1 May 2026
All rights reserved by the author
A dog that had not been seen for a few days came back to the same area near a small shop.
It didn’t walk straight in.
It stayed at a distance first—watching, as if checking whether things were still the same.
After a while, it moved closer.
No excitement. No noise.
Just a quiet return.
Someone noticed, placed a little food nearby, and stepped back.
The dog waited a moment, then came forward.
Slow, careful.
As if returning required a little time.
There is something familiar in that.
Not every return is immediate.
Sometimes, we come back to places, people, or routines with a little hesitation—carrying small gaps of time in between.
But the return still happens.
And often, that is what matters.
Tonight, there is something simple to hold.
Not everything needs to restart loudly.
Some things continue quietly—right from where they paused.
And sometimes, that is enough.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati, Assam, India
Instagram: @rajatchandrasarmah
YouTube: Converse With A Smile
musingofrajat.wordpress.com 