It has been a really long time since I wrote anything and I am not sure how to start off. So, I'll just go ahead and share what's exactly running in my head. We have 4 street dogs near our house out of which 3 (Laali, Kaali and Blackie - all named by my mother) are very friendly and my mother feeds them daily. The 4th one named Bhoo is a poor, scared, ever-alert creature. Bhoo recently gave birth to a couple of puppies and I happened to see one of them today. The puppy and the mother were seeking shelter in a construction site right next to our house. Since Bhoo has a constant fear of humans and anything remotely related to humans, it maintains a distance of atleast 20 ft from us, making it difficult to give it food. Over a period of few weeks, I've learnt a technique of giving it food such that no other dog takes it away from it. While keeping the 3 dogs engaged with some biscuits, I keep aside a few for Bhoo in a place, ensure that it sees me keeping it there and move away from it. Once am at a safe distance, it happily eats. I used the same trick couple of times today and was satisfied that it ate. It is important for Bhoo to be well fed as it is the only source of food for her puppy (or puppies, I haven't seen the other one). The little one is such a chubby, cutie pie. Since I discovered it before my mother did, I get to choose the name and I choose to call it Pooh :)
I was overjoyed because of the gundu mari and was proudly showing it off to everyone I knew, like it was my achievement to have discovered it. Anyway, night fell and then all of a sudden, I heard this little one crying out loud. We saw from our windows that Bhoo had crossed the main road and Pooh was unable to because of the high divider. There were speeding vehicles passing by every other minute and we rushed down to help the puppy. By then, a kind gentleman tried leaving the puppy on the other side of the road. But the mother and pup kept crossing the road and struggling. Bhoo was running around because it was scared and this little one was just following suit unaware of all the danger around. I immediately went and held the puppy in my arms and brought it to the construction site. But safety of the puppy wasn't guaranteed. My aunt and I came up with many ideas and finally, with the help of my neighbour, it was decided that we leave the puppy among the dry coconut leaves in my neighbour's compound, construct a barricade such that only the mother can jump in and out and the puppy is safe inside.
Putting the plan to action, we made all the necessary arrangements and kept Pooh inside. Pooh was screaming and crying out and Bhoo was yelping outside not able to reach its baby. I was standing on the opposite side in front of our gate and I can never forget the look Bhoo gave me. It stared at me continuously for few mins and my heart sunk. Memories of my childhood came gushing by where I was separated from my mother and taken off to my aunt's house. I was crying out for my mother and I am sure my mother was upset too. I could totally relate and understand what Bhoo and Pooh were going through. Being the dumbo that they were, Bhoo didn't realize that there was an opening for it to cross around and Pooh kept crying and finding ways to come out. I had half a mind to just let go off the puppy but I knew it was for its own safety and restrained from letting it out with great difficulty. Bhoo and Pooh didn't understand that and they were just upset that they were separated. I knew it was for their greater good just like my grandmother knew that separating us was for ours.
It was midnight and the puppy kept coming out through a tiny gap after keeping it in few times. I gave up and went to complete some pending tasks. I was praying that Bhoo and Pooh be safe. Then suddenly yet again, I heard Pooh screaming out. I ran to the window and saw that Bhoo was inside the compound and Pooh outside :) I was relieved that Bhoo had learnt its way in and out. I called my neighbour and she took Pooh inside the compound. Finally, Bhoo jumped inside through the gap and both mother and pup walked towards the coconut leaves and in the dark, I could hear them spread about on the leaves to sleep. And now, I can sleep in peace with no fear for their safety and a lesson re-learnt...
I was overjoyed because of the gundu mari and was proudly showing it off to everyone I knew, like it was my achievement to have discovered it. Anyway, night fell and then all of a sudden, I heard this little one crying out loud. We saw from our windows that Bhoo had crossed the main road and Pooh was unable to because of the high divider. There were speeding vehicles passing by every other minute and we rushed down to help the puppy. By then, a kind gentleman tried leaving the puppy on the other side of the road. But the mother and pup kept crossing the road and struggling. Bhoo was running around because it was scared and this little one was just following suit unaware of all the danger around. I immediately went and held the puppy in my arms and brought it to the construction site. But safety of the puppy wasn't guaranteed. My aunt and I came up with many ideas and finally, with the help of my neighbour, it was decided that we leave the puppy among the dry coconut leaves in my neighbour's compound, construct a barricade such that only the mother can jump in and out and the puppy is safe inside.
Putting the plan to action, we made all the necessary arrangements and kept Pooh inside. Pooh was screaming and crying out and Bhoo was yelping outside not able to reach its baby. I was standing on the opposite side in front of our gate and I can never forget the look Bhoo gave me. It stared at me continuously for few mins and my heart sunk. Memories of my childhood came gushing by where I was separated from my mother and taken off to my aunt's house. I was crying out for my mother and I am sure my mother was upset too. I could totally relate and understand what Bhoo and Pooh were going through. Being the dumbo that they were, Bhoo didn't realize that there was an opening for it to cross around and Pooh kept crying and finding ways to come out. I had half a mind to just let go off the puppy but I knew it was for its own safety and restrained from letting it out with great difficulty. Bhoo and Pooh didn't understand that and they were just upset that they were separated. I knew it was for their greater good just like my grandmother knew that separating us was for ours.
It was midnight and the puppy kept coming out through a tiny gap after keeping it in few times. I gave up and went to complete some pending tasks. I was praying that Bhoo and Pooh be safe. Then suddenly yet again, I heard Pooh screaming out. I ran to the window and saw that Bhoo was inside the compound and Pooh outside :) I was relieved that Bhoo had learnt its way in and out. I called my neighbour and she took Pooh inside the compound. Finally, Bhoo jumped inside through the gap and both mother and pup walked towards the coconut leaves and in the dark, I could hear them spread about on the leaves to sleep. And now, I can sleep in peace with no fear for their safety and a lesson re-learnt...
