After my yoga class, I was checking the WhatsApp messages on the social group of my residential complex, OH to look for some information about the water supply which has become very erratic these days. But to my surprise, all I saw were the messages about a brown stray dog 🐕 who enters society by scaling the high walls in search of having some good food. Few ladies have shared pics of torn milk packets that were kept on the floor by the delivery boy of BB daily for the want of any bag which should be hung at the main door of the apartment. Such a simple solution, but every now and then, there is a hue and cry from residents about things spoiled by this dog. He is the only four-legged visitor to our society. 😛 There are a few cats who have also encroached permanently on the premises.
Another day, someone shared a picture of a torn garbage bag in the lift, and garbage was strewn all around, again blaming the poor brown dog for doing it. I was just wondering if the dog has called the lift, taken the bag inside, and torn it in search of some food? Or was it left in the lift by an uncivilized human? Someone commented that this dog must be given to the municipality. Or should this human be handed over for spoiling the lift? 🤔
I was taking my morning walk, and I saw the same young and handsome brown dog having a jolly good time on the front step lawns of the society. Let us name him Brownie. After my walk, I just sat down to have some natural Vitamin D. Brownie 🐕came and sat down near my feet wagging its tail.
It looked at me and said, “Hi”. We started a conversation under the golden glow of the Sun, which remains undercover for some time under clouds.
🐕 – How are you? I am seeing you after a very long time. Where is my friend Lhea? I have not seen her for the longest time.
👩Me -Hi Brownie, I am good. Yeah, I have not come for quite some time. Actually, after Lhea has gone, I did not feel like coming down. It’s almost six months now since passing our beloved Lhea.
🐕 – Oh, it’s sad. I will always remember her as my best friend. She always played with me with a certain kind of affection and you know, she always let me win the game.
👩 – Yeah, I know! Your species has a bigger heart than ours.
Then he saw a black-grey pup sitting on the other corner of the lawn. Brownie leaped up smartly and ran to play with the puppy. Now there were two “bones of contention” for the OH residents.
Life was going on albeit dull and drab due to Covid restrictions-induced lockdowns. My visits downstairs become rarer when there was a covid wave. As it goes down, I start coming down more often. But somehow lethargy of coming down has already set in. I seldom come down
It was a chilly windy day in January when I came down to take a light stroll. As I was busy on a call with my sister, Brownie came from behind and stopped by my side.
🐕- Happy new year. How are you? You are coming down rarely these days.
👩 – A happy new year to you too! Yeah, not coming very often.
🐕 – Have you attended the AGM of your society?
👩- No. Only one member per apartment can attend. RB had attended. How do you know about AGM?
I was getting a bit curious and impressed with Brownie’s awareness. Brownie was giving that mischievous grin and acting to pull his non-existent collar.
🐕 whispered “Do you know, I am important enough to be discussed in AGM. I never knew how I am influencing the OH residents. I think it is time to create an Insta page for myself and in my bio, I will put OH influencer” He was grinning from ear to ear.
🐕 – “Why are your society people so afraid of me? Why are they filled with so much malice against me? I have heard that dogs are said to be the best friends of humans? Do you know, this place where your society is standing now was the home to so many of us. You humans’ have taken my home and now you want me to die of starvation? Humans, I tell you, have a very small heart. They are not accommodating at all. When I did not have any interaction with humans, I used to think of them as an enlightened species. But now I know, they are not. “
I was feeling ashamed of being a human and in front of Brownie, all the more.
As he was lying on his back with all four paws up above in sun for his daily dose of Vitamin D, by the wall of the building, he stretched and then sat down. Looking intently with his innocent eyes focussed on a few roaming clouds in the sky, he started laughing and saying do you know, in your AGM, it was decided to convert your society into a jail?
What? Why? How?, I said.
🐕 – Yeah, they are planning to raise the heights of boundary walls by fixing a railing. But I think, you do not have this idea that you are putting the walls to break the communication. When you put a bird net, you are making your home a jail by fixing the barrier for them. You are creating a jail from your apartment. Do not you think so?
Oh my God, how correct he is. We are creating walls around us. This mentality of creating the barrier has become so common in our human race.
Brownie’s innocent eyes were full of pain and hurt.
🐕 – I feel so insulted when your guards run after me? I am a believer of “Ahimsa”..non-violence. I have been coming to your society for almost a year now. Did I ever bite anyone ever? I do not even pass by any human. I always maintain my distance from this unpredictable species.
“Actually, you people are not able to handle the technology well. Wherever I am sleeping, eating, or just going on around in search of food, someone or the other clicks a pic. How great it would be if you let me give a good pose and your photo is published on a website of repute like National Geographic? I do not mind (like you people) if you can earn some fame from my style.” 🐕 said with his mischievous grin.
I have the same soul as yours.
If I am a dog in this birth
and you are a human,
the roles can be reversed in the next.
Brownie
“Having a roof above the head and a stomach full of good food are the basic requirements of life. This is what you all are doing. So why obstruct my right and freedom to live in a place of my choice and good food.” 🐕 was getting pensive and sad. I am a peace-loving creature. Why do not you let me live in peace? I have the same soul as yours. If I am a dog in this birth and you are a human, the roles can be reversed in the next.
Oh, so Brownie believes in rebirth. He is working on his Karma. We as humans should not take it for granted that we will be humans at every birth. Let us better our karma.
Brownie saw a squirrel among the plants and jumped to catch it, leaving me with so many questions about us humans? Can’t we be more accepting and empathetic towards others?
I am participating in #BlogchatterA2Z.