Boo’s Antics

Budi wants constant attention. He becomes depressed if ignored, which leads to craziness which is manifested in varied ways.

I enjoy reading morning paper with a cup of tea…all of a sudden Budi deals a hard slap on to the paper with his front paws, bringing it down, or causing a wedge - rendering it impossible for me to hold it in front of the eyes. But Budi is happy as he can see my face and I his antics.

When my reading session is too lengthy, Budi stealthily removes one of my slippers from my feet and then starts a frenzied running around the house, tossing it in the air and then catching it and bolting like a consummate hunter. The session continues till he is tired enough and then he puts the slipper down and takes a rest. But slightest movement on my part alerts him again and there is another round of frenzied running around from room to room in circles. In the end, when I am sure that he has forgotten it, I have to look around every nook and cranny of the house for my lost slipper. If I am lucky, I would find it on my bed over the bedcover or his hiding place—a narrow tunnel under my bed, between the wall and the bedbox…

Budi is too nosy. One can not do anything without Budi supervising the whole operation. If you want to arrange the mess in the wardrobe, Budi will lodge himself into the depth of the shelf, with only two eyes flashing from the darkness like two jewels, or if you open the lid of the bedbox for retrieving some extra wrappings, pillows or bolsters, Budi will leap inside, knowing full well that you won’t have the heart to shut him down inside. After all he is the pet of the house. If you are alone God save you, for you may be standing for eternity holding the heavy lid shouting for help, until someone lures him out with a piece of mutton bone (the real one, not synthetic which come from Bangkok)

If you are watching TV, he will bring one of his ‘poo poos’ or squeaky toys placing it on your lap, which means you play with him the ‘throwing and fetching’ game. Experience makes you wiser and you try to throw it as far as possible for some peace for however short, it may be.

Crafty as Budi is, still he is like a gush of fresh air, filling the house with youthful energy. Scold him, show him the cane, pet him or smooch him, but you can’t ignore him

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.

Budi United With Family

January 5th, 2005

Life was moving pretty fast. I was only two month’s old, separated from my three siblings and my natural mother. The house where I was received was a nice one, absolutely clutter less. Just as I was leaving my mark on the floor expressing my approval (read soosoo) Baba announced that taxi had come. Ma picked me up in her lap and started climbing down the staircase. Baba handed over the keys of the house to a stranger, picked up the luggage and followed us. Soon we were traveling to some destination, about which I had no idea. I could sense Ma looking relieved, as if some heavy weight was off her shoulders. My sixth sense was telling me that they were going to enter a new phase of their lives, with a new addition, which was me.

We reached Delhi. Babi didi had come to receive us at the station. After handing over the piece of luggage to Baba, when Ma finally appeared at the door with me in her lap, Babi didi looked suspiciously at Ma, she had been in touch with Ma till the end and I had been no where in the picture. It took Ma some time to convince her that I was a new member of the family, acquired legitimately, not kidnapped. Babi didi still was not fully convinced. She must have transmitted the news to Runu didi, for Runu didi entered the house after some time, looking in all direction. All this while, I was hiding behind Baba who was having a nap after lunch. As I got a new scent - I peeped from Baba’s back, our eyes met. She let out a scream “how cute!” with a big smile. At last Babi didi smiled too. Thus I came to know my new family.

Budi Comes Home

From Budi's Diary, 5th Jan 2005

Ma calls me reincarnation of Raja, who occupied 37/G from the inception of that house till the end, leaving behind a void, which I filled up at the very last moment when they were going to bid good bye to Jamshedpur for all time, picking up the threads, where Raja had left it.

Ma believes that my coming was providence, a divine intervention, as I came against all odds. She had a sickly mobile, which she had kept on charge with twelve rupees talking time left to its credit. The taxi had been ordered, luggage packed, neighbours bidden good bye, and in that final hour the phone rang. Ma thought that it was from one of her daughters, but no! It was a male voice.

“Did you want to have a pup?”

“But who told you so?”

“Dr. Mahato, your vet”

“But we are leaving Jamshedpur, we have to catch the 1’o clock train in the afternoon. It is already noon now”

“I am coming, just wait 10 minutes for me”

"Where will you come from?”

“Sakchi”

“How can you reach in 10 minutes?”

“Leave that to me”

I came by scooter, held tightly by the pillion rider. I was scared and extremely anxious about what game fate was going to play with me but my fears were allayed, when Baba dashed a benevolent smile at me and ma cuddled me up in her lap, which felt cozy and warm. I knew that I was in safe hands.