When I greatly cherish my pleasant and lovely college days, I also remember with mild sadness, the incident that perturbed me but still made me more humane. That was a lovely morning and our ladies hostel was busy in its activities. I started for college. As I came out of the hostel, my eyes were searching… searching… for my lovely little friend who was so fond of licking people’s legs…. No wonder! ….. He was a puppy… I fondly called him ‘Subramani Kutty’ as he looked like the one starred in ‘Mundram Pirai’ film. First let me say how our relationship bloomed. When he was newly born, he was drawing the attention of everyone in our hostel. He was looking so cute and was very playful. Even though I liked him a lot, I loved to see him from a safer distance. When he came near me or bite my slippers or licked my legs, I would start screaming as I was scared of dogs. This is because I was chased by a puppy when I was a kid….. Now Flashback ….. I was six years old and my brother was one year old. I took my brother for a walk in the afternoon of a hot sunny day. My little brother who had just learnt to walk came with me so happily. Everyone was in their house having a nap after lunch. The street was deserted. As we started walking, a puppy who was so bored of loneliness, wanted to play with us. He started licking our legs and biting our slippers as all puppies do. We both got scared and started crying. The puppy was running between our legs. My brother could not balance his steps as he had just started walking and I was also too small to carry him in my arms. When we were struggling with that puppy, an Uncle passed by that way. He took both of us in his arms, consoled us and left us in our home. From then on, I would never go near a puppy. I would just stay away and watch while others were playing with it.
Now back to my college days and Subramani kutty… One day afternoon when he came near me, I behaved in the same way as I used to do with the other puppies. One of my friends told me that he wanted to become my friend…. He wanted to play with me … He was just expressing his affection by way of licking and biting…. Still I was not convinced.
Now back to my college days and Subramani kutty… One day afternoon when he came near me, I behaved in the same way as I used to do with the other puppies. One of my friends told me that he wanted to become my friend…. He wanted to play with me … He was just expressing his affection by way of licking and biting…. Still I was not convinced.
That night when I was on my bed, I was thinking of the puppy. Deep in my heart I liked him a lot …….. But still scared …. At last I made up my mind ….. Gathered some courage ….. I dreamt of carrying him …….playing with him and making him lot more happier. I was eagerly looking forward to play with that puppy… I got up early in the morning and got ready for college the next day ….
And that was the day I was searching for him outside the hostel. After trying my best, I asked the watchman about him. He told that the day before, the puppy was sleeping under the shade of a bus tyre. As he was very small, he could hardly be noticed. The driver started the bus without noticing him. The tyre ran over his body and he was no more. I wept bitterly that day.
But his loss changed me a lot. Nowadays whenever I look at a puppy, I used to remember him. I’ll put away all my fears and play with it remembering my dream of playing with my ‘Subramani Kutty’.
I love you my dear Puppy ! You made me more humane!
