Boston, MA
18.11.2021
BLACK BEAUTY
It was the third time that morning that I’d opened the refrigerator. Nowadays, I tend to forget easily the reasons of my actions. My movements are fast between the fridge and the kitchen, but I have to tread carefully, lest I stamp the 4-legged black beauty watching me open and close the fridge.
Danny expects that every time I open the fridge, it is for him. To feed him something. Even if I don’t give him anything from the fridge, he would continue to sit and watch me earnestly. He never loses hope. No sounds come from him, but his eyes say it all. His eagerness to find out what is in the fridge for him and just by his looks, he sees to it that something or the other does come into my hand and straight into his mouth.
At last, I say pointing my finger toward his bed, “enough Danny. You are done. Now go away and sit”. He quietly walks away.
Danny doesn’t like the sound of the mixer grinder. Only once I saw him run when I switched the mixer on. From the next time I made it a point to announce, “Danny, I am going to start mixer”. He would run inside to his room, away from the sound of the mixer. I was surprised at his understanding.
Danny came into my life on January 20th, 2020. I used to and still fear dogs. When Danny arrived, I assumed that the house would be ransacked. He would run here and there, mess up the sofa and spread eatables all over.
I was wrong. When Danny came home, I stopped him at the entrance, did aarti and asked him to come in. A furry dark black, 45 kgs, huge Labrador. He stepped in slowly and made himself comfortable in a corner. He neither barked nor growled. He walked around tiredly after 25 hours of being on the road from Chennai to Mumbai. I was surprised at his silence.
I went about my work and didn’t try to get to know him or his habits. He was Rahul’s pet and hence his responsibility. Neither was it my cup of tea. So, I carried on with my work over the weekdays and coming home to Kharghar on weekends.
Danny arrived home on Monday night. I left for work the next morning and returned Friday evening to see Danny by the lift lobby. He jumped to show his happiness at my arrival. I smiled to myself but didn’t even touch him. I kept myself aloof. I was never used to a pet and had never had such an idea of getting close to an animal. It was Rahul’s pet, and my concern was minimalistic.
Weekends passed like this. Weekdays, I stayed away from Danny and weekends, I watched Danny from far.
In March 2020, while the lockdown was in place, one evening, I was forced to be at home alone with Danny while Rahul was away. I was little scared. Maybe he sensed the fear in me? He glanced at me occasionally and took deep breaths, opening his mouth as if he was trying to smile at me. He wanted to make me comfortable.
It was almost dinner time and Rahul was not back. I got panicky, thinking Danny may bark if he gets hungry. Rahul called and said, “Amma can you please put his formula food 2-1/2 cups in his bowl?”
That was the first time, I fed Danny and looked into his eyes. His eyes conveyed his happiness at the timely food that I served him.
When I think back, I now know that, that was the moment when our eyes met and our communication lines got synchronised.
In the next 6 months, the 4 of us; Rahul and Danny on one side, my husband and I on the other side of the house. We lived like 2 families sharing an apartment. Danny and I would exchange glances and slowly he drew me into playing with him with his toys. Even so, I couldn’t muster the courage to feed him or take him for a walk. Rahul and my husband did all of it.
In September, my husband had to go away for an assignment for 3 weeks and it fell upon me to feed Danny and even take him for walks within our society premises. I don’t know when Danny crept into my mind, made a place for himself, and then spread himself in such a way to occupy the whole of space for himself. Not a word. Not a sound. Only the voice of his eyes.
By October 2020, we had to take a decision to move back to our Napean Sea Road residence, as I had to physically be present in office. We mutually agreed that Rahul would visit us at Napean Sea Road twice a week and Danny would live with us, as my husband would be at home all day.
Initially, I wondered whether Danny would miss Rahul’s presence. But he was matured, calm and composed being. He adapted himself to the newer ways of life, the ways his life was taking him. From a big family house in Chennai, to a bachelor pad and then an apartment in Mumbai after a 25-hour road journey with strangers and Rahul with whom he had a short acquaintance. In Kharghar, a high rise bldg. on the 13th floor, facing strange times of lockdown, stray dogs and new people around and then to be with us in a newer surrounding at Napean sea road away from Rahul too.
Observing Danny had become my new past time. Very soon, I started to realise how by his calm and composed nature, he can bring tranquillity within his surroundings and spread affection, not by words or any sound, but by just being quiet and observing. Just by looking at his eyes, we could understand what he wanted, and he would be behind us unless and until his needs were fulfilled.
In due course of time, we realised that the park opposite our house had separate hours for pet dogs to socialise. We were making new friends with pets. Wherever we went, Danny accompanied. Our lifestyle had changed. More than that, my mind changed forever. Danny taught me what is unconditional affection. He taught me that by being silent and observing, one can keep oneself calm and composed. The let go spirit is easier to put in practice with him around. He brought about tranquility within the chaos that I get into with all the thoughts and fears in my mind.
He shows his excitement and happiness by wagging his tail at the prospect of walks. He waits at the door and ensures that I join him and my husband in the night walks. He treads between us like a happy baby.
It’s been a week of being away from Danny but not a single day has passed by without speaking or thinking of him. I call all the dogs Danny, whomever I see on the road and all of them respond affectionately.
Between January 2020 and today, I am a changed person forever. The feeling of being loved and showering love, is an altogether different experience, which I would never have had, if I hadn’t reciprocated Danny’s efforts to come closer to me and adapted myself to Danny. May be in human relations too, we could try and open our minds to accept the people in our lives as they are and make it simple and easy to live with each other.
A big Thank you and best wishes to my dearest Son Rahul, on this 25th birthday for bringing Danny into our lives. Though, I keep pointing out that in every plan now, we must put Danny on the top and then decide around it, still at this point of time, in the difficult situation of being under lockdown for a long time and having stressful events to face, Danny has been around to help us remain sane. Long and healthy life wishes to Danny and of course to the Dog father Rahul dearest.
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