By Savitri Narayanan
Rajiv poured more tea into his cup.
“What shall we do with the children?” he asked more to himself.
For the Aroras, both teachers in the neighbourhood senior secondary school, Sundays were special. They got up late, had tea in the garden leisurely, setting the tone for a lazy day. Uddhav and Gudiya too took it easy. When they got up, they rushed out to play with Chokku and Likku, their neighbour’s dogs.
“I’ve been thinking of it too,” said Sunita as she too helped herself to more tea, “What to do with the children?”
An in-service training session was scheduled for all the staff. The schools would remain closed for the students.
“We’ll have to be away for the whole week, what to do about Uddhav and Gudiya?”
“Isn’t Dadiji coming?” asked Uddhav, who overheard the conversation even as he played with the dogs.
That’s what they always did. Their grandmother, who stayed with Gopu mama and Asha mami in their village, came and stayed over whenever required. Despite being eighty plus, Dadiji was fit as a fiddle and helped them out by staying over when required.
“It’s harvesting season, she wouldn’t like to be away,” said Mummyji, “Let me ask if Maaji could come over for a week!”
There was a small opening on their boundary wall in the backyard which made things easier. The children were in and out of both the houses, so were the dogs. Charu aunty and Shomu uncle’s son, Kiran bhaiyya, was abroad for higher studies. His pet dogs Chokku and Likku were inseparable from Uddhav and Gudiya.
Charu Aunty came over, looking tense and worried
“What’s the matter, didi?”Mummyji expressed concern.
Charu Aunty slumped into a chair and her voice choked as she said, “There’s been a death in the family…”
Shomu Uncle too came over, looking sober and lost.
“My Tauji passed away last night!” he said. “We plan to go home by the afternoon train, will have to stay till the rituals are complete; don’t know what to do with Chokku and Likku….”
It took a while for the situation to sink in. Both the families needed help – one for their children and the other for the dogs!
“Don’t worry about Chokku and Likku!” Uddhav and Gudiya offered, “We will keep them till you’re back!”
“Many thanks, really kind of you!” Shomu said, looking relieved as they got up and took leave.
“What an irony!” Papaji laughed. “Here we are looking for someone to look after you both and now we’re stuck with two dogs to be looked after too!”
“What made you say that, children?” chided Mummyji. “Dogs are like children, a big responsibility!”
“If Naniji can’t come, we had a plan to leave both of you with Seema Aunty”, said Papaji. “In that case what do we do with these dogs!”
The children couldn’t take it anymore!
“You always tell us ‘we must help each other, help our neighbours, etc.!” reminded Uddhav, “Uncle and aunty needed help!”
“Our teacher also tells us, ‘help each other’!” Gudiya was in complete support of her brother.
“Let’s get Chokku and Likku’s things!” said the children. Soon they were back, loaded with things like dog food and food bowls.
Papaji and Mummyji were on a video call with Naniji.
“I’ll look after our Uddhav and Gudiya,” Naniji was loud and clear, “Not the dogs!”
“Naniji, don’t worry,” the children joined the video call, “You don’t have to do anything, we’ll look after Chokku and Likku!”
“I won’t clean the dogs’ poo!” said Naniji as she disapprovingly disconnected the phone.
***
Charu Aunty and Shomu Uncle left by the afternoon train. After dinner, Papaji left for the station to receive Naniji arriving by the late night train.
As Mummyji wound up the kitchen, she said, “I leave it to you, children, this is your litmus test!”
“Trust us, Mummyji,” they said, “Naniji will have no complaints!”
** *
It was quite late in the morning when the children woke up. Chokku and Likku raced down the stairs. Gudiya rushed after them to make sure they didn’t disturb Naniji.
The front door was open, Naniji was in the garden with the newspaper. She was amused to see how both the dogs squatted in front of her wagging their tails!
“Naniji, namaste!” smiled Gudiya. “Meet Chokku and Likku; they are greeting you by wagging their tails!”
“Thank God, they didn’t pounce on me!” said Naniji. “Some dogs do that, you know!”
Chokku and Likku too did that with playful friends!
‘Thank God, they behaved well with Naniji!’ they thought gratefully.
Uddhav too came out and greeted Naniji, who put away the newspaper and chatted with them. She totally ignored the dogs.
They too took the message and left her alone. They entertained themselves with a football and a plastic bat that were lying around.
At breakfast time Uddhav said, “Naniji, please cook some extra rice for Chokku and Likku!”
“Rice is ready,” she said, “feed them now!”
“No hurry Naniji,” said Gudiya, “Let’s eat first!”
As they ate paranthas with jam, Naniji asked, “What about their lunch?”
“They eat only twice,” said Uddhav, “Dinner is dog food; it’s upstairs!”
“You mean they sleep in your room?” Naniji was shocked.
“They have got their ‘bed-baskets’ with cushions,” said Gudiya. “We keep them below our beds; come up and see!”
“Where do they ‘poo’?” asked Naniji.
“No clue,” laughed Uddhav. “We never thought of that!”
The days flew past and their parents were due to return by evening. At the sight of the auto-rickshaw, Uddhav and Gudiya ran to open the gate, followed by Chokku and Likku. Mummyji hugged both the children fondly. Then came the apprehensive question, “Did they give trouble?”
It was Naniji who answered, “These dogs are so well behaved, and I love the way Gudiya and Uddhav take care of them!”
“You deserve an ice cream treat”, said Papaji as Mummyji smiled.
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(Savitri Narayanan is a retired educationist at present in Bangaluru. A mother and grandmother, loves readig, writing and
travelling.)
