Lady With Her Dog

It was around 7 am of Sunday morning. Even though I had a plan to get up late, but I had to open my eyes to answer a mobile call. My eyes opened that time only when I came to know that the call was from the Police Station - an enquiry call to find out whether I know Miss Ruchi. “Yes, I know her…Is everything all right with her…” I asked curiously…”No, sorry to say that she is no more in this World now. So, if you can come here now, we can get someone to claim her dead body”-the Police Officer said from the opposite end.

Suddenly, the Earth moved away under my feet…I was not able to believe. Ruchi…such a courageous and brave girl…how come this happen so sudden. Physically, also she was very much fit. It was a stabbing moment for me. Last month, I had a talk with her, she was all fine. Suddenly…what happened…I could not realise … Without making any delay, I just got up from the bed, finished my morning sanitation and started driving towards her house. Even though it is a distance of one hour journey, but I managed to reach at her house within half an hour in the less traffic of Sunday morning in Bangalore road.

When I entered her house, the crowd was consisting of a police officer with a lady police constable, a nurse along with very few neighbours. After seeing me, the neighbours started leaving the place informing me that I can contact them if anything is required. The dead body was covered with a white bedsheet. Towards the end at her feet, Puggoo: Ruchi’s pet pug was lying on, keeping his head on her feet.

By seeing me, the Police Officer said “We cannot find out the reason, but it was almost 4 am when I got a call from Mr. Ray: Miss Ruchi’s neighbour that Puggoo had started barking in a very loud voice and he didn’t get any response from Miss Ruchi, even after continuous ringing her door bell…so he had to inform the Police, having a suspect that something might have happened with Miss Ruchi. When I came here, I found her dead…cannot guess the reason…we need to take her for post-mortem. What I came to know from Mr. Ray that she was staying here alone and she does not have any family to do her last right. Then he remembered about you and suggested me to inform you after taking your contact number from Miss Ruchi’s mobile phone. By the way, I am Inspector Mr. Arun Ahuja: Police Inspector in nearby Police station.”

“Myself Dr. Suprabh: Ruchi’s friend and a Physician by profession. It has been more than fifteen years we know each other…I know her family, her parents have expired four years back, who were staying here with her. Her only brother is permanently settled in USA, so never comes here. This is the reason why she was alone here.” I told Mr. Arun ….”Yes, Puggoo was the only person who was so close to her…if we see, she was associated with many professional and social service activities but if we count then there was no one except Puggoo near to her.”- I told again while looking towards Puggoo.

“Yes, Puggoo was very restless while I entered the room and didn’t allow to cover Miss Ruchi in this white bedsheet…now have become very calm. I feel he has also realised that his mistress is no more with him…” -Mr Arun repeated…

“Even though it has already been more than two hours, may I get your permission to diagnose her, before taking her for post-mortem?”- I asked Mr. Arun’s permission to find out what might be the reason.

“Yes…you can…after all you are a licensed Physician”-Mr. Arun gave his approval.

When I uncovered her face, I could not control myself…tears came out in my eyes and anyhow I controlled them not to cross their boundary of my eye lids. She was sleeping in a very calm, happy and peaceful sleep. Quickly I finished my basic examination and informed that “Mr. Arun, this is quite a heart stroke case. But not due to heart choke because of high blood pressure or similar kind of unhealthy issues, but this is due to happiness which we call in our medical term as Happy Heart Syndrome.” I said “Yes, she was very happy these days…as she was living her life happily with Puggoo who was everything for her: her family, kids and friends everything…, after finishing her duty for everyone…she had lived her life for everyone, she had always tried to make everyone happy.” -my voice got choked with grievances while speaking the last sentence.

“Anyway, I will inform Mr. Raj, Ruchi’s brother about this incident, if he wants to do his last right for her…”- by saying this I tried to search Mr. Raj’s contact number…it was around 9PM of Saturday there…after four missed calls, at last he received the call and reacted in a very unpleasant voice after knowing that I was in opposite end of the call.

“If you want then, you finish up all the formalities…I cannot come this week, but next week I will must be there. Don’t touch any of her belongings and keep the main door key with you, will inform you, once I reach there, so come and handover the main door key to me.”-suddenly he dropped off the call.

I moved my head towards Puggoo, he was still lying there, the white bedsheet was soaking the non-stopping tear coming out from his eyes.