The Dog and The Demon

"Thambi...How much do you say for a kilo of onion?", my grandma's old but clear voice stopped the by-passing street vendor. Any street vendor cannot pass through my home, without being stopped by my grandma, who quality checks the commodity (It doesn't matter whether its tomato or Tablet PC's), negotiates the price politely yet strongly, and send them off without buying anything- Everybody have their own hobbies.

Those street vendors too know that she won't buy anything, but they had never hesitated to stop by and bargain equally with her. I don't remember a single day when they had shown their faces off to the old lady's call. I assumed, respecting other people’s hobby was their hobby- Everybody have their own hobbies.

     "Its Rs. 52 per kilo maa", replied the vendor. "I asked for 1 Kg, not for 1 basket of onion" grandma gave an innocent punch. We three know that the bargain will continue for at least 15 more minutes, ending in no purchase. But a shrill scream of a kid, that came from from upstairs snapped off the deal instantly. Grandma shrugged in shock caused by that scream, vendor dropped off his weight balance, and me, I stood blank and my legs forgot that they should run upstairs until my grandma pinched it. In four jumps I climbed the 16 flight stairs, to find the next house kid standing with his legs shivering, hands bleeding, and eyes overflowing with fear and tear. I looked around for a possible cause, there stood Tommy, my pet dog, looking at me innocently with its head tilted to one side, and wagging ts tail.

     It didn't need a detective to guess what would have happened. I know I should wash the wound with clean water and then should take him to hospital. But an unimportant thought disguised itself as the most important issue flashed it my mind. 'Why dogs are always named in English like Tommy, Julie, tiger, Cassie...  and why not they can have Indian names like Anitha, Arun, Raja or Ramya?' My determined mind put aside the sobbing that grew with time and got involved in serious thought. To the luck of that kid, a dumb but logical thought hit my mind unusually soon. 'Perhaps it is the passive revenge, we people are taking against 200 years of British suppression. Insulting them by naming dogs in English'.

     A more confident and anguished scream from the kid brought me back to the real world and I carried him to the hospital. Tommy was already vaccinated so I didn't had the fear of any serious troubles. The doctor said that there's nothing to worry as the wound was due to scratch caused by Tommy's nail. He dressed up the wound and gave the kid a sedative to make him sleep.

     When I came home, I found Tommy tied outside the front gate of home. The kids father who was in dhoti gave me an accusing look as I went to my home. my grandma's face told me stories of commotion caused by him and I understood that he had talked her out to drive Tommy out of the home. I gave her a 'Do something' look, and she gave me back a 'Same to you' look.

    I looked at the kid's father, and said, "So uncle...kid's fine. Doc said noting to worry". He looked menacingly at me as if I tried to feed Tommy his son and said, "But what's sure that this won't happen again?, there are other kids too, its not to safe to have a dog here". I wish I could Untie Tommy and make him to bite that 'demon in dhoti'. So that a menace can be eliminated before Tommy leaves home. But I know Tommy won't bite anybody. He is the perfect example of barking dogs seldom bites. I brought this cute, tiny, shiny, black Labrador, from my friend's home, hiding it in my sister's handbag, so that the bus conductor won't charge for it. I looked at Tommy. He's enjoying the bright sunlight on him, as my home wore a unusually gloomy look anticipating his departure...

     My Grandma finally broke the silence, "Okay, Don't worry, Tommy's a grown up guy, he can find his own food, leave him across the main road near the railway station and come back". Though my grandma said this casually in a steady voice, I didn't failed to notice the longing in her voice. The longing for Tommy to return back home within evening, as the place she said was familiar to Tommy, because he had went walking to that place with grandma lot of times. I know Tommy can surely get back alone from there, and if he comes, then grandma can retain Tommy back by threatening that, "its god's wish that Tommy should be with us, so only he got back all alone, don't get god's curse on you". I untied Tommy trying to hide the excitement because of grandma's plan. But the sugar coated Vicious words from the man, stung our plans. He said, "Paati, Tommy may get hurt due to traffic in that main road, leave him in forest area after that highway".Even before he finished , I know Tommy will be missed in the home for ever. As even a man with six senses and a sickle cant get through that dense forest

     

My head shook firmly in affirmation, as I shifted to plan B. That is to leave Tommy somewhere nearby without telling him. So that Tommy can smell its path back home. This time I completely hid the emotions in my face. I felt quite relived as the demon in dhoti went back into his home.

     I strolled along the road with Tommy, worrying what will he do if he cant find the path back home. But his intelligence and smelling abilities gave me hope. I never imagined, even my plan B,C,D,...Y, Z. will be shattered, because of the voice I heard, "Thambi...Don't go that place alone, I too will come"
Demon in dhoti stood behind me as demon in shirt and dhoti...

---TO BE CONTINUED