The Dogs Bark

Orbital veracity has confessed with ocular evidence that nights are over at the pleasant arrival of flaming daylight and so is the grief over abundance. - Gaurang Sheth

The Dogs Bark 

Narrator Vishu, Age 14, Place Mumbai.

The darkness of that night was only visible all around me.  Ache of the unlit flavour assisted with howling cry of the dogs was turning the eventful evening into a bland night. After a delectable evening with bosom buddies, night was set to pitiful state. Alone in the mission I was heading back, overlooking the emotions of the darkness, in following my own rhythm reached at avenue through the pavements about to get inside the compound.  

Sudden large woof stumbled on me for a second. There was a black Bakharwal dog was barking on me. Predominantly not afraid of street dogs I kept walking my pathway. To my surprise, he followed me with breathless barking as if he is going to bite me. Never experienced that before from the dog I was now little scared stiff trying to scare the dog away. I was more agitated seeing the dog coming back at me again and again after few back steps. Somehow took the other long side of the road and got away to ploughed inside my house from that tensed locale. But that episode took over my mind for considerable while.

The chapter continued the next day in the morning when I was about the same pathway and the dog barking at me with same potency. That did really scared hell out of me. More than fear I was concern about how spook I would be seen as by on goers and would be crowned as clod by fellow mates. Somehow hiding the signs of fright I acted furiously saying

“Whose dog is this,” I added “can’t you tie your dog?”

The voice from behind had almost made me dumb face. ”Brother, Don’t be afraid dog is not going to harm, just go on”. Again I took the round trip via longer path as usual.          

I knew I would be circumspect about the dog’s behavior further; I was looking for dog’s whereabouts whenever I pass through the dog’s territory, as he would bark on anyone trespassing from his area. Specially, on those late evenings when there was nobody around to give me mental contentment. I keep waiting aside for someone to accompany me if I am loner there. Though part was to do it pretending I’m not afraid and without giving any cue. I had no plans of how to open that Gordian knot for past few days now. Although it wasn’t as bigger problem but did really distressed me a lot, for me it was like I have been fugitive from that area.  Every day I wished the dog to be far away somewhere.   

The dog’s bark was playing within my consciousness. It was undesirable cord holding us.

But, suddenly one day the dog was no more visible, I kept looking but couldn’t sight a flash of it.  I surveyed many times with no luck, initially glad to have rid of him, but sooner I realize that I kind of reminisced about it.

The remorse was that I could have chosen to be a friend with the dog. I went to the person whom I presume was caretaker of the dog. Bearded guy with close to Van Dyke style mustache looked to me in about early thirties greeted me. I asked about him and then about the dog.

He introduced himself “hey, I am Joel I stay in nearby colony”.

What followed then was great talk which touched me thoroughly with affection.

He said, ‘exactly a year ago when I was coming back burning the midnight oil from my wok, the same dog barked on me. I choose to brace amity over hate. After several recurrences, I feed him with biscuits, and we became friends. I went ahead with curiosity of finding out the reason of the behavior. Then once he stood barking near the half broken manhole which was barely noticeable unless seen carefully. It looked as if somebody fallen inside which the dog observed, Thus barking when he sees someone passing that side.’

The he went praising the Dog saying he is true friend. ‘He brings all the stuff I need, helps me and even signals when my bus is there.

Somewhere he mentioned Miley her wife, I could not hold back but to ask about where she was.  He told me Miley was the same girl that fallen on that manhole which she failed to see on that dreaded night. Her head smacked on that metal manhole cover the blow she could not survive I never listened her, at least I started listening to people now. Finally, I asked him, ‘where’s the dog gone?’ He said, People complained about his barking so the Dog catcher had caught him.  

         

Soon I realize and summarize to the Joel’s emotions, I talked myself, and sure I could not perceive the Dog’s bark.