Asok

April 2025

As I moved into my new home in Bangkok back in 2022, I had no intention of falling in

love again. That all changed within few weeks of moving in when I would hear constant

howling in the night and fights that could qualify for a Gladiator movie remake. Two male

cats that were permanent residents of the building parking were clearly unneutered and

howled endlessly every night. Being new to the city I did a bit of research and found a

professional trapper who traps and helps neuter street cats. To cut a long story short the

boys were neutered along with other cats that were spotted around my building. The

boys continue to get their rabies vaccination much to their annoyance.

I named the boys Khun Asok and Khun Nana in honour of the two stations between

which my building is sandwiched in Bangkok. Nana was friendlier and Asok remained

aloof. We provided food to the security guard who was their official caretaker and an

ardent cat lover. Nana eventually disappeared never to be found again. I would like to

believe that he found another building where there was no division of love. In my head

he is alive, happy and safe.

Asok remained in the building ruling the parking with his tiny tabby paws. Over the next

two years we remained acquaintances who acknowledged each other while making eye

contact as I would place a dish of tuna or chicken for him every evening behind my car.

This continued for many months, and he started waiting for me in the parking by 7 pm

daily.

Then one rainy evening it changed.

As I fed him like always, he rubbed his head on my leg to say thanks. From then on it

was a bullet train filled with love that was unleashed on me. We would meet at 5 am and

7 pm every day to say hello and I would feed him. He found a lap where he could sit

and moan about his life while all I did is rub his neck and tell him all will be ok. Wedeveloped this relationship where he understood how I felt, and I could feel what was

his day like.

I thought about adopting him, taking him home and introducing him to my brood. But

Asok is fierce and territorial who will eat my aging cats for breakfast. So, he remained in

the parking, snoozing under cars and sleeping under the table of the security guard and

loved by all who work in the building.

I even thought of finding him a home and getting him used to life indoors. But I know

from experience that it will be a tedious process for this free-spirited boy who walks soi

29 everyday like a boss admiring his kingdom. His soul is wild. He loves his freedom

that I am not happy to trim for my peace of mind. He is the true soi cowboy of Bangkok.

I will be moving homes in May this year. Not far - just few sois down. It has been hard to

accept that Asok will remain, and I will move on. Of course, I spoke to the security guard

that I will send food every week and pass by whenever I can to say hello. But I am

aware that life will take over. I may not be able to visit him often. I may travel and

eventually I will break his heart. I have stopped going regularly to feed him and instead

the security guard feeds him now. I pop in now and then, but it is important to lessen the

frequency so that he gets used to not having me around.

This morning when I went to check on him after a long trip, he ran and jumped on my

lap while complaining that it had been too long.

We don’t choose who we fall in love with. Love happens in tiny moments, in unknown

places, with fluidity of water and insane madness of rain.

Love happens.

And when in does it changes us forever.

Place a bowl of water for a stray.

Buy a packet of food for a hungry soul.

Pet their dirty head to let them know they are wanted.Adopt a stray if you can.

It’s never too late to love.

Never!