My fur/feather buddies

I’ve been begging (literally) earnestly to my family for a pet since donkey’s years and they’ve been turning a blind eye to it. I’d got so accustomed to hearing their knock-back that even though I haven’t changed my demand, I rarely wait for them to respond after my bid for a dog. Usually whenever I have a demand that is vetoed, I go straight off to my sister and we in unison madden everyone by asking them over and over again till the time it’s granted. But in this argument, I was told the very first day that no co-operation should be expected from her side since pets at home were one thing she could just not stand.

But today after I stated my demand for a dog, I got an (certainly) unanticipated and overwhelming reply from Mom, “Okay! But it should be black in color.”

Gosh! Did my ears deceive me? Am I daydreaming? Did she just say yes for me to bring a D-O-G?? It was unbelievable!! Let me confirm it once...

“Black dog, umm... Yeah! That would be ok.” I said just to check if she (and I) has heard it right.

“Yes! Today I’d gone to a place where a priest was saying that a black dog prevents the house from evil eye.” She replied letting the cat out of the bag.

“Oh! That’s what I was thinking, how come this sudden U-turn. Didn’t he say anything about the dog’s breed or the colour of his leash?” I said giggling.

“You want it or not?”

“Of course I do… okay I’m sorry.”

“And get it after this construction work at home is over”

“As you say Your highness. Love you!”

 Saying this I left for my room guffawing about these irrational superstitions. But who cares? I got the permission because of it so I thanked that “learned” priest in my mind and started making air castles linked to the dog. And while planning all that I was reminded of all my previous pets.

The first pet that I can boast of was not exactly mine but still I loved him a lot. It was a white Pomeranian. His name was ROXY. His was at my maternal Granma’s place. We went there every year to spend our summer vacations. I don’t remember very much about him since I was about 7 year old when he was stolen. But yes, I do remember that he was really bland and full of fun. He was a saint and I used to treat him really brutally. I used to ride on his back and move around all over the house. I remember he scratched me once on my forehead, but it was totally my mistake.

After that I remember finding a baby bird in our lawn. A storm had hit our town that night and early morning I went out to see dry leaves speckled all over the place and trees bent sloppily. I notice the baby bird thrown down from the eucalyptus tree and beside it was the strewn nest in which it was very securely dwelling a day back. I called out my sister and we both picked it up in a plastic dish that was meant to be a casserole in our toy kitchen set. We took it inside and mom suggested us to leave it to its own devices for it won’t be surviving for very long. But we decided to pull all the stops to save it. We made a cushioned bed for it and dropped milk with the help of cotton inside its petite beak. We christened it BULBUL. It passed away after 5 days, all the children of our colony shed tears when we buried it in our backyard under the guava tree.

After this I set in motion the idea of getting a dog for me. I requested mom and dad for it and after they refused, one day I asked my maternal uncle to get one for me. I was a spoilt kid by the way and therefore I was in possession of a white two weeks old Pomeranian bitch. I was 11 when she came to our place.  She was really cute and loved by all. After much discussion and arguments, we all settled at the name GENIE for her. But it was evident that the promises I had made to take care of her all by myself had died out. And moreover mom and grandma still hated this idea of having a dog at home. She stayed with us for two years until Mom gave her away to a lady when I was gone with Paa and Didi for my cousin’s wedding. I somehow managed to find that lady’s house and went to visit her regularly. She was very kind and allowed us to play with her and take her for a walk. She gave birth to four puppies a few years later.

After that I’ve never had any pet. Although my sister gifted me a fish pot last year on my birthday but anyone who owns one knows how boring fish are as a pet. So very soon I’ll be having a dog. I’m so excited. Grandma is still squeezing her face at the idea but I know now that the priest has advised, she’ll accept it by all means. I’ll update you guys with the fine points of “my dog” once it’s here. And will be happy to hear from you about your pet stories.

"All of the animals except for man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it." ~ Samuel Butler