PART IV
Continued...
Pet therapy! Many recommended it to me. We have had pets earlier, German Shepherds
always but somehow I couldn’t connect. Maybe they were not cuddlesome enough or
probably the sheer size and ferocity intimidated me. May be unlike me, they
were extroverts.
Despite having them as pets, I must confess I was not much of
a dog lover. Recommended by a dear friend, “he” (can never use “it” for someone
who is more humane than most of the human beings) came to me as a 22-day-old
pup. Big enough to fit the palm of my hand, he looked at me with his big sad eyes,
which instantly melted my heart. The first night in our house was spent to make
him comfortable because probably he was missing his mum. I tried everything from cuddling
to cajoling and feeding (unnecessarily like all moms do) to make him feel at home but he
took his own time as if telling me, its not that easy!! His unique way of
sleeping in his bed reminded me of Emperors and Sultans. I decided to call him
Nawab.
I don’t know about other pugs but
somehow Nawab has an amazing sixth sense. He knew he was brought home with a
purpose, he also knew his mission very well. 'Mission Happiness'! Up at 5AM
everyday, he has his eyes transfixed on my bed waiting for some movement. The
moment I look at him, up goes his tail and then starts his non-stop jumping. Perhaps his way of wishing “Good Morning”!
And then begins his coaxing me out of the bed. Mewling like a baby, using his
paws, he makes vehement efforts to pull me out of bed. With Nawab around,
lethargy stands no chance at all. I must get up and get going.
Throughout the day he is with me, sitting by my feet he keeps looking at me when I am in the kitchen, jumps onto my lap while I
am doing yoga and even tries to jump on the treadmill during my workout! Often
when I am using my laptop or phone he simply sits in my lap and starts peering
into the laptop or phone as if telling me how it is done! Throughout the day he
is most dutifully and happily strutting from one room to another along with me,
never leaving my side, even for a second. Wherever you go, network follows!! He has this amazing ability of snoring through worst of thundering but is extremely vigilant of my most stealthy tip toes.
Sometimes I wonder what is it that
makes him so obliged. He would sulk if I have to leave him and go out of the
house and would be waiting for me on my return, offering the best possible
welcome. He has this unique ability to probably read my mind, sense my moods
and thereafter in his own little ways try to pep up my spirits. He surely has
many tricks up his sleeve. One of it is that he will start circling around me
like a whirlwind with his tail perfectly parallel to the ground, a sure shot
way to make me smile. When I talk to him, he responds with his eyes and it
won’t be an exaggeration if I say that he is the world’s best listener. He has
this peculiar way of tilting his head sideways and bringing his face absolutely
close to mine, indicating that he is ‘understanding’ me perfectly. My toy, my
companion, my confidant, my bundle of positivity, my Nawab has opened the floodgates
of happiness for me.
People say that I’ve pampered him
but I feel it is the other way round. Some of the best lessons on unconditional
and selfless love, loyalty, honesty and contentment have been taught to me by
him in the most effective and practical manner. He knows not only how to ‘give’
love but how to ‘get’ it as well. And he may not be able to speak yet everyday he conveys without fail , "You will always be loved by me." Sometimes, it is more than enough to make me happy.
To be continued...
P.S. - I know some of you who are reading this blog have certain queries. I will try and answer these in my concluding part.
