Lucky!

The low pressure in the bay was creating a heavy downpour. The stillness of the stormy night was broken by tiny snivels. Going by the direction of the sound, we located a plastic bag amidst thorny bushes in a vacant plot opposite to our house. Five 'just-born' puppies presumably abandoned within minutes of their birth. We were on time to save only two. Already home to 2 dogs and a cat, our house was overflowing with 2 and 4-legged occupants. Not having the heart to leave the puppies to their fate, we brought them home.

One of our neighbors, were constantly asking us for a male pup, if our pet dog litters. So, the male pup was happily given to them and we decided to keep the female pup until we found someone interested in taking her. A week later my brother who dropped in at our neighbors place, came back with a morose face. The pup had been abandoned at a tea-shop, as they could not cope up with the constant feeding, cleaning, and whining of the pup. They hoped it would survive licking on the milk strewn around. He had rushed to the shop only to be told that a small white pup was run over by a motorcycle as it was running amuck in the road without a sense of direction, petrified by the sound of traffic.

Who was more cruel? They who abandoned the pups minutes after their birth or they who abandoned after showing one a hope of life, or we, who were so impatient to give it off hurriedly? All of us were, the difference being only in the degree of manifestation.

We decided to bring up the other, I christened her 'Lucky' as she was the only one fortunate enough to survive amongst her siblings. My brother named her 'Buxsie' which according to him signified ' a little tough guy.'

A year passed by. Lucky grew up to be a very affectionate dog, as though she owed her existence to us. Her eyes conveyed much more than any words could have done. Our pets had a very soothing effect on all of us. They helped us find our best and truest self.

But thrown inside a thorny bush, exposed to the vagaries of nature, and deprived of her mother's care, all had a telling effect on the health of Lucky. She was easily susceptible to infections, skin rashes, and so on. We tried our best with supplementary foods and medicines. But Lucky, developed serious skin infection. The vet put her on a staggering list of antibiotics, creams, and injections. He advised not to let our other pets mingle with Lucky.

A separate enclosure was created for her in the terrace under the water tank. Feeding her, giving her medicines, constantly wetting the gunny bags in her enclosure to keep it cool, required a good deal of mental preparation, hard work, and pointed attention on my mother's part. In the evenings, Lucky would come down the stairs and sit at the gate. After dinner she would silently climb back the stairs and turn to look at the last step.

Four months passed this way. She would let out a painful whimper when touched. The medicines did not seem to help. We realized that her luck was running out. One afternoon Mom who went to feed her found her lying still. When called, without lifting her head, she opened her eyes to look at her. Mom raced down to tell us that she had a gut feeling that Lucky would not survive this time. By the time we reached, she had already breathed her last.

Though upset by her death, we were completely at peace with ourselves, for we were not guilty of any lapses on our part. We had tried everything within our means to help her survive.

Our neighbors dropped in to express their concern for our lost battle of helping Lucky survive and on our spent money and wasted energies. They hinted that they were worldly wise in abandoning the pup at the right time. But, little do they realize there are some defeats more triumphant than victories.