Super Dog

Ramu lived in a shanty beside the railway tracks. He was almost without work round the year. As he had a driving license, he did drive an auto-rickshaw taken out on rent when it's the regular driver was absent. Sometimes when the going got tough and being without money he used to ply his rickshaw and earn enough to fill his empty stomach. Although he had a rickshaw he rarely took it out as he felt it was demeaning for him to ply it. On the contrary, he felt pride driving an auto. If he had had a licence for four-wheeler he could drive a car. He deeply desired to drive one. Although he had learnt to drive a car he did not have the money to take out a driving license. So life was one raw deal for Ramu.

One day he was sitting on a bench in the tea stall sipping away on a cup of tea. Then all of a sudden he felt something soft on his leg. Some wet feeling was there. Then he noticed one fluffy brown colored pup licking away furiously at his feet. The pup was attractively healthy, was probably very recently born. He was full of fur and plump enough to become an onlooker's delight.

The first curious thought that came to the mind was where was the pup's mother and other members of the pride. They were nowhere to be seen. Ensuring that the pup was completely alone then only Ramu decided to stroke the pup's fur. The pup looked so lost and forlorn that Ramu took pity on it. He dare not ignore it. Instantly Ramu thought of keeping it because the pup had come to him without an invitation as if to stay with him.

He decided that the pup was destined to be a part of his life. Ramu started thinking about what all he should do about the puppy. Taking it home he thought would be a challenge because that would be another mouth to feed and nobody would accept the pup gladly. He was wrong, as the puppy 's sight changed the gloomy ambience of the house. It was welcomed with open arms.

Next day Ramu took it to the nearby vet hospital. The puppy was given a full check-up. It was a male stray but with mixed pedigreed ancestry. Routine inoculation schedule and other important dos and donts were gathered from the hospital.

Slow and steady a deep bond developed between the master and his pet. Ramu named him Dodo. He had heard this name of a pet dog going on walks with his master being called by this name.

Ramu also started the practices followed by other dog owners. Dodo followed all the instructions very animatedly. He was a very lively and smart dog. Soon a deep bond grew between Ramu and Dodo. Ramu had Dodo following wherever he went and ate whatever he ate. Of course, Ramu was cautious of the diet.

Dodo proved to be an extremely intelligent creature with an acute sense of smell.

Ramu soon got to know the immense quality of Dodo. Once while on their daily round Dodo dragged Ramu to a dense overgrowth bush. There a baby was lying abandoned crying full-throated. Not knowing what to do, Ramu took the baby to the police station and described how Dodo had helped find it. The police later found out parents and the child was happily disposed of.

On another occasion, Dodo's intense power of the sense of smell was made capital use of. It had been raining for a few days and one old building had collapsed due to the weakened structure. There was news that few people were lying entrapped in the debris. Dodo helped to detect the trapped people and made their rescue possible.

Dodo's prowess and success was spreading. One film production house used Dodo to record his activities on the big screen. Ramu was apprehensive about how Dodo would be in front of the camera. But he didn't disappoint and Dodo showed amazing maturity that surprised all. Dodo got a good pay cheque and he had generated a great brand value. All this was being encashed by Ramu.

By finding Dodo, Ramu had hit the proverbial jackpot. His financial condition improved dramatically. His family moved into better living quarters in respectable area of the city. His family now lived well.

Even the police department used Dodo's services to solve the problems which their dogs could not. The fire department was also helped by Dodo in managing their problems. Slowly Dodo 's achievements became the talk of the neighborhood and later became the city's most favourite dog. He was the prized attraction in all the dog shows.

But fame has its fall out. Some hoodlums wanted to cash the success of Dodo for their gain. One day Dodo went missing. All day long Ramu searched for him but in vain. Losing hopes Ramu sought the help from the police department. However, in a few days Dodo returned weak and tired. He had hoodwinked his captors and escaped. Ramu took him to the vet hospital. Thereafter medication Dodo regained his original self. Ramu was told to keep him safely under his watch. Dodo had been very badly treated with little food.

Ramu felt sorry for not being careful enough. After all he was more than grateful for Dodo 's entry in his life. His life was now on a new orbit which he never had dreamt of it taking such a wonderful turn. He was leading a charmed life, the sort of which dreams are made of.

Every thing was going perfectly. Dodo got more film offers. He also took part in a TV Reality show and won huge applauses and earned bountiful cash for Ramu. Then all of a sudden Dodo disappeared. He could not be found anywhere. Even the police dogs could not trace him. Ramu thought he had lost Dodo for good. It was difficult for Ramu to manage the absence. After all Dodo was the be-all and end all for Ramu. Trying to brave his grief stoically Ramu tried hard to console himself. Telling his own self that dogs do not have very long life and someday Dodo would leave him and go to his happy hunting grounds leaving behind sweet memories.

Trying to steel himself by living life without Dodo, then all of a sudden Dodo returned. One morning Ramu woke to find him asleep below his bed beside his slippers as if guarding it. Ramu was over himself with delight. But Ramu noticed that Dodo had returned as a shadow of his original self. He was not taking his food also. Immediately he was rushed to the hospital. The doctor on examination gave the best of medications. Soon he regained much of his strength and vigour.

Ramu learned that Dodo had gone after a female companion and there got into a scuffle with other stray dogs and injured himself badly. Dodo recovered but remained in the shadows of earlier Dodo. Clearly, Ramu got the picture that it was retirement time for Dodo. But, Ramu could not afford to be ungrateful. Dodo was the super Dog that he had been all through out. The major beneficiary had been Ramu whose life had been more than settled by Dodo. Otherwise Ramu would have been nowhere. Providence had come knocking at his door in the form of Dodo. What more could he have asked for. So Ramu had no complaints, only felt sorry that probably Dodo was their companion now for a short period.

The achievements of Dodo were stupendous although being classified just as a stray. He had to compete with so many pedigreed dogs all along. But no one was any match for him. So many police cases, fire fighting incidents, film shoots and television programmes and dog shows. He had had an adventurous and fulfilling life.

Then one afternoon lunch finished, Dodo was asleep with his head on Ramu's lap. He never woke up. Ramu rushed him to the hospital but Dodo had made his journey to his happy hunting grounds. The amazing life of a super dog had come to an end. He was quietly buried at one corner of the family garden.

Ramu was beside himself with grief. So much had been achieved for Ramu by an unknown benefactor. Ramu promised himself not to sire any pet in the future. Because the parting is one so full of pain that its difficult to reconcile.

Some months passed. Ramu's life was settled now. He didn't need to work to run the household. Dodo had given so much. So he was sitting on the bench at the tea shop sipping at a cup of tea and gazing aimlessly ahead towards the horizon. When all of a sudden he felt something cold and wet at his feet. Looking down, Ramu saw a small brown chubby figure nibbling away at his nail. Oh! No, not again. Ramu didn't believe in reincarnation and life after death. But this little pup at his feet was not any different from Dodo.