WITNESSING a mother about to die, stomach torn, lying on the road crying for help…is a scene that I will never forget. The memory of how it happened is still a fresh stain in my mind. I was afraid to look when I saw her collapse, not able to stand up. Teardrops of sorrow and helplessness were the only expressions I knew my face read. August 5th, my family and I were on our way home, coming from the late Tarawih prayers, at around 20:25 hrs (8:25 pm). When my father, Mr. Roshan Khan, stomped on the brakes, nothing but fear rose.
I clenched the seat before me so that I would not fall forward; it seemed like a blur of hooves running across the road. Squinting because of the poor road lighting, I finally saw what caused my father to press the brakes – a tiny herd, not more than about twenty feet before us.
Glass from the minibus breaking ahead shattered across the street, horses ran everywhere but still tried staying together – all but one.
Caught under it was a female horse, brown, struggling to stand to her feet, her mane making whip-like motions in the air as she struggled. My father parked our bus to the left of the road and left the vehicle to see if the minibus driver was okay. Sitting in our vehicle, I cried bitterly in fear to turn around to look at the wounded horse.
On the opposite side of the road, I could see her family staring at her, helpless too. How would you feel if you saw your mother, even sister, literally ripped open on the street, knowing there was not a thing you could do to help her? Not one hand could you lend to pick her up and take her for aid.
There are two ranges at fault – the government and the owner of those horses. Whatever happened to our animal collection force? Did they not create a system in which provided equipment would send daily, even nightly, checks for animals wandering on the road? And how irresponsible could the owner of these horses be? Why, did he just forget where he left his horses?
Reminiscing on the accident I witnessed this evening, revisiting the scene of where it all happened, I cannot take my eyes off her family. Among them was a white horse, and he stood aloof from the others. There was something engaging about his stance, the way he looked in the direction of the accident. Who knows – it could have been her mating partner, the father to her children.
It is good that the administrators of this country care about bridging gaps between various countries and spend valuable treasury towards time on trying to create unity amongst people by turning their slogans into actions. Yet, it cannot be realised that any angle of creating unity starts from within a being, developing it to reach the standards of any international country.
But, how can a country develop if its own systems cannot be run as tasked?
A nation is also judged by the way it treats it animals. If a system has been set in place in which animal patrols should be made, let the system ride its duty! If there is no licensing for animal bearers, create it!
Animals are life too! They have feelings – and value! They contribute to our country being recognized as tropical, and our country defines us for who we are. I implore the government to keep with their word and the systems they create…because, be it a being with two legs or four, a mother will forever be a mother.