It was a late Sunday afternoon when a black noisy winged creature woke me up. ‘What do you want’ I shout, kaw kaw he replied. ‘I don't have cows’ I say as I shoo it away. I toss and turn on the bed, try falling back asleep but soon accept defeat. I have a severe headache for some reason; I hold my head as I walk out of the room and into the kitchen.

I pour myself a glass of water and take a spoonful of my medicine to mix it in. Gulping down the bitter water I open the curtains and almost choke upon seeing Daisy lying on the balcony floor all covered in blood.

I scream, I panic. I look around as if something would calm me, but nothing does. I wanted to look away but I couldn’t, I wanted to walk away but I couldn’t. After a minute of being frozen or so I slowly get back to my senses and decide to get some help.

I run back to my bed, look for my phone and call Dipti.

‘Di...Dipti...I have a dead body in my balcony’ I say, almost choking on my tears.

‘Ooh cool, is it chicken’s? Roast it, we’ll have lunch together!’ she chirped on the phone.

Being unable to speak in full sentences, I utter ‘Daisy..’

‘Huh?’

‘Daisy...is lying in the balcony covered with blood’

‘Arushi... Sweetie, did you talk your medicines? How is that possible?’

‘Yes. And I don’t know! Daisy is all drenched in blood. I’m calling the police.’

‘Okay! Okay! Calm down. Do not call the police; they will not understand the matter. I’ll reach in ten, wait for me. Please do not do anything stupid’          

I nod as if she could see me, and cut the call.

I shiver at the sight of my baby lying on the ground, my eyes well up, my mind overflows with thoughts mixed in a haze of confusion.

I go near the crime scene trying to make sense of it; it was all a lot of information to comprehend. And I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to comprehend it.

There was a distinct smell of oil in the air, it seemed familiar but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, until I actually did. I put a finger on the red goo to realize it is oil paint.

For a second I feel like Daisy is alive, but her veins say otherwise. She had been hit by a red-paint bucket. The bucket rolled on the floor as if it were mocking me; it still contained a few litres of paint inside. I look up to see a half painted red window, just the floor above.

I decide to avenge Daisy’s death.

I keep the glass on the table and hold my spoon as a sword as I climb up the stairs. I knock on the door and try not to tap my impatient foot.

No one answers; I repeat the rhythmic pattern getting restless with each knock.

A middle aged guy comes out rubbing his eyes and scratching his beard. He takes a minute to adjust to the corridor light and finally speaks.

‘What?’

‘Were you painting your window?’

‘Huh?’

His eyes were bloodshot red; he looked like he hasn’t showered for days and the smell that hit my nostrils confirmed that.

I see a half burnt joint in his hand, he takes a huge puff and coughs as he blows it out. He was definitely high.

I repeat my question, ‘Were you painting your window?’

‘Why don’t you mind your own business eh?’

I lose it now, I use the spoon as a gun and lift his chin up with it. I look straight into his eyes and sternly repeat the sentence, for one last time. ‘Were you or were you not painting your window?’

‘I..I...I was’ he replied, I could see his fear in his eyes.

‘Where’s the paint bucket!?’ I shout.

‘I..I don’t know. It probably..fell’

‘Do you know where it fell?’

I stare at him waiting for an answer.

He mumbles a ‘no’ and I continue, ‘The bucket fell on Daisy and your paint ruined my balcony!’

He looks at the floor and twiddles his thumbs; he takes a small puff out of his joint and struggles through a hiccup.

‘Your paint bucket killed Daisy! I raise my voice.

‘It killed my baby! YOU killed my baby!’ I scream as my knees go weak and I sit down weeping.

‘whaa..a.t..?’ He trails off as he stares into the corridor wall in front. ‘I..am..so..sorry...I swear I didn’t mean to’ he said and burst out crying.

He sat down on the floor holding his head. ‘I used to be a responsible man you know... but the stock market..they  got to me. I lost all of my money and the hard earned respect...it has been a downward spiral ever since.’ He continues in between the sobs.

‘Boo hoo you lost some money at the stock market. How does that justify you killing MY stock?! Do you realize the pain I am in right now? DO YOU?’

‘I lost my kids in custody last year. I know what you are going through... But you are right. What I did is unacceptable. I am a loser and I should’ve been the one dead.’

He gets up and rushes towards his half painted window, puts out a leg and an arm and attempts to get out.

‘Hey, HEY! Are you trying to escape?’

‘No I am trying sui..suicide. A life for a life!’

I let out a huge sigh. ‘Don’t bother dumbass, you are on the second floor. Don’t jump and ruin my balcony further’ I retort as I pull him back.

‘I really am useless’ he says as he continues to cry. He grabs the spoon from my hand and tries to stab himself.

‘Okay I get that you are high but c’mon, seriously, this is just dumb. Get a knife you moron’

‘I was really happy with my kids you know, one was in middle school, the other in high school’

‘Well, mine was just out of nursery’

‘That young huh?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I will turn myself in when the police comes. I don’t really have anything to live for anymore. And I possibly couldn’t live with this guilt of killing a child.’

I could hear Dipti in the hallway calling out my name, ‘In here’ I shout back. She walks into the apartment and cringes at the smell.

‘Here. This guy is the murderer’ I say pointing towards him with the spoon I snatch back.

‘I will turn myself in. I’ll call  the police. I am sorry..’ He wails as he picks up his phone.

Dipti comes in and snatches his phone away. ‘HEY. You made a mistake but you don’t have to involve police in this triviality‘

‘TRIVIALITY?! Dipti he killed Daisy!’ I bawl.

‘Sweetie, we’ll go back to the nursery and get a new plant. I promise.’

‘Wait, what!? Daisy is a plant?! DAISY IS A PLANT?!’

‘Yes. She is my child. What are you shouting for?! Go call the police!’

 ‘Sorry, I’ll take care of my friend.’ She says and tries to escort me away.

‘Wait. I’d like to pay for the damages. Or at least replace...Daisy.’ He says as he gives me a little potted plant kept on his fridge.

‘This is yours to keep... it’s a marijuana plant’

‘Okay. I’ll call it Mary.’