That was a very dark night. I was walking alone on the footpath. There were no people and vehicles on the Street. The few streetlights were lit but most of them were damaged. All the trees and dogs of the street were in deep sleep along with the citizens of the town. Perhaps, I was the only one who was awake on that night. I just walked ahead on the footpath. Suddenly, I saw an old-man sitting on the footpath near a broken streetlight. I went near him. Looking at his dress, I was able to figure out that he belonged from a well-to-do family. I asked him about himself, but he didn't say anything. He looked at my face staringly. Again I asked his name and address. Again he didn't answer to my question. I silently stopped there for a moment. Suddenly, he stood up and told something very slowly. I didn't understand and asked what he said. He said, "Everything has gone." I asked him, "What has gone? What are you talking about?" He behaved as if he did not hear anything and said again, "Everything has gone." I was amazed at his behaviour. He repeated the same line many times and suddenly disappeared in the darkness. I thought, "the gentleman has lost his mental stability by an incident that happened with him a few days ago, and he has been very shocked by this incident." I had moved to my destination after the old man disappeared in the darkness. The next morning of that night I saw a news headline 'Man Missing from Old Age Home' with the photo of the old gentleman that I met last night. The news stated, "An old man named Mr. Rajeev Roy has been missing from M. K Memorial Old Age Home since Tuesday morning. He had been admitted to this old age home on Monday by his son. Mr. Roy is a retired teacher and his son Mr Pradeep Roy is a renowned businessman. The old man has been mentally depressed since few days ago. The MK Memorial authority has filed an FIR in the local police station regarding this matter." I read the news and kept it on the table.
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