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📌 Warning: Animal Deāth
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Prisoner No. 704 was sitting on the cold floor, his back was resting against the iron cot, and the Indian Penal Code IPC book was lay open beside him. He already memorized this book word for word, because they made him read it every day to make sure he understands that if he took a wrong step then wrong consequences is waiting for him. But they never provide him with the Prisoner's Rights book.
His prosthetic hand was resting on his knee, but his left hand was occupied, and busy cupping gently around a small, scrawny rat nibbling at a piece of roti he secretly hide for his dear little guest.
"You are that hungry? Eat slowly." he murmured, watching the rat's tiny paws grasp the roti while its whiskers twitching. The rat is gray with patches of missing fur. It paused and looked up at him with beady black eyes, as if understanding Rutvik's words.
Prisoner 704 let out a small laugh, and reaching out to nudge and pat the rat's head with his human thumb. The rat didn't even flinch; it just kept eating, as if it were comfortable with 704's presence and touch.
Six years inside his cell, and only rats visits him. They are his only visitors, hoping to get some food from him, and he never lets their hope die. Not a single rat has ever left his cell with an empty stomach.
The guards always make fun of prisoner 704, saying that the rat and his fate are the same: get caught and be caged in iron cages, then wait to die.
The rat finished its meal and went up his left forearm, starting to sniff at the fabric of his sleeve. 704 remained still, allowing the rat to move freely. This was not the first time; over time, the rat had learned that his cell was safe unlike the other prisoners, 704 didn't try to crush the rats under his foot or chase them away.
Suddenly, the door rattled as a guard passed outside, and the rat tensed. Prisoner 704 gently tapped the rat's back with his finger. "Go. Before they see you... they might hurt you." He whispered.
As if it understood, the rat went down from his arm and disappeared into a crack in the wall. 704 watched until it was gone, then leaned his head back against the cot and exhaled slowly.
