It was a regular, boring day at work - I and two other colleagues (MM and BV) were standing at a roadside tea stall talking about how much we hated our jobs and boss. Suddenly, a dog appeared from somewhere and started barking in our direction. Now, I am really scared of dogs and seeing this one barking away furiously at me I started to run (yes, run!). MM (the animal lover) who was standing next to me stopped me and said something really profound – ‘Niti, don’t be scared of this dog. It won’t harm you unless you harm it. In this world, humans are the only animals that harm without any reason.”

I came back to my desk and kept thinking about what MM had said. I wonder if we humans actually hurt others without any reason. I believe in ‘karma’ and if I have ever wished to/ actually hurt someone then the same would happen to me. At the same time, I am also wary of people who always ask ‘Do you trust me?’ These are the kinds, I think, who are most likely to cause hurt.

Anyways, after that incident I haven’t stopped being scared of dogs but at least I do not run on seeing one :-)