The Care

Shibu was feeling so bored and lonely. It was a very hot afternoon and a holiday too. But, he felt bored because he was alone at home. His parents were out of station as they had to attend a family function and Shibu was not interested to tag along as he would not get to meet any of his age group folks. It was a traditional house warming function with no frills attached that a youngster like Shibu would enjoy. Only a small group of elders would be there so he preferred to stay at home. He tried calling over his friends but everyone was busy with their own Programs. So, that was the situation were Shibu was sitting idle not knowing how to kill the time until his folks would be back home by night. He tried watching television but felt bored with the same old sitcoms which he never enjoyed as always. Movies that were dubbed were so loud and boring and few of them were telecast repeatedly during lockdown. So, that too out him off. He cooked food and finished lunch and was lazing on his bed.

Suddenly the weather changed and drops of rain fell on his window pane. Shibu was pleasantly surprised with rains during mid summer. The weather would be pleasant he felt happy for sometime. He went outside into the portico of his home and was trying to capture few snaps of rainfall and share it with his friends. Photography was his passion that had taken back stage for the past few months due to a unpleasant incident that had happened at home. Shibu's pet dog olive had died during the Pandemic and he was heart broken because of this void . The dog was a gift given to him by his once upon a time girl friend. Now she no longer was his friend nor his girl. Due to some differences they both separated and she got married to some one else leaving Shibu dejected. It was the pet dog Olive that kept him connected to his ex. But, with Olive no more in this world Shibu was feeling so low. He even thought of getting another puppy and raising it but, since this was a full time job ,and as he was busy with his Office work he dropped the idea. His mother too discouraged him in this aspect      

 Now at present Shibu heard. the cries of a dog which he guessed might be a young puppy. He ran towards the main gate of his house only to find a badly shivering dog that was not a pup but a big one. It was looking tired and weak. Hair grown beyond control that was knotted and looked dirty. The dog seemed to have been discarded by someone with no care by its owner. Shibu understood that the innocent creature needed care immediately. He immediately picked up the telephone directory and dialled the number of the Vet clinic that specially treated stray dogs and pet dogs as well. The abandoned dog had knotted hair and jaw that was hurt a little bit, may be due to an attack by other Street dogs. The Vet Clinic personnel immediately jumped into action. They came quickly and carried the dog in the box allocated to the dog in the Pet Ambulance and started the treatment process. First it's knotted hair locks were finely trimmed off The long nails were trimmed. The lady who was attending the dog noticed a number of lice that had infected the dog's hair. Wonder how the dog had tolerated the itch that these big sized lice had tormented it to. The hair was infected with big sized bugs too.

She cleared the hair locks, gave a good shower to the dog that seemed to like it a lot. She trimmed it's paw hair and chin hair and now the dog seemed much much better than the minute it was found by Shibu. The Lady at the Vet clinic showed the paw of the dog that was injured which might have caused limp in it's leg. She wrapped a tight bandage that would keep the paw tight and would heal it as well. Shibu fed the dog with nutritious food that the dog ate with all eagerness. It seemed to regain its strength and vigour. It seemed to thank the lady at the Vet and Shibu wholeheartedly. Shibu felt the shine in the eyes of the Dog. He recalled Olive his pet dog and felt happy that his day that seems so boring and listless was spent in a very productive and useful way that was helpful in making comfortable a Stray, Sick and Stranded dog that was left abandoned on the Street by some one so mercilessly. Shibu felt it was an opportunity to lend some help to an innocent, helpless creature and thanked his stars for this noble work that would give him a good night sleep.