Tiger
The day started on a rather delayed note, as I had overslept. So, hurriedly I finished the daily ritual of breakfast and filled my mug with steaming tea and set off to work. It was a bright morning and uncharacteristically yet welcomingly warm for a mid january morning. As I hurriedly walked to the bend in the road, I noticed I had company. As I sharply turned around and looked straight into the eyes, he was wagging his tail and staring me with equally mischevious eyes. He was obviously in a playful mood. Horror struck, I shooed him and said,"Tiger, go back to house". As if mocking me he sped across the road ignoring the lone car turning around the corner at 40 mph. I heart skipped a beat..rather several. For once, I thought 40 mph was dangerous speed!
To any spectator watching, it would have reminded the movie 'Tramp' where trapped in a lion's cage, Chaplin tries to shoo a little dog that is barking at him and is about to awake the sleeping lion. I cajoled him again..no he wouldnt budge. Perhaps he wanted me to play with him as I had the previous day in the house. I threw objects and he fetched them for me and thought it was a very interesting game. Now I cursed myself for doing that as this dog wouldnt let me go to work. All kinds of scenarios of a dog being injured or worse killed on a street and the house owner I was staying with suing me for that and me being deported to India flasjhed before my eyes. I also imagined a NY times headline, " An Indian terrorist responsible for the death of a poor dog in PA". A few beads of perspiration accumulated on my brow.
Now I stopped threatening and held my hand as if it had something for the dog to eat. But he was as cunning as 'Attila' ( R.K. Narayanan's story) and knew in an instant that I wasnt having anything in my hand and sped past me into someone elses house. Now, I remembered my fathers's words, spare the rod and spoil the child. Unfortunately, I wasn't in a position to use his advice in a country where the pets are called 'companion animals'.
Perhaps he realised the meek look in my eyes. That of a helpless graduate student as I stood on the pavement. He came near me, and as I tried to grab him he sped across the road now causing my heart to beat twice its usual rate. I tried different strategies..ranging from pleading, cajoing, ignoring and threatening.. all in vain.
Finally I remembered gajendra mokhsa story and surrendered. As I walked back to home, he was following me always maintaining a safe distance of about ten steps. I gave a look of desperation and meekness and said tiger don't come with me. Whether it took mercy on me or played enough I still don't know. But this time he didnt follow me. I felt relieved as if I had achieved something and laughed my way to work!
@
To any spectator watching, it would have reminded the movie 'Tramp' where trapped in a lion's cage, Chaplin tries to shoo a little dog that is barking at him and is about to awake the sleeping lion. I cajoled him again..no he wouldnt budge. Perhaps he wanted me to play with him as I had the previous day in the house. I threw objects and he fetched them for me and thought it was a very interesting game. Now I cursed myself for doing that as this dog wouldnt let me go to work. All kinds of scenarios of a dog being injured or worse killed on a street and the house owner I was staying with suing me for that and me being deported to India flasjhed before my eyes. I also imagined a NY times headline, " An Indian terrorist responsible for the death of a poor dog in PA". A few beads of perspiration accumulated on my brow.
Now I stopped threatening and held my hand as if it had something for the dog to eat. But he was as cunning as 'Attila' ( R.K. Narayanan's story) and knew in an instant that I wasnt having anything in my hand and sped past me into someone elses house. Now, I remembered my fathers's words, spare the rod and spoil the child. Unfortunately, I wasn't in a position to use his advice in a country where the pets are called 'companion animals'.
Perhaps he realised the meek look in my eyes. That of a helpless graduate student as I stood on the pavement. He came near me, and as I tried to grab him he sped across the road now causing my heart to beat twice its usual rate. I tried different strategies..ranging from pleading, cajoing, ignoring and threatening.. all in vain.
Finally I remembered gajendra mokhsa story and surrendered. As I walked back to home, he was following me always maintaining a safe distance of about ten steps. I gave a look of desperation and meekness and said tiger don't come with me. Whether it took mercy on me or played enough I still don't know. But this time he didnt follow me. I felt relieved as if I had achieved something and laughed my way to work!
@
posted by atma_tripta at 3:21 PM
3 Comments:
this was hilarious! one of our dogs used to do the same thing following me, my aunt and everyone else to the bus stop. he was white and majestic - he made friends with many people in the stop and they would get him rusk and other foods in the morning. of course, the majestic one he is, he never ate - but played with them anyways!
well written. i can picture this happening.. but then dogs can be devish and adorable at the same time !
@bala: It was hilarious for me too, but only after it was over. But as it was happening...:))
@ligne: Thank you. yes they sure can be;I can vouch for that from experience!!
We had a dog which found a bone from somewhere. And being in a completely vegetarian household, it was my brothers and my job to get the bone out of the house. I still remember the gruelling 2 hours and the tricks we played to take the bone away, while my sister looking at all this was clapping happlily.
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