I lived in a particularly eclectic city after my masters. It was while I was battling and accepting the failures that seemed all encompassing in my life. The zoo here allowed people to walk around for free without tickets from 6-am to 9-am.
I availed this escape from the grey bustling narrow roads lined with prickly sun-burnt bushes only twice.
This was a bubble constructed with a canopy of trees palming the skies, winding paths, ponds and wooden bridges. The air smelt crisper, with a sprinkling of marigolds and daisies. The path under my soles somehow softer. Strollers here were surrounded by bright green with the cool morning, purple, yellow tones peeking through the leaves. Walking along one would sight elephants, rhinos, giraffes, a lion mid growl, mating leopards and much more. The enclosures jumping out at you while you meandered along this enchanted path.
Unfortunately, the sun would shine brighter as the walk progressed. A lot of things would come in sharper focus that seemed magical in the sleepy dimness; The stunted rhinos that looked at you with trapped lethargy, the unreal giraffes that reached the grey clouds hanging below the city sky, the elephants chewing dismissively at their food. It seemed I had found a kinship in my sadness, a companionship of helplessness. Except I had chosen to lock myself up in my prison and their crime was unclear to me.
The air was still crisper, the paths greener and the walk 100 times better than anywhere else in this unique dusty town. But it somehow felt better to take 15 rounds in the colony park. The most wildlife you saw here was crows, caterpillars and rats. Its air, well it had 2 spots that anyone walking through would hold their breaths for, but It was easier to breathe here than in the zoo full of sad eyes.
