My story (You & I….In This Beautiful World)

“ She needed a hand to fill the emptiness within her……….

I asked God to wrap me in fur and send me down to hold her heart with my paws”

I hid myself under the couch (don’t know why they call me couch potato sometimes)…..I dread taking bath……..I wonder why do humans take bath everyday (sometimes twice/ thrice in a day) … then I heard the biscuit packet open……all my fears and anxiety vanished into thin air and out I came running…..I fell into the trap, again!!!

Yes, I am a foodie I can’t resist food. As soon as I see someone having something, my mouth starts watering and I can go to any length to savor that one bite. I wish I was taller so that I could reach the table top and grab something myself whenever I wished. All these years I have observed that my human family has meals three/ four/ five times a day and every time there’s something different to eat. To top it over ,when there are guests at home, the eating and drinking goes on nonstop. Whereas for me, it’s the same boiled chicken/ egg with bread/ chapatti in the morning and some special dog food in the evening. Hey wait a minute……I really don’t know if I am a dog. I have never been treated like a dog. Rather, I have seen pictures of tiger and I have seen cats at close quarters. I look at myself in the mirror and it seems to me that I resemble both of them….cat in size and face like a tiger. It’s a cocktail but people call me cute. I have never bothered if I am cute or not, it doesn’t matter. What matters is food and sleep and love. I love to sleep and I can easily sleep for 14 – 16 hours….peacefully snoring loudly. I love human touch and I generally lie down on my human family’s feet or lap. I am lazy but no matter how lazy or sleepy I am, I have enough energy to follow my loved ones like a shadow (That’s why the catchphrase – “Wherever You Go…..I follow”). I am unique. For sure, I am a bundle of joy………I am a pug and my name is Oscar. I have big black eyes and soft velvet ears. I have a very short and flat nose and love to greet my family in the morning by a loud sneeze spray and a wagging tiny tail. We are a happy family of four and I know that my human family loves me very much. This is my story.

Diya, my elder sister (she’s younger to me by six months but treats me as her younger brother), sat in her ‘princess’ tent and was sobbing alone. She was missing her pappa who is often away from home for work, I assume. I can’t stand her sobbing. I crawled inside her play tent and started licking her feet. This is the only way I can express my sincere love. Then I put my head on her lap and from my squint eyes I could see her smiling as she fondly stroked my ears……….

I have a squint since childhood. My human father came to pick me up when I was around 40 days old. I could fit into his palm then. I realized that he was not very skillful in handling me. Rather, he seemed afraid of me and I wondered how can somebody be afraid of me. I was so tiny. He couldn’t even make me drink milk from a bottle. His mother (I know her as thamma) helped him, though I understood that she too was equally scared of me. We went home and the whole area was available for me to run and play and do my routines. Till then I had not met the one for whom I was a gift (from God) and who would mean the whole world to me in coming years.

Finally after a day, I met my mom – not biological one (I don’t remember who she was) – but my human mom who has been loving me so dearly……as her own son. I met her for the first time when she arrived the next day from a long work tour. I saw the terrified look in her eyes when she saw me. Exhausted and petrified, she sat down on the couch. I didn’t understand the reason for this. Nevertheless, I slowly walked to her, my paws slipping on the marble floor. She stared into my big black protruding eyes and held me on her palm. We gazed at each other for few minutes before I gently started licking her cheeks. I realized I was licking her tears. When she placed me on her lap, I understood that she was pregnant and a small baby inside her tummy was playing with me. I could sense a kind of emptiness and melancholy within her. I could also understand her predicament of handling a human baby and a puppy together, especially when my human father did not seem too interested in household chores and family affairs. I got my first task – to change my father’s attitude and make him a little more responsible at the home front.

I got him on his toes from the first day itself. Since my mom was a working woman and also pregnant, she could not carry out the work related to me, except loving me. Slowly I understood that my father got me without permission of not only his wife but his entire family. Now he was forced to do everything - bathing me, taking me to vets for vaccination, feeding me and the best was cleaning the mess I created all over the house. I saw him change a lot. He amended his daily routine of staying in office for long hours and his excessive work out and inordinate drinking.

Humans think, perhaps, that I don’t understand their languages. But I do understand everything through their tone of voice, actions, emotions and vibrations. I generally understand what’s going on in the house. In all these years I have learnt so many languages. The house help’s I have interacted with , travelling to so many places, speak in a different language every time and they all expect me to understand instantly. They forget that I am a dog and I need little extra time to get used to understanding their actions, languages and emotions.

So, I could sense my mother appreciating my father that he had changed a lot after I came home. It seems he became a tad more responsible and he started spending considerate time at home with me and my mumma. He bought me a new house (cave shaped) and plethora of accessories. Bowl, perfume, hair comb, hair dryer, pillows, blankets, bone teether, toys which made sounds, and mouth freshener too (I thought stinking mouths were natural). I tore apart my cave shaped home and few of my father’s slippers, as I had this constant itching all over my teeth. Still he loved me a lot. He decorated one corner of his house with posters of a dog who looked exactly like me and marked it as “Oscar’s Corner”…..In fact there were few afternoons when he used to come back from his office in uniform and play with me for a while before he went back to work again. As soon as he wore his white uniform, I understood he had to go to office. Rest of the time I did not want him to leave me and go. Due to my innate instincts, I moved with him like a shadow. Wherever he used to go I was always behind his feet. Since I was still small he erroneously stamped on me so many times and then kept on apologizing to me. Every evening after work, my mom and dad came home together. I desperately waited for them and was ready with my toy to greet them as soon as I heard their footsteps. With the sound of my father’s whistle I could make out from far that they had arrived, finally. He has this special tune which he sings only for me, until today . I used to sit with them with their evening tea and loved the aroma so much that I used to be so desperate to lick the tea and have the sweet biscuits. Both of them cuddled and played with me and loved me so much. Actually, I only understand love and I reciprocate 10 times more😊

I was happy to see mumma and pappa spending good time. I never wanted them to leave the house without me. But I realized that they have their work, friends, hobbies and many entertainment activities. For me – it was only and only my mumma pappa. My whole world. I dreaded the injections and the doctors. Whenever I saw them I used to shout (bark) and plead to my father to take me away. But he held me tight and kept loving me till I realized the sharp needle had already pricked me. Slowly I understood that these were known as vaccinations and the medicines would be a part of my life (deworming, vitamins) for a good and healthy life. My father had made a diet routine for me and I loved being pampered😊But sometimes he over pampered me which I didn’t like. He brought me a new dress and pair of shoes and it made me so uncomfortable. I used to become a statue when he used to make me wear that dress. He kept on bringing different types of shampoos, perfumes and toys. We played a lot and my favorite time pass was to lick his face all over.

One day we travelled in train. It was a completely different experience for me. There were so many people around and so much of hustle bustle. I wonder why do human beings chatter so much and most of the time I find it unnecessary. I love peace and serenity. Nevertheless, I was comfortable in my father’s lap and I got a special soft seat in the train, in a separate compartment with my father and his sister. We reached a place where my mumma was delighted to see me (she had gone to some place few days back and I used to search for her everyday all over the house) and I was so relieved to be back with her. After few days, I saw a tiny human baby girl come into the house. She was as small as me. With her tiny eyes, she saw me. I instantly realized that she was the new addition to our family. Now I had a friend to play with. But my happiness turned into jealousy when I observed that all family members, including my mummy’s parents ( I know them as ojja and aima) , showered more attention towards her. She was pampered more and everyday some new gifts were brought for her. My father too started being strict with me, to train me for carrying out my daily nature’s call outside home. Sometimes he scared me with a newspaper roll and I used to get very upset. I used to wish if I could understand what he wanted from me, I would be more than happy to do it. However since I am a dog and I needed time to get used to human idiosyncrasies , it was a bit difficult for me. Inspite of all the discipline spree I always loved them a lot and finally got trained…..after an year. I understood that it was very important since the baby girl started crawling on the floor and often treated me as her toy, though her parents (sorry, our parents) tried to keep her away from me. Most of the time I was tied on with a leash. One fine day she crawled towards me (oblivious to Maa & Papa) and started touching my eyes and pulling my ears. I wanted to tell her that I am not a toy and what she did, hurt me. But still, her smile was more important to me than my pain. I started playing with her too and accidentally my teeth (it’s very very tiny though, but sharp enough to hurt someone if I want to) briefly touched her and my nails too scratched her. She started howling and crying. I was terrified and didn’t realize what went wrong. I was just playing with her. My parents didn’t seem much perturbed and my training started again…..not to scare the baby…..I understood that and slowly and steadily we both became good friends. I used to lick her face and love her giggles. We grew up together. On some days, my pappa took me for vaccinations and mumma took Diya for her vaccinations. After coming back home, me and Diya secretly shared our pain arising from by those horrifying injections.

I loved my sister a lot. But, honestly, I used to get jealous when my pappa brought some gift for her and not for me. Once to teach him a lesson, I hid myself under the couch for a long time since he did not get me a gift but got for my sister. It took one hour of mollycoddling and apologizing, along with my favorite chicken chews, to take me out of the couch. I can be really obstinate at times. But I love her so much. I love playing with her. Sleeping at her feet and moving like her shadow…… every year she ties me a decorated band sort of thing on my front right leg and does some chanting and lights lamps. Then she gifts herself (some gifts which our parents get and give it to her by touching my paws) and pampers me with chews.

For an year, papa & I stayed alone at some place where I guess he was studying. But more than studying he would drink. I hated that and stayed away from him whenever he came home drunk. But he took care of me except one night when he did not return home and came only the next day morning. I could sense he was in an inebriated state and I was really angry at him for leaving me alone the whole night. He didn’t realize how anxious and tensed I would have been. For me, he was the only one I had then since I didn’t know where my mumma and Diya were. But my anger vanished, again, when he apologized to me and started loving me profusely. We used to travel in the car every weekend to another place where my Mumma and Diya lived. Those two days were a bliss. I loved sitting in front of the AC vent and enjoyed my car rides. Then a terrible incident happened and though I do not know the whole story , I saw Diya after months and I could make out that she had undergone something traumatic. She had stitches and bandages on her head and was crying continuously. But when she saw me she stopped crying and touched me. I instantly jumped on her and started licking her. That smile of hers, I would treasure for a lifetime.

We four started staying together again. It was a wonderful time. From that year, my family started celebrating a special week in which they got home an elephant shaped statue and there was lot of chanting and sweets. I was pampered with sweets too – only for those five days. I just loved the occasion. It was very positive and over the years I realized that humans worship statues and keep chanting and praying for their dreams or wishes. I never knew all this. In my understanding, it was only love and care that mattered. For last 10 years I have been attending all sorts of prayers and I am the one who sits beside the statues known as God. I have almost learnt the daily evening prayers by my Mumma and Diya and morning prayers by my Pappa. I have realized that I am a soul too and my past karmas made me a dog and my only task in this lifetime was to love and protect this family. I slowly started getting connected to the God because of my family. I was saved so many times by this higher power. Once there was a robbery attempt at our home, when Diya was admitted in hospital again (our parents were with her) for her second surgery (I know because she came home again with stitches and bandages and I was there to bring her comfort back). I hid myself under a machine where my Pappa used to run daily. I saw the temple above and saw a monkey faced god whom my family worships a lot. I secretly prayed and nothing went wrong. Once my leash got stuck between the doors of a lift and accidentally I was left alone in the lift. I could hear my Pappa getting tensed and trying to open the door. But the lift started moving. I had no other option than to pray and it worked. Another time, my Pappa in an extremely drunk condition took me for a car drive. Only we both were there along with a photograph of a bearded person whom my family worships a lot. I was so angry at him but more than angry I was tensed about the whole situation. I prayed to the bearded man and we came home safely. I have learnt to pray from my family and it’s a good feeling.

My Pappa started being away from me after we all moved to some another place. I still wonder why does my family change places so often and even the house maids and the neighbors keep changing constantly. But I love meeting new people and love getting pampered. I stayed with my dadu (my Pappa’s Pappa) and thamma for around three months before I again moved to some another place to be back with my family. Here my pappa came home very late from work. But the best part was I could see that he did not drink anymore. I was happy about that but was upset that he did not have too much time for me as before. But I had my mumma and Diya to play with and that was enough. After school, she used to climb on me and I used to jump on her and it was such a welcoming situation – for both of us – everyday. Then suddenly my pappa vanished for around three years. We, again, shifted to some other place to stay with our ojja and aima along with Mumma and Diya of course. He used to come for few days in months. I used to express my anger at him by my growling. He used to speak to me and try and make me understand that he was helpless – he had to leave me and go again. Though his love for me never lessened, I understood that the only person who would never leave me – ever – is my Mumma and Diya.

I love my sweetheart Diya. But she is too playful and treats me like a younger brother. Sometimes she makes me wear her hair clips and hair bands and incessantly clicks her photographs with me. I of course like all that but I love my Mumma the most. When pappa is away, she does all the work for me. She in fact has got a tattoo made of me. My father got a tattoo made for Diya. I love being etched on her skin permanently. But more than that I know I am etched in her soul forever. She speaks to me and plays with me. She listens to me. When she cooks, I love being with her in the kitchen. I lie down at her feet when she is reading a book or listening to music. When she is not at home during daytime, I am with Diya. Diya pampers me a lot and she is the only one who secretly makes me sit on the bed (Officially it is not allowed 😊). I thought that discipline and rules were of paramount importance. But from humans I learnt how to break them and not to get caught. Though I have three beds of my own, I still love the huge bed where my family sleeps. In an air conditioned room I love sleeping with them and I love the feeling specially when at mid night my Mumma gets up and strokes my ears. She speaks to me in such a sweet tone, always.

We again shifted to a new place two years back. I love this place. This place is so open and green, unlike the previous places which seemed more like a concrete jungle with humans moving and shouting like bees. I make it a point to be with my Pappa when he plays his guitar and when Diya plays piano. I love soft music. Not those glaring ones which Diya puts on when she is taking a shower. It hurts my ears ( like the festival I dread where everyone bursts some crackers and its frightening). Nevertheless, I lie down outside the bathroom till Diya enjoys her loud music and takes bath. I enjoy eating the human meals which Diya gives me secretly (only one or two morsel since it’s not good for my health) and I love being taken on the bed secretly where I lie down with Diya on her lap. Last year I was taken to the beach for the first time. The sand all over my body and the salty water made me feel little itchy but I loved the experience.

I will complete 11 years in a month. I am old now. My family celebrates all my birthdays. They get cake and eat it themselves (for sure I get to eat a little chocolate cake only during birthdays). I don’t like gifts anymore. I don’t like other kids treating me like a puppy. I don’t like travelling too much. I don’t like too much of noise. I get tired often and pant too much after a short walk (though I eagerly look forward for my morning and evening walks). My medicines have increased and I have developed a minor issue with my eyes and skin. But my family takes care of me so much. Just that I hate the doctor in his white gown coming home every month and giving me some injections and then my Mumma giving some drops in my eyes and applying some lotion on my skin and some syrup in a syringe every night. I just like staying at home with my family of four. I don’t have any regrets except that I did not have any coital experience and I know that my Pappa tried his best to arrange a mate for me….But I believe “Thy will be done and not mine”!!!

I realized that I have taken birth for my Mumma. She seems too much attached to me. We do have previous connections. I have nothing in my life except my family. They are my whole world. I just have one complaint. God could have made me live with them a little longer – may be at least for 50 years. 12 – 15 years is quite short. But I am happy that I am still able to continue doing my task for which I came down on earth. I still wait for them at the door whenever they go out – even if it’s for few minutes. I still wag my tail when they come back. I still lick their feet’s and talk to them. I still keep getting pampered. I want to live the rest of my life like this – with my family. Just loving them and being loved.