It's Only A Dog

Sheru was a dog with a good pedigree. After being born, Sheru couldn't stay with his masters for long. Within a few months, he had to be given away without being sold although his breed commanded good market value. All of a sudden grasping a good employment opportunity his masters were migrating to Canada. So the responsibility of caring for Sheru fell on the neighbors as the time was limited. Sheru was literally gifted to the Roy family. Joy, the young scion of the Roy family became the ultimate custodian of Sheru. He renamed it Agantuk inspired by the Satyajit Ray story and film about a stranger who came to a household uninvited and tested the hospitality of the family. Agantuk became Tuk or Tukai later at the Roy house. Although Tukai was not very welcome to the Roy family elders but also was not despised because of his cuddliness and playful attitude. Joy and Tukai developed an instant mutual love and trust for each other. It came to such a point that both bathed ate, and slept together. When Joy was in school that was a difficult time pass for Tukai. 

Joy and Tukai became inseparable friends. Tukai followed whatever Joy did and accompanied wherever his master went. He was a very intelligent dog. Tukai was a constant follower like a shadow to Joy. Only during school time, they were separated else everywhere together.

Slowly Tukai's quality as a good sniffer came to be recognized. Once on a stroll with Joy into a neighborhood shopping mall, Tukai had sniffed a bomb. Later it was diffused by the bomb squad. Although it was a crude contraption it could have had a lethal punch. As many lives were saved, the police gave an award to Tukai and Joy.

As the exploits of Tukai were spreading far and wide the criminals in the area became wary of the impending danger in front of them. A lot of crime in the region subsided. The Mayor organized a special felicitation program for Tukai. Tukai was all over the press the next moment. All the leading television news channels covered the event. The next morning it was the same with the newspapers. Some well-wishers of Joy began warning him about the safety of Tukai due to the attention he was getting. Not everyone would share the achievements with happiness and joy.

Then one-day real danger came unannounced. Joy was in school. All other working members were out of the home. Only a few nonworking ladies and retired senior citizens were at home relaxing. There was a knock on the doorbell and a courier company rep was doing the rounds. On being responded to he asked for a glass of water. Tukai then was alone with the stranger when his water was being fetched. Very soon he tranquilized the dog and picked him up wrapped him in a towel and scampered off. Tukai 's absence was soon registered and there was a mad search party started. All attempt was to keep it under wraps for Joy and try to find Tukai out before Joy returned home. But Joy came to know about it in due time because it was difficult to trace Tukai out. Joy sought help from the Sergeant uncle or Officer Ghosh with whom he had developed a fine friendship due to the much help given by Joy and Tukai at different times. Both Joy and Tukai had helped the Police force in solving many of their cases. The Police also had a pair of sniffer dogs who were now put into action. However good these Police dogs were but they were no match to Tukai. The Police checked the CCTV footage of the area to check the identity of the courier delivery boy. The courier company was defunct which was found after further probe.

Joy was very heartbroken and stopped eating and drinking. He threatened to go on a hunger strike. His parents became very worried. Joy's father almost spent the entire day at the Police Station to get updates. The Police began a thorough check-up of any old uninhibited house all around. Because Tukai's abductors possibly could have been lying in hiding in these places. Meanwhile, the courier boy was nabbed in a few days. At the Police station when he was thrashed did he open up that he had tranquilized the dog heavily as Tukai was very sprightly. Then not knowing what to do with it he had set it up for sale till the time he was under sedation. An unknown benefactor gave a 'good' price to the courier boy. But the benefactors' antecedents remained unknown. The courier boy rather casually remarked '' It's only a Dog'....'Why everyone's going crazy for it. To this remark, the courier boy received a severe thrashing from the Police and put in lock-up. Whatever money he had earned was taken away from him.

Two weeks passed and Tukai remained untraced. Joy had become very weak due to scanty eating and Irregular sleep. He had stopped going to school. His family was very worried about him.

Then one fine morning, Tukai was traced by Joy. He found Tukai sleeping peacefully on the mat beside his bed. He didn't climb up the bed to sleep beside Joy because he was very dirty and unbathed for days. In fact, he was stinking filthy. Immediately Joy took Tukai to the bathroom and gave him a good hot water bath with shampoo and soap. A lot of scrubbing went into the act to make Tukai squeaky clean. Then Tukai regained his original self. Everyone was very happy with the return of Tukai. Joy had a hearty meal after many days.

But within a few days, Joy found out that this Tukai was just a shadow of the Tukai that was lost. After in-depth scrutiny and analysis, Joy could guess that during the absence, Tukai must have been subjected to severe torture. Because Tukai had lost his amazing sense of smell to a great extent. Tukai remained just an ordinary dog till the rest of his life just faithful and devoted to his loving master Joy. He remained only a dog to his master, Joy, who was more than happy just with his company.