Shambhu : My Friend

Tilak Acharya:

One day, I got off the school-bus. On my way to home from the school-bus pick-up and drop point, I stopped to buy a candy from the ice-cream shop at the outskirt of our colony. It was my routine to buy a candy and I finish by the time I reach home. But that very day while buying candy, I saw a puppy by the ice-cream shop side. I bought the candy and observed the puppy till I licked wooden stick of the candy. The puppy was damn cute. It was all white skinned except a couple of black skins over its head, stomach and tail. The puppy seemed sad, confused, starving and abandoned.  I looked here and there managing my school bag on my shoulder and water bag dangling in my neck to find his owner. I searched the nearby area to see if there were other puppies and mother dog, but none could I find. I was eight and had no independent decision-making power to adopt the puppy and raise him. The puppy was sadly chirping, and his every single chirp was creating more kindness within me for him. I decided to take that puppy home, at least. My mom hated dogs, but I shouldn’t let the little puppy on the road either on the humanitarian ground. 
  

The puppy:

I was wandering around the ice-cream shop in the search of my mother. I was waiting for her in our dome she made behind the ice – cream shop where we born. She had not appeared for last twenty-four hours. My two siblings’ dead bodies were lying in our dome.  They succumbed to starvation. I too hadn’t eaten, yet survived. I somehow managed to reach the ice-cream shop. I was starving. I got tired looking for my mother since morning if she could be spotted, but in vain.

I made my face pitiful to get attention of some dog lover who notices me and feeds me. And there and then, that boy in his school uniform spotted me. He was in his dark red half-pant and white shirt. He was wearing a dark red tie too matching his half-pant. He was struggling to manage his school bag which was half of his actual weight. Every now and then his bag slipped to either side of his shoulder. He was wearing black canvas shoes and white ankle sized socks. Well, I could see pity for me in his eyes, so I made my face more pathetic before he changed his mind. He seemed too young to have independent decision-making power to adopt me or at least take me with him. So, I tried to hold his attention If he could spend a few bucks to feed me some milk.

Tilak Acharya:

I walked to the puppy. I picked him up and kissed. He was so delicate. His skin was limitless soft.  I made my mind to bring the puppy home no matter what my mom’s reaction would be. She was a tough lady, but decided to rebel for that puppy. And top of that, I had Brahmastra, which I could use if required. The puppy was a male puppy, so I named him Shambhu.

The puppy:

Yes. He picked me up and kissed. He rolled his hand over my body. He admired me. I felt so relaxed. Probably, I was in the safe hands. He named me as well, Shambhu. By naming me, he automatically became my master.

I had gone the road side ice-cream shop for a cause to find my mother. I too would have died had I kept waiting for my mother at dome. I had come out searching for my mother, but then, to survive I wanted attention of some dog lover, and eventually I got. But who would tell him that first I needed some milk in my stomach. I was damn starving. I hadn’t had any nutrition for last twenty-four hours.

Tilak Acharya:

I started walking holding Shambhu close to my chest alongside water bottle dangling through my neck. All the way from ice – cream shop to home, I was thinking about how I would put my point to my mom when she would find me holding Shambhu. She hated dogs from the core of her heart. She had once told the story how her brother was badly bitten by a dog and he had to undergo a round of injection treatment.  While listening to her story, my daddy had murmured that it might have been her brother’s fault. He was very naughty. So, he must have teased the dog. In retaliation, the dog might have to bit him. Otherwise, why that dog would bite his brother only? My daddy couldn’t say this to my mom though.

Well, bygones are bygones. Right that moment, the task at hand was to convince her that all dogs don’t bite and we could raise Shambhu

I would try to convince her that we could raise Shambhu at least till he grew up.  He was abandoned and was risky for such a small puppy to wander on the road. If she wouldn’t agree, I would use my Brahmastra. I would stop eating, start crying tapping my foot on the floor, I would stop going school and tuitions as well. Earlier, I applied such tricks, and it worked. In the recent past, I did for video game. I would apply this trick for Shambhu for sure. The big worry was that my ticks worked on my daddy only. My mom was stricter of a lady, maybe she was the cousin sister of Hitler in somewhere her past births.

Shambhu:

All the way, that boy in his half-pant seemed to be in some confusion. Probably, someone from his family hated dogs. I was worried, I didn’t know what was in store for me. My community was and is friendly with human, but still some people didn’t like us.

In case, that boy couldn’t keep me, he would drop me back at the ice cream shop. But at least he would come daily see me, and feed me some milk, then it would be a great help. If I survived, I would learn to grow up myself.

Tilak Acharya:

I stepped in home to find my mom watching repeat telecast of Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasma stretching her legs from a huge leather sofa to a sister sofa chair. She had a plate of potato chips in her hand, and stuffed in her mouth too.  My father worked too hard, and here this lady was enjoying watching comedy shows with chips. Her laughter was stolen seeing Shambhu close to my chest. She muted TV where Jethalal was flirting with his neighbour Babita in presence of Babita’s husband Iyer.

Shambhu:

I looked in the eyes of lady who was apparently mother of my master. Her eyes showed disregard for me and I could gauge that somebody from her family was badly bitten by dog.  She hated me at first sight. That little half-pant boy was going to get some slaps, punches and kicks for sure. That lady kept staring me, and I shivered from inside. She seemed furious. I inwardly begged that lady to arrange some milk for me first, then scare me!

Radhika Acharya:

Why my son Tilak had so much affection for dogs? His affection was so raised that he brought puppy home with him. What? Has Tilak really brought the puppy home? No way I was going to keep a dog in my home. And how could he independently take the decision to bring the puppy home?

I hated dogs. They are nuisance. They damage things, poop and pee in home. On top of that, they bite. Their nails and teeth are very sharp. Their saliva carried a deadly decease, rabies. If my son had the plan to raise the puppy, then he would get disappointment as I wouldn’t be going to or allowing anyone to raise the puppy in this home.

Tilak Acharya:

It was always hard to convince my mom. Even for the ice-cream I perform many dramas, then I get few bucks. Adopting Shambhu seemed next to impossible. She was heavily breathing in anger scaring me and Shambhu. She already had turned red in anger. On normal day, she would greet me, hug me, take out my heavy school bag from my shoulder and water bag from my neck. She would shower kisses all over my face.  But that day was different, she didn’t even stand up from her place.

'Mom, I found this puppy near ice-cream shop. He is so cute na?’, I said and went close to my mom who suddenly jumped up from her seat and said, ‘Stay away--’

‘Disgusting. Go and put him back right now’, my mom replied as expected

‘Mom, listen. Shambhu is in trouble’, I put my point and looked at Shambhu.

‘Oh,  Shambhu!  So, you already named it, huh’, my mom's tone was becoming heavy

‘Look at Shambu. How innocent and cute he is!’, I pleaded

‘No matter how innocent he is, he is not going to stay in the home even for two minutes’, my mom announced

‘But why?’, I asked

‘Because I don’t like dogs’,

‘Mom, can’t we keep him till he grows up a little. Then, I myself will leave him’, I huffed

‘No…’, my mom replied

Shambhu:

Arey yaar, first arrange some milk for me. They could argue whether to adopt me or not later. Why didn’t they just arrange a bowl of milk first.  My master’s home was big and nice, they must have a bowl of milk for sure.  If everything fell in place and he could win over his mom to adopt me, he could surely accommodate me in some corner of the house. But his mom, no way my entry seemed possible from any angle.

I was looking here and there totally confused what was happening. I was understanding that my master wanted to protect me, nurture me but his mother was denying. His mother was not wrong, I was not a human. They had to look after me – they had to feed me from time to time, they had to take me out for my natural calls, I can’t speak so sometimes I perform my natural call in home itself, then they had to clean it. They had to take me veterinary to give anti-biotics injection and vaccines from time to time. I was a responsibility if they adopted me. God has put a defect in us. If we bite, then there were chances of a deadly decease, rabies.  A person could die. We have sharp nails and teeth too. We could intentionally or unintentionally injure. Generally, we didn’t but many did sometimes.

Tilak Acharya:

‘It is not only your home so you do whatever comes in your mind. It is my home too’, I said slowly to myself. Only Shambhu could listen

‘What did you say? I heard you murmured something’, my mom asked angrily 'Have you become so outspoken?'

‘Mom, I just said why don’t you like my Shambhu?’ I asked pityingly

‘I just said, go and put him back. Then talk to me’, my mother replied

Shambhu:

I wanted to say my master that leave this lady and let’s shift somewhere near the ice-cream shop. we would better be enjoying. How could you stay with such an arrogant lady? How cute and soft I was, still she didn’t like me? How her heart and soul could permit her to ignore me?

Radhika Acharya:

My son was damn stubborn, the replica of his dad. He wasn’t going to surrender that easily. He would start his tantrums now. He would start tapping his foot on the floor, would make a sharp cry which in a few seconds would irritate me, he would threat to stop eating, studying and what not.  He would make his one of the saddest face as well. But, but, but…his any of tricks won’t work out with me.  I would throw both him and his Shambhu out of the house, Acharya Vilas.

Tilak Acharya:

She didn’t even bother to take out my school bag from my shoulder. How merciless the mother she was! I would take matter to my daddy, Vipul Acharya. I knew, my daddy would try to balance between me and my mom, then finally would dictate the terms in my mom’s favour. This lady was tough. How and why did my daddy choose her? If he would have asked my opinion before his marriage, I would have blatantly suggested ‘NO’ and would have advised to choose for better Mommy option.  How long we father – son will tolerate her sense and non-sense? 

I had to give a try. My tricks worked on him.

‘Mom, I would take the matter to daddy’, I threatened

‘Okay. Let me call your daddy’, my mother said and dialled my daddy’s number immediately.  My mom scared of lizard only in her life, nobody else.

Vipul Acharya:

I was working on my laptop and saw Radhika’s name flashing on my mobile screen. I straightened on my seat. Oh My God. Radhika's name rose my heartbeats. Again Tilak must have done something. At least once in a day, Radhika would call complaining him.  Tilak would have broken some crockery, or window glass with his ball or wanted two ice-creams or wasn’t going to tuition. For any petty issues, both would end up calling me. What would be the matter today?

Radhika Acharya:

This man never picked my call immediately.

Shambhu:

Can anybody please arrange some milk for me first?

Tilak Acharya:

Without waiting, she dialled my daddy’s number. She was pretty sure that trial would be in her favour no matter how many times I would tap my foot on the floor. Merciless mom!

Radhika Acharya:

‘Hello, Vipul’, I shouted as he delayed taking my call ‘Why don’t you take my call?’

‘I was not on my place, ya tell me what Tilak has done this time?’, Vipul directly asked.

‘Your son has brought puppy home from the street. He wants to raise him’, I said and announced, ‘Either puppy or I will stay in home’

Vipul Acharya:

Wow! My son brought puppy home?  I was proud of him. He had become young enough to take independent decision to bring the puppy home.  I too liked dogs but never could raise one as Radhika never allowed.

Radhika Acharya:

‘You there? I am talking to you’, Radhika agitatedly asked

‘Ya, ya. I am listening’, he replied

‘Tell your son that right away he goes and put him back at his place’, Radhika instructed

Vipul Acharya:

I was stuck. These mother and son were stubborn. They would end up fix me some or other way. Well, I wanted to see that puppy at least and raised if I could convince Radhika.

‘Okay, do one thing. Give the phone to Tilak, I talk to him’ I said

Shambhu:

What the hell was going on, I hadn’t yet smelled milk. When their melodrama would end and I would get some milk? Master, O Master, first arrange some milk, then worry about my shelter.

Tilakk Acharya:


I took the phone and made my voice so slow and pathetic. I had to act well to win. I updated my daddy about Shambhu.

‘Shambhu? Wow, what a lovely name!’, my dad praised. My daddy was quite opposite to my mom. My mom loved me but she was strict.

‘He is so cute, soft, silky and delicate but in trouble, daddy. Look at his face, you too will feel pity for him’, I tried best to be pathetic

‘Okay. Do you like him?’, my daddy asked

I kissed Shambhu and replied, ‘I love him’

All the while my mom was staring at me. As my daddy said, I handed over the phone to my mom.

My daddy pokee to my mom

‘No…no means no…this puppy won’t stay in my home’, my mom said and suddenly topic changed over the phone ‘What? You have chosen a diamond ring for me as an anniversary gift? I love you Vipul. You are so caring husband. Okay..ya ya okay’

My eyebrows went up. My mom gave phone to me back

‘Tilak, keep Shambhu with you, till I come home, then we will decide what to do’, my dad said and I inwardly jumped in happiness

‘Okay daddy’, I said and punched in air saying ‘yes, yes, yes’

Vipul Acharya:

They put me in dilemma and I end up spending a few thousands, diamond ring this time. I smiled at a family photo frame on my desk. My lovely yet crazy family….

Radhika Acharya:

Both father and son were equal. Both liked dogs.  They were not going to surrender against my anti-dog movement. Anyway, Vipul had chosen a diamond ring for me.

Shambhu:

My master’s mother was not at all agreeing to his request to help me, but his father sorted out the issue. I was unable to gauge the sudden change of air. A few seconds earlier, environment was very tensed, and now turned very light. Amid all this, my master continued to carry me. My body was aching. Put me down first and give me some milk, master.

Tilak Acharya:

Yes. Finally. My mom agreed. At least, Shambhu would be with me until evening. I knew that my daddy liked dogs but never dared to raise one under the terror of my mom. Shambhu was with me at the cost of diamond ring to my daddy. My daddy was the best daddy in the world.

‘Mom, Shambhu might be hungry. Can you please give a bowl of milk?’, I requested

My mom made her face and went to kitchen to bring milk. I put Shambhu on the sofa chair.

‘Don’t’, my mom shouted at top of her voice ‘don’t put him on the sofa. Put him down’

I shook in terror so did Shambhu. I immediately carried Shamabhu and put him down on the floor.

Shambhu:

Finally, my master put me down. I stretched wide. Milk was being prepared. Thank God. I stretched again wide opening my mouth. My master was observing me. A bowl of milk arrived and I drank like a dog. I gulped down the whole bowl. Licked my lips. Wow! Delicious! If they adopt me, it was a paradise.

Tilak Acharya:

I brought Shambhu in my room. I put him on my bed. I hugged him many times, kissed him. I loved him too much. I let him relax and made comfortable. I went for food, then.

At evening - the time of Shambhu's bill to be put in assembly.

Vipul Acharya packed his bag for signing off for the day. As he reached home, he searched for Shambhu. He was informed by Radhika that Shambhu was in Tilak’s room. He went there to find Shambhu and Tilak playing. Having seen Vipul, Tilak ran to him and hugged. Shambhu stood there silent thinking that who he was? Was he the man behind his entry in this home?  Vipul went to Shambhu and picked him up, he rolled his hands over him, he kissed him. Shambhu felt relaxed, another dog lover. Out of three, two were dog lovers, majority wins..!! I hope my bill would pass.

Tilak Acharya:

While having dinner, my mom brought the topic of Shambhu. Shambhu was sleeping in my room after having his milk.

‘Now, what to do with Shambhu?’, my mom's askedd

‘What I say is that what if Shambhu stays with us?’, my daddy said and observed from the corner of his eyes that my mom stopped eating and staring at him. My daddy didn’t look above his plate

‘Yes mom..’, I was going to speak but my mom raised her hand to stop me

‘At least, you keep mum’, my mom cut me short and added ‘Both you and Tilak are planning to increase my daily chores, right?’

‘Raising Shambhu won’t put any extra effort of yours’, my daddy defended

‘You go office, Tilak leaves for school and then tuitions. I have to take care of Shambhu’, my mom put her point.

Shambhu:

I was standing at the door of my master’s room. I overheard their conversation. My master and his daddy were speechless against that lady’s point.  I was a responsibility for her.

I wanted to say that If they adopt me, I promise I won’t increase her chores. I won’t damage anything, won’t poop and pee inside the house, I will stay as disciplined dog. And I swear that even if anyone hits me hard, I won’t bite in retaliation. In fact, I won’t bark. I wanted to be with my master. I wanted to stay in Acharya Vilas. I like that place.

Tilak Acharya:

‘Mom, I will take care of Shambhu. I will take him out every day for his natural calls, so he won’t spoil home by pooping and peeing’, I requested

‘I will take him regularly to veterinary for regular check-up, injections and vaccines’, my daddy said and added, ‘one of my friends is vet so don’t worry about that…’

Shambhu:

My master and his daddy were a real gem of guys. God bless them. Even I may not be part of that family, I bless them

Radhika Acharya:

Both daddy and son were not going to leave that easily. I just had to feed Shambhu, and that was not a big deal. We could buy pedigree and serials for him. Milk was always available in home. And by the way there was no doubt that Shambhu was cute.

I took a deep breath and announced, ‘Okay…let him stay with us. But, but,  but, he will stay in front yard of our house.’

Shambhu:

I couldn’t believe my ears. Did Hitler lady accept me? Wow, life will be cool. I jumped and settled on my master’s bed.

Tilak Acharya:

Shambhu was eligible to be part of our family. Opposite party too stamped and approved his stay in our home. The Shambhu bill passed in assembly.  As per high command decision, I was to make a dome for him in the front yard. That night only he could sleep in my bedroom. His dome was to make on next day.

'By the way, what about a diamond ring, Vipul?', my mom asked and my daddy coughed. Stuffed food in his mouth almost sprinkled hearing diamond ring word.

'Ya..diamond ring is ordered', my daddy replied. My daddy had to bribe.

Shambhu started living with us. I had prepared a cosy dome for him which he very much liked

Days passed by. Shambhu’s routine was to wake up early morning, would stretch and wait for me to wake up. As I opened the front door, he runs moving his tail, licking me. I would take him for ten minutes outside, and he will perform his natural calls. Then, he waits for his food outside his dome. When I left for school, he would come to bid me good bye.

Initially, my mom stayed away from him, but slowly and gradually she too liked him. My mom observed Shambhu’s disciplines and later sanction his entry inside home too.  She had no grudges for Shambhu anymore. Many a times, I caught her playing with Shambhu in our absence. In fact, she took care of Shambhu more than us.

When I return home at 1.00 PM from school and he heard metal gate noise, he runs to greet me at gate. He would come inside home with me licking me and moving his tail from left to right. I would play with him till I finish my lunch and take afternoon nap. He too took rest. Every now and then he would be going to his dome in the front yard and come inside. He was free to stay wherever he wished. I go tuition afternoon at five and return at 7.00 PM. Then, I would take him outside for his second round of natural calls. I play with him amid my homework till dinner.

On every Sunday, I play with Shambhu in the front yard. I throw the ball, and he brings the ball in his mouth. We do this exercise a couple of times. Then I keep the doll above his height, and he would jump and take the doll in his mouth. When I was on my bicycle, he would run along.

Whenever my mom went to market, he would tag along. When she watched Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasma, Shambhu too watched sitting near sofa. When my mom was in kitchen, he would sit by her foot. Wherever my mom moved in house for completing her chores, he followed her. Shambhu received the same level of love and affection from my mom too not immediately but definitely. Shambhu never allowed any stranger near our home. Entry inside the metal gate was strictly  prohibited by Shambhu till we signal him to calm down and let the person come inside.

When my daddy returns home, he runs to greet him too. He recognised my daddy’s car horn. Then, my daddy takes him in his lap and play with him.

When we went outstation, we took him in our car. From window, he would take his head out and look at the sky. He liked going out in the car. All the way his tongue remained out and breathing. Whenever we went picnic, he enjoyed a lot.

Shambhu had a problem with our maid. She was forty years old and had dark complexion. Shambhu and that maid scared each other. I never knew who scared whom?

This is how Shambhu had become an integral part of our family. He was regularly given the adequate vaccine to immune from dog related deceases. I would give him bath every Sunday.

This is how Shambhu brought up with us.

Shambhu:

I was lucky as I had got such a lovely family. My master’s mother too had started loving me. I wasn’t a dog for them but a family member. From my side, I did every possible thing to keep them happy. I played with my master even if sometimes I felt tired. I had started standing on my last two feet to make fun. I protected their home. I was loyal to Acharya Family. I protected their home from cats and mice as well.

Two years later:

Tilak Acharya:

Two years passed by. I turned ten. Shambhu had become a monster dog from a small puppy I had picked up from the ice-cream shop.

One day, an event occurred which we could never forget. That day when I returned home from tuition, I didn’t find Shambhu. I had been observing since few days that Shambhu started going out. He had started wandering colony and even outside colony. He behaved like a stray dog. Many a times, on my way to home, I brought him home from the road and explained him that he was not a stray dog. He was a part of our family.

That day, I searched my room and  entire home. Even I checked in the terrace as well. I couldn’t find Shambhu anywhere. That day we were supposed to go at my daddy’s friend’s place for a party. My mom was being ready and told me to do so. My daddy was on his way to pick us up.

‘Mom, I am not finding Shambhu, where is he?’, I asked

‘I don’t know beta, he was here only’, my mom replied busy in front of mirror

I again searched every corner of home, I checked in his dome again and again. I was desperate. I started searching him in the colony like a dumb. I asked neighbours and colony watchman too. But they were clueless.

‘Where did he go?’, I asked myself

Suddenly, rain started falling. I was worried for Shambhu. It was rain and he never used to be outside in rain. Where would he be?

It was already 7.30 PM.

I came back to home and asked, ‘Mom, when did you last see him?’

‘I saw him when you were leaving for your tuition at five. I suppose he might be somewhere here only. Tilak, he is a big dog now, he may like to go outside’, my mom replied without eye contact

I couldn’t speak. When my daddy arrived, it was raining profusely. He changed his clothes and we were ready to leave. And then electricity went off.

‘Daddy, Shambhu is missing’, I asked before leaving

‘Don’t worry beta, he will be here only’, my daddy replied and tried to console me ‘he is not a little puppy anymore. He could jump over our front yard wall. Don’t worry, he will be fine’

‘But daddy, it is raining outside and no electricity as well’, I said pathetically

My mom and daddy stayed mute.

‘Daddy, can’t we skip this party?’, I asked hesitantly

They took a deep breath and my daddy replied, ‘Tilak, don’t be worried. Shambhu will be alright, okay?’

‘Can’t we find him and go?’, I requested

‘Beta, there is no electricity, it is raining, it is dark outside. Where will we find him?’, my mom said

I kept quiet, head down towards floor

My daddy released his breath and said, ‘Okay beta. Let’s find him first, okay?’

I smiled at him. He was the best daddy in the world. My mom waited in drawing room while we left.

We started searching for Shambhu. My daddy and I went in the opposite direction to find him out. It was raining so we held umbrella on our head. We took torch also. Where was my Shambhu?  I was losing my patience. Tears welled up my eyes and started rolling down my cheeks. I asked watchman whether there was any municipality vehicle came to catch stray dogs. They might have assumed Shambhu a stray dog and caught him. But, that wasn’t the case. I prayed God to get me my Shambhu.

Then, I found Shambhu. There was one unoccupied tenement in our colony. There were weeds all over in the front yard and small trees. It was an abandoned place. I peeked inside metal gate and found Shambhu. I entered and threw light on him and he immediately recognised me. He ran to me. I bent on my knees and hugged him tight. He was all wet. He started licking me and moving his tail as usual.

‘Shambhu, I was too worried’, I said and couldn’t hold my tears ‘How can you go leaving me?’

He kept licking me.

‘It is raining outside, let’s go Shambhu’ I said and stood up

I reached to metal gate but Shambhu didn’t move. Usually he followed me, but that day was different.

‘Shambhu, let’s go. You don’t have the habit to be in rain’, I said but Shambhu didn’t move an inch forward from his place. Instead, he made some crying sound. I didn’t understand. I returned to Shambhu, sat on my knees and looked at his dark brown eyes.  He turned to one of the corner of front yard wall. I threw light there and found that there was a mother dog and three puppies. It was Shambhu’s family or he was protecting them from other dog. It was raining and that place was already wet. There was a little taller tree at the corner below which mother dog had dug a hole to accommodate. I shouted audible enough to my daddy who was close to that tenement. He reached there in no time.

‘Daddy, Shambhu is there’, I pointed toward corner

My daddy went closer and checked. Shambhu was sitting by the side of a mother dog and puppies

‘Beta, I guess it is Shambhu’s family. He has to live his life’, my daddy explained but failed to convince me

I started weeping.

‘Daddy, can’t we take them home?’, I asked

‘Beta, the puppies are too young to shift at other place. They are just born. You can’t pick and move them. They have to be in their mother’s chest’, my daddy explained

‘Daddy, can’t we make at least a proper arrangement for them? Shambhu has no habit to stay in rain. He never used to…’, I said couldn’t control. I cried.

‘Don’t cry, beta. Everything will be alright. We can make a proper shed for them. We arrange some canvasses too and cover the place with plastic bags. It will be a great relief’, my daddy suggested

I was convinced.

My daddy left while I stayed there with Shambhu. I covered Shambhu with my umbrella. My daddy returned and prepared a proper shed in that corner. He arranged some plastic bags, canvass bags all over the place. Shambhu, mother dog and her puppies could easily be accommodated below the shed. It took time and great efforts of my daddy, and he did. We assumed that proper arrangements were done. Rain and electricity cut remained as they were. Shambhu shifted below the shed to find some relief. Before we left, I hugged Shambhu and said in his ears, 'Come soon my friend. My life is empty without you'

Shambhu:

I cried, there were tears in my eyes when my master said words in my ears. I was a part of his life. I saw them going outside metal gate. My master loved me and I loved him too. I knew how and what he was going through, I had left him. I felt bad for that I made my master cried. But at that moment, task at hand was to take care my family. I had three kids whom I had to raise. It is not always necessary that my kids too will find a dog lover like Tilak who would take them home, rebel with mom to raise a stray puppy. My kids may not get another Acharya family. Nobody cared of stray dogs. I had to raise them. I had to take care of them. Master, please forgive me. I would come back once I secure my kids and mother dog's lives. It was raining and I couldn’t leave them alone. They were day-old puppies only.

Rain, I never used to be in rain. I slept in a soft cushion in my dome. I slept on my master’s soft bed. Even my master’s mom allowed me to sleep on her leather sofa. I never slept on canvass, plastic bags or some other stuff.  I had never been such wet.

I was feeling little weaker. I was shivering. There was a cold wind and heavy rain. It was water, water and water everywhere. I prayed God to stop rain but he was merciless. Rain wasn’t naming to stop.

Tilak Acharya:

It was 9.00 PM when we left for a party. All the way from home to my daddy’s friend’s place, I was thinking about Shambhu. For two years he was with us, he never damaged anything at home, he never pooped or peed in home, he understood every minor thing. He understood our feelings, our words as well. He was not a dog but a human. He had a sense of responsibility too. He sacrificed his lavish life to save his family, to protect his family, to raise his kids. He was not Shambhu, but Shambu: The Brave dog.

When we reached at party, it was dinner time. I couldn’t eat. I was silent and waiting for the time to pass out quickly. Shambhu must have been with me in the party. Life had changed though.

I didn’t know when I fall asleep. When my eyes opened, it was 6.00 AM and I was in my bedroom. It was sunny day and rain stopped after all. Mom and dad were still sleeping as it was Sunday. I jumped on my bed as I remembered Shambhu.  I rushed to the door and put on my sleeper. I left for the tenement where Shambhu was found last night. I rushed to the place and stunned to see the place. Due to heavy wind, the shed was already scattered, canvasses were not in place and plastic bags were all in water. I saw Shambhu in the front yard near his two kids. I rushed to him and hugged but he didn’t react. He neither licked me nor moved his tail. I tapped Shambhu once, twice, thrice but he didn’t move. He died. My Shambhu died. I couldn’t believe my Shambhu left forever. I never thought that last night was my last encounter with Shambhu.  His body was still wet. I hugged him and cried out. I rushed to home and bang open my parents’ bedroom door. I woke up my daddy and brought him to Shambhu.

‘Daddy, my Shambhu is not waking up. Please call your vet friend immediately’, I said crying

My daddy sat on his ankles and rolled his hand over Shambu. Shambhu wasn’t breathing.

‘Beta, Shambhu is no more’, my daddy replied.  I saw tears rolling down my daddy’s cheeks too. I never saw him crying but Shambhu’s dead body made him cried.

‘Daddy, I knew Shambhu had no habit to stay in rain…call your vet friend to make Shambhu alive…’, I begged. I couldn’t complete the sentence

By that time, my mom reached there. She hugged me tight and cried

We checked the area. Two puppies also died near Shambhu. Mother dog and one puppy were alive. She shifted that puppy to opposite corner in some clean area. She was feeding her kid.

‘Beta, don’t cry we will bring a new dog,okay?’, my mom consoled me

‘We will raise Shambhu’s kid’, my daddy added

I looked at that puppy. He too was a male and replica of my Shambhu. He too was white skinned.

My daddy picked up Shambhu’s dead body. He treated Shambhu like his son. He wanted to bury him. My mom went to bring spade and pick mattock, and reached at the ground at far end of our colony.

We buried Shambhu. I put some flowers on his grave and folded my hands. Perhaps, Shambhu’s life was two years only. He stayed with us for as short as two years, however, left the memories of lifetime.

May God rest peace to his soul.

***THE END***

Thank you for reading…Jai Hind

My other stories

Work Is Worship

The Great Grandpa

Habit To Forget Too Fast

You get whatever is written in your fortune