All Talk and No Action

Happppyyyyy Budddaayyyy Chotuuuuu !!!!

Muuuaaahhhhhhh !!!

I had thought of writing an ode to this lovely beast who is the most precious creature for me...However, I later realized that its always difficult to be objective about something you are emotionally attached to.

Still, I shall attempt to explain this Hero's entry into our ordinary and uninteresting lives.

Its been exactly 2 years since he gatecrashed into our peaceful lives and turned everything Topsy turvy.

I call it a gatecrash since we were not prepared for another bout of amusement, wonderment, love, attachment, separation, heartbreak and pain. Our last pet had died a slow and painful death. I was 10 then and it was my first brush with the death of a loved one. We then decided not to get close to these addictive and cuddly creatures. Too much investment. Emotions. Love. Pain.

I guess destiny had different plans in store.

A stray in our colony gave birth to 8 pups. All at my home yelped with excitement !

I was NOT amused ! Not again...!!

These small creatures force their way into your home, your kitchen, your study, splatter books around, jump and prance about, pounce on you to welcome you, lick you when you are upset, stare and pooh to soothe you, wag their tails when you call their names lovingly, snarl and pounce when you tease and pull their tails. No !! I did not want that kind of commitment when I knew that heartbreak was imminent !

Yet, it was a delight to see the pups fight for their mother's milk, bite each other's tails, shriek and howl the whole day. Our home had turned from a haven into a "Chidiya Ghar" with milk splattered around, bread crumbs strewn across and "baby" claw prints !

I got irritated since I was getting emotionally involved. Who wouldn't?

Then -

Heavy rains and floods hit our area. Most of the babies disappeared overnight ! Some got washed away and others died slow deaths.

Strangely, Chotu survived. However, he came down with heavy jaundice. My Mom melted at the sight of his withered body and vowed to nurse him back to good health. Countless visits to the vet, injections, forcible use of the syringe, daily calcium doses filled her day.

Finally, her efforts showed results and Chotu bounced back beautifully. My brother and I had a whale of time feeding him, teasing and fooling around with him. We did not realize how days passed into months.

2 beautiful months of absolute bliss, play and LOVE.

When it was time to bid him adieu, we were heartbroken. The baby had managed to pull our heart strings. One look at him was enough to melt the hardest hearts ! I surprised myself by asking my parents IF we needed to put him back on to the roads ! Couldn't we just have him around?

Bechaara kahan jaayega? Kya karega? Kaun isse khilaayega? Kaun iske saath khelega?

What was bothering me was not how HE would survive but how WE would survive without him ! This question made all in my family smile...

So...did it mean...?

Hurray !!!

We decided to adopt him officially, got him vaccinated and decided to call him Rusty due to his golden brown hue.

Its been a wonderful journey so far. Watching him grow has been immensely satisfying and an endearing experience.

We didn't realize when the small, cuddly, beady eyed, teddy bearish, wiggly tailed pup turned into an expressive and lithe beast.

He is intuitive, loving, loyal, supportive, playful, watchful, protective, possessive, expressive and moody.

A kid who is forever ready to play, a friend who is forever ready to support, a baby who always seeks approval, a silent companion who gives you space, a teacher who teaches the power of selfless and unlimited love.

Not once in the past 2 years did we ever feel that we had saved his life.

On the contrary, we had been blessed with a gift.

We shall cherish it forever !

Muuaaahhhhhh !!!

P.S. The hero celebrated his birthday in style. My dad took him for a car ride and bought him Vanilla (his fave ice cream) :-)