Siva Was Hungry

I was on my scooter, heading to see Swamiji.

It was early, around 8 a.m.

The day before, I’d stopped to feed a few puppies.

Something in me knew I needed to go back.

So I pulled over when I spotted one of them again and started feeding it.

Soon, the others came too.

Then suddenly a crowd gathered.

About ten people, just standing there, staring.

Who knew a white guy covered in tattoos feeding street dogs would draw such attention?

Out of nowhere, this guy walks up, tries to scare one of the dogs away.

The dog backs off, startled.

Then the man picks up the dog food and starts eating it.

“Oi!” I said, stepping toward him. “That’s his food. Leave him alone.”

He looked shocked, stepped back, and wandered off.

The dog cautiously came back and started eating again.

I stood there, stunned.

I’ve never seen someone eat dog food before.

Then another man walked up, smiling.

He pointed at the food, asking if he could have some.

“Okay…?” I said, unsure.

I handed him some.

He ate it, beaming, and gave me a thumbs-up.

I didn’t know what to say.

So I stood there in silence while the four dogs ate.

A woman and her daughter approached.

She looked at the scene and asked, “What’s the meaning of all this?”

“Of what?” I replied.

She pointed at the dog food.

The dogs.

The crowd.

I looked at her and said, "This is Siva. That’s Siva, that’s Siva… and that one behind you, that’s also Siva.”

She turned to see a little puppy staring back at us.

“Siva?” she repeated, confused.

“Yes,” I said. “Siva is hungry. Siva needs to be fed.”

She couldn’t grasp it.

She saw dogs.

I saw Siva.

I said goodbye, hopped back on my scooter, and rode on toward Swamiji.