hawk Eyes because not an extra comma or full stop or the lack of them would go past his observation.”

“The aged lady you mentioned must be having only those cats for company!”

“Seeing her I was reminded of the bag lady in New York whose possessions fit into a single bag which she carries around wherever she goes.”

“Musafir hoon yaaron, na ghar hai na thikana…

Mujhe chalte jaana hai, bas chalte jaana…

This song comes to mind again while talking about these ladies. They too have no home or address to go back to!”