Wasted Moments

He runs frantically up the dark, steep wooden staircase. As he reaches the top, he sees a glimpse of his grandmother on the terrace through the crack of the wooden door. With her hands on her hips and a stern expression, she watches as the servant climbs onto a caged structure built against the wall, and retrieves a worn tricycle that was deemed a 'noisy toy'. As he flings the door open, and leaps onto the terrace, he is horrified to see his beloved toy being brought down. He watches aghast as the servant guiltily places the trike on its side and reaches for the axe. Breathing coarsely, he searches for words of pleas, but manages to only grumble incoherently. As the woman turns around to scold him, he limply returns inside...
He suddenly awakes from the reverie. His father is talking slowly with his grandmother.. They are at her house.
As he gazes at his grandmother, now 70, he is struck by the fact that she no longer has a stern face. He does not remember when the transition took place. Her memory has failed her now. Every month he visits her at her house. Every time, she gleefully stretches her arm for a hug as if she has not seen him in ages. And every time, he gropes for an emotion that should be there. But he feels nothing. He feels guilty that he is devoid of any feeling for her. He has nothing to give to her. How can that be?
The room is so stifling. He does not know whether it is because of the guilt or the angst that time kills everyone. Life is limited. Later in life, he will have to face vapid expressions on his grandchildren, if he gets to live that long.
He steps out to the small balcony. Through the kitchen window of the house facing him, he sees a small unkempt girl playing with a dirty doll as her mom is busy preparing for supper. He has a sudden desire to spend some time with the kid. But he knows that it is absurd. With a heavy heart, he reaches for a cigarette.
Suddenly, he hears a distinct snort. It seems to coming from somewhere below. And it felt so close. As he peers down to see what it was, he feels a gush of hot breath on his neck. He jumps back as he sees the head of giraffe eyeing him critically. Stunned by this unexpected visit, he watches as the giraffe speaks to him "Pardon me, but where can I find some vegetation?" Without waiting for a reply, it turns around, and puts its head through the window into the kitchen where the child was playing. It tugs at the woman's green sari. Not quite stunned, the woman hits the animal with her spatula, who retreats hastily. She then tells the giraffe "This dinner is for my family. If you want some vegetables, go to the next alley- people sell vegetables there." The giraffe thanks her and leaves.
The child spots the boy in the verandah, and comes to the window. She now looks glowing, and she seems to be wearing a spotless white dress. "You must be new around here", she says, "We get a lot of giraffes. Would you like to play with my doll?". As she says it, she climbs on the window ledge, spreads her wings, and flies over to his side. Then she offers her doll to him.
When he takes the doll and looks at it, he sees that the doll is himself. In a choking panic, he sees that he now cannot move his body at all.
The child takes the new animated doll from the immobile boy, and tucks it in her frock pocket while he watches in vain, his life stolen. As she prepares to fly back, he notices that her backside is all black and dusty. He realizes that he will have to wait for his father to come get him, which might be a pretty long time. He does not even want to think of how in the world could he be restored, if at all. And as she turns her head to wave at him, he notices that her eyes are sad.