We did not mean to laugh at our bada saab’s predicament but our four-legged friend Goldy had left us no choice. Bemused my husband and I washed away his muddy coat revealing a lustrous golden, with lukewarm water and shampoo. Two of these very adorable canine companions in our lives, made us laugh, made us cry and at times created havoc. But the pleasure they gave us was immense.
One was Silvy, a German Shephard who was obedient and true to those associated qualities. Goldy was a bit more moody and temperamental, owing perhaps to his previous experiences- of being abandoned twice. He was a bit insecure. He had a broad head, strong but soft, floppy ears- not very large which hung high on the sides of his head and dropped just a bit below his jaw. He had a dense, lustrous golden coat. However, his insecurity had led to him snapping more than once at the bearers, chowkidaars and paani-walas.
My husband was the only one who could touch, bathe or brush Goldy. Where ever Goldy went his reputation as a snappy and temperamental dog preceded him. Though the bungalow was securely fenced, both Silvy and Goldy enjoyed the sprawling lawn of the bungalow. However, Goldy would at times get creative and find a way out from under the fence, or under the gate and even by digging soil and making a new escape route! Whenever things were not to his liking (especially when thunder and lightning left them flustered) Goldy would run to the factory sniffing and trailing the Yezdi. The only sound he loved was that of my husband's mo-bike. He had to be escorted back to the bungalow by my husband and would crawl away in a corner to lick away his emotional wounds from the scolding that he would get and Silvy would be a quiet onlooker.
Both of them would wait in anticipation for the day when my husband would get back from the haat (weekly market) with mutton, beef and chicken. They would run up to the mo-bike and even before he had had a chance to dismount, jump up on him, bark lovingly and vigorously wag their tails as if to greet him and ask “what did you get me?!” with a twinkle in their eyes.
One rainy evening, I served dinner to both Silvy and Goldy and while Silvy quickly gobbled up her meal, Goldy was nowhere to be seen inspite of clanking his bowl and calling out to him. That particular evening, the sky was grey, the clouds gathered, the air electrified as it anticipated a quenching storm. Looking up I felt just a small droplet on my face and thought to myself that there could be a heavy shower any moment. The lightning struck and there was a loud thundering clap. I grappled my thoughts about Goldy vanishing and hastily walked towards the bungalow gate. The chowkidaar followed me with an umbrella in his hand and a flashlight. Hesitant to call my husband at the office, via the intercom, as I knew there would be an important meeting later that evening, I headed out to look for Goldy. Just as I opened the gate, I saw Goldy following my husband on his heels, with his tail tucked between his legs, his fur matted and covered with mud, his puppy-eyes pleading for mercy.
Those eyes could have fooled anyone but judging by his muddy appearance, we knew better. For there was a tiny spark in his eyes, that could only have been the result of him splashing joyously into a puddle, then trotting along further to sense the happy congregation of water and air, bouncing into the slush, and rolling on his back with all four legs pointing towards the sky. Oh! How alive he must have felt then, so connected to the very essence of nature! He must have experienced true beauty, the simplicity of everything he loved. Alas, the dream must have come to an end with a loud thunder which would have led him into the office.
My husband being the factory assistant had to see to the packing and despatch of the new batch of tea. He was just about to wind up and as he scurried through the file of the meeting to be held with the union workers and the management, he saw the office chowkidaar enter saying "bada saab ne salaam diya hai" (Planters way of saying that bada saab's want you in his office). Looking at his wristwatch my husband quickly rushed into the bada saab's chamber and froze.
Transfixed at the entry of the door, he peered at the unbelievable scene in front of his eyes, placed his fingers, underneath the frame of his spectacles and rubbed his eyes. His small eyes popped out and grew large! “Was it really happening?!” he wondered. Just then the lightning flashed into the office and thunder rattled the frame of the windows- was it a figment of his imagination? The scene which met his eyes – there were six to ten heads seated in front of the manager’s desk facing him. Two or three of them were crouching on their chairs with their heads down on their knees as if trying to save themselves from some kind of bombardment while others glared at the absurd scene- his bada saab atop the swivelling chair dressed in kaamjaari shorts, tees, sports socks and shoes. My husband travelled back in time to his school days remembering how he would be punished and had stood on the bench holding his ears dressed in school shorts, shirts and tie but what could have possibly happened in these few minutes to lead to this awkward behaviour of the bada Saab?!” It was an important meeting after all! The bada saab's head was cocked to the side, his eyes shifted from the ground to meet the gaze of his factory assistant, giving him a look that would make anyone shrivel. So my husband met his eyes with a bewildered smile after snapping out of his trance upon hearing his name.
He moved inside and placed the files on the desk at the same time bent to peek under the table where the bada saab had pointed and his heart skipped a beat. "Goldy" he murmured, now concerned about annoying his manager and delaying the important meeting. Simultaneously, the welfare officer said that this muddy slushy creature looked somewhat familiar. “Is he Goldy?” he asked as Goldy was beyond recognition. All these events happened in a flash of a few seconds. Taking a grip of the situation and the handle of the chair descending from it, the bada saab chuckling said that all of a sudden he felt something cold and wet on his thigh and when he looked down, he discovered this muddy and slushy creature that scared the living daylights out of him! However, having a unique ability to laugh at himself and the ludicrous situation he set another date for the meeting.
Meanwhile Goldy, with an enthusiastic egotism, remained true to his character, ignoring all- jumped and pranced overjoyed on seeing my husband, oblivious of the fact that he had brought an important meeting to a standstill. Wagging vigorously, his joy knew no bounds.
Once they were back, the only trace of Goldy having visited the office was the muddy paw prints left behind. My husband translated for Goldy that the poor dog only wanted to convey to everyone that there had been a loud thunder and lightning and they should all be safe in their homes!
