My First Social Visit

After the days of my confinement were over, Babi didi planned a social visit for me. One sunday she gave me a good bath, brushed my hair, took a rikshaw and started on her journey with my toys, my pee mop and me in her lap. I noticed people staring and laughing at her strange bag and baggage.

We reached a house. I was introduced to a big motherly looking thing called Kiyara. It was love at first sight for her. She adopted me as her son and overwhelmed me with her affection. There was a little boy in that house with whom I played hide'n seek, but our fetching game would not proceed smoothly as I would become too possessive about my loot and refused to part with it. When I smelled food, I abandoned my play. As Baba has said I am a glutton, I came running to eat, but Babi didi dissappointed me by not letting me eat my fill, lest I spoil her reputation as well as mine.

When I was six months old, one day I noticed great excitement in the house. Ma was cooking special meal for the evening and Babididi as usual was busy dusting, changing bed linen and creating confusion with her hectic activity. At about four in the afternoon a taxi stopped in front of our house. Runudidi shouted "Chotu eshegache" and ran down to recieve her. Then they came up dragging a heavy suitcase. So this was Chotudidi, who had been dodging me all these days. I decided to take my revenge. But Chotu didi was laughing deliriously. As soon as she settled down, I pounced upon her and within minutes she was devasted, all her hair was out of her long chutiva, hanging in front of her face, but she kept on laughing and laughing.

Budi gets his vaccines

5th January, 2005

A new phase of my life started. I have mixed feelings about this period as I faced a lot of red eyes at the same time love and cuddling which confused and overwhelmed me. On top of everything I was kept in confinement, my fault was that I was not yet three month’s old and not fit for outings. During this period Ma put me into rigorous training so that I form bathroom habits. My pee was soaked with news paper and put in the bathroom. All my activities were spied upon. Every time I felt like peeing and tried to squat on the floor an alarm was raised and I was bodily lifted, half way through my natural act and shut up in the bathroom which seemed ages to me. I was so much unnerved by the whole drama that I decided to learn what was taught to me. It happened for my good as I got lots of toys, balloons and petting in reward.

At last the “D” day arrived. A taxi was called Baba and Ma took me to a clinic. It was full of dogs of every size, breed and age. Some were as big as lambs and some had slack muscles - looking old and sick. Another one who was in labour pain was being given anesthesia for an emergency operation. I was the smallest, cutest and healthiest creature there. Come to take only my vaccination! The vet gave me a reassuring smile as if saying - don’t be afraid baby, I will push it in very gently. Baba was holding me tightly, I submitted myself to my fate, what else could I do.

My ID card was made and I officially became Budi Dutta.