The Happy Puppy!

Status quo is easy to live with ! Even if it is callous, insulting and obviously monotonous, it can reward you with a mindless tolerance if you want ! Can’t you just avoid any change ? Especially if you do not know what that change will look like ?

Some people do avoid it. They spend their lifetime avoiding it. Only, she had decided that she needed a change. She needed to go away from that place, to rescue herself and her daughter from the pits she could foresee!

The alarm clock beeped. She wasn’t asleep anyway. She got up quickly. In a few more hours, she would leave the house forever. Just a few more hours ! But they were crucial. She had to follow the status quo. She needed to cook and complete all her chores. Other people in the house needed to nag her and spend their free time. Last thing she needed today was their doubts!

So she went into the kitchen. As usual it was still dark outside. She flicked on the light and popped a white head with pink nose and deep dark eyes in the window. Her dog! He peeked from the window. She stared at him. It struck her that in her grand scheme of change of sorts she had totally ignored the only creature who really, selflessly loved her in this household, her dog! 

To leave him meant leaving him to die with the love-less, cruel people living in that house!

Status quo!

He barked, She shushed. She took out all leftover flat breads and threw them out of the window, one by one. He caught and ate all of them jumping up and down. And then he stood there, his paws on the window grill, ears pointing upwards. A happy puppy ! And she talked. He replied, wagging his tail!

That was the only time when she really talked. Happy was not allowed inside the household. She always was amazed by the communication they had. In the dark, everyone else sleeping, she felt a release. But she was sad. She cooked and cleaned all the while, wrecking her brain for a way, any way that will save him!

In a few more hours, her father would come. That’s good! She didn’t inherit her dog-love from her mother! He wouldn’t mind. She was sure. The question was how to take Happy away…

She was supposed to pick her daughter from her daycare. Happy didn’t go to any such kennel. What to do?

One by one, sounds started coming in. people woke up one by one. Nagging and taunting resumed. Should she refute? She decided to talk back … status quo! It was just a few more hours.

The morning passed slowly. She was still clueless. How can she leave with Happy? Happy started barking. The workers from her husband’s shop arrived to take the keys.

“How can your dog still bark? They come here everyday! It’s been a year!” The husband shouted on top of his lungs.

Yes! Of course! It’s been a year… Her husband gave her a perfect excuse.

 ‘Don’t forget your poker face!’ she told herself.

She called her daughter and sent her with the workers like every day. They would drop her at the daycare.

She called her vet and took an appointment for Happy. “I am taking Happy to the vet. He needs his vaccines. It’s been a year!”

“And why are you wasting my money on that dog?….” She didn’t bother to hear his next words. She wanted to talk about the money he wasted in routine on gambling, alcohol. But she didn’t bother. Much was already said. It was just a matter of two-three more hours anyway.

The hours flew quickly. She made it out of the house. No one suspected her.

The driver ran away as soon as he saw Happy. A scary looking, four feet long and three and half feet tall Hound was not on his passenger list. He flatly refused to make any last minute changes.

Daddy also maintained a healthy distance. Now, they would take turns at driving. He stopped at a pharmacy.

“What happened?” she asked.

“We’ll put him to sleep until we get there.” Her doctor Daddy replied and bought some cold medicines.

The happiest of the three was Manu, her daughter. As soon as she saw Happy she hopped in the car without a single tantrum.

“Did you take his Frisbee?”, she asked. 

Manu’s enthusiasm thinned the disapproval on Daddy’s face. 

“Pets help the kids, you know!” Daddy was saying.

“What?” She asked.

“Happy may help Manu to cope, I think!”

“You think so?” 

“Yes … But I’m an old man now! You will leave for your job soon. How will I manage Happy?”

“Oh! Dad, you don’t have to worry about that?” She pulled out a small, thin stick. “You keep him in line with this. Tell him to sit and keep this in front of him, he won’t move an inch. You keep this in your hand and he will follow all your commands. Don’t worry. I trained him the way you showed me. Dog training 101.”

“Still, your mother has to accept him.”

“I know…”

“You know, we can also send him to our farm. To Mahadukaka! There he will take care of Happy. ”

“As long as he lives, I’m fine with any arrangement.”

Silence followed. She fidgeted with the stick.

“I wish. I had a stick like this for my husband. I could save him from himself”.

“Hmmm….. We all know you’ve done each and everything to salvage the situation. Don’t waste your energy on this anymore.”

No one spoke after that. Everything would change now! Anticipation and uncertainty colored that dusk. Her town was a few minutes away. The soft sounds of Manu’s snoring and Happy’s breathing were comforting. The worst was over. She was free; with her daughter and her dog! Manu and Happy slept peacefully... Manu nestled against Happy’s chest, both unaware of the coming change!