Friday, July 27, 2007

Munnu and Me

Posted by Varun | Friday, July 27, 2007 | Category: |

This post is dedicated to one of the best friends I ever had…The title of this post is inspired by the book called ‘Marley and Me’. All dog lovers and people who’ve raised dogs any time in their lives must read this book.

Even before writing the first line my eyes have become moist. Just the feeling that my beloved dog (This will be the first and last time in the entire post that I would be referring to Munnu as a dog) it as is no longer with me makes me sad. But that is how cruel life can be sometimes. I was watching a movie last night. A movie called ‘Eight Below’ (Recommended). It’s about eight sleigh dogs. After reading the book I had made up my mind that I’ll be writing something about Munnu but watching this movie made me to get up and start writing. So here I am…

My Munnu

Munnu – The name has absolutely no meaning. If I remember correctly, it was the first word that Chaiti (My sis) uttered when she saw the cute little fellow. The cutie was completely white with a little brownish tinge here and there. The only peculiar thing about the color was that both his ears were brown. I was playing cricket with one of my friend whose name also happens to be Varun that day when we noticed two kids throwing something in a ditch nearby. Curiosity led us to that ditch. Curiosity kills the cat but it saved the life of the little fellow in my case. If we would not have saved him that day he would have died in day or two. We brought him home with no second thoughts only to be discouraged by my mom not to keep him with us. Like an obedient son I agreed but not before feeding the little guy some milk and trying to feed him some biscuits. He was so small he could not balance himself on the 4 little feet of his. After feeding him I left him in the portico thinking that he’ll be gone by the next morning. But it was not so. He did not go anywhere. He had himself in a corner where we had stacked up some bricks. One brick on his head and he would be no more. He was so little. The thought of this made my mom’s heart melt and rest is history.

The little fellow immediately became the center of attraction. He loved this attention. Just like any baby would. As soon as he would realize that you are no longer interested in him he would do something or the other to catch your eye. It was very difficult initially to feed him. He just could not drink or eat anything from his bowl. He did not know how. It was an empty syringe that came to the rescue. I would fill that syringe completely with milk and empty it in his mouth.

He was one quick leaner. It was not long before he started eating his own food. Like his owner he ate selected food only. Only what he liked. I have improved to some extent now. The 2 yr stint in Mumbai has made me better in this matter.

He always had that naughty gleam in his eyes. He was always eying something or the other. He used to sleep in the portico on a bed made especially for him. During the rains (It was his first), I pestered my mom to let him inside the house. So there he was inside the house in the verandah very happy to have escaped the rain. The next morning was not a good morning for me. He had torn all possible socks he could find that night, out of which 90% of them were my dad’s :). My dad now wouldn’t mind sparing 100 pairs more if there are any chances of my Munnu coming back to tear them.
My mom used to run a school. Not just teach. We owned that school. Munnu soon became the pet of not just one but many kids who would come to the school. He was pampered and fed by almost all the kids. He would snatch lunch boxes from the kids but I don’t remember a single kid complaining about this to their parents. This is just how much the kids loved him.

Bathing Munnu was one huge task. The sound of his leash would send him running all around the house. He hated water…. When he was young a small tub was his bath tub. As he grew older, the tub converted to bath room then later into open space outside our house where we used a big hose pipe to give him his weekly bath.

I have many many and many fond memories with this fellow but I would not bore you guys with all these stuff. It’ll remain mine and only mine.

I can keep writing non-stop about him. But that was not I was here for. I had to apologize to him. I know this sounds crazy but I had to…

He must have missed me terribly when I left for Mumbai. My mom and dad were with him for one more year but after they left for Bangalore he did not have anyone he could call his master. He became lonely and the skin allergies got the better of him. I could meet him only twice in the last 2 years. The first meeting was lovely but the second meeting was gruesome. The skin allergy I was talking about was all over him and the worst part is he had surrendered to his fate. He was just not making any attempt to come out of it. He just did not have any motivation left in him to come back. The day I saw him this way I knew that the inevitable was near. But what I could not afford was a stay in Mandya… I had only few days of leave left before I could fly back to Mumbai to the stupid work I do.

The only regret that I have is that I was not with my beloved during his last days or should I say last few years. I know for a fact that if I would have been there with him, he would still be with me

I’m really sorry Munnu, I really am.

Lots of love and best wishes,
Your friend
Varun

The post looks more or less like a jigsaw. Please bear with me for that. The emotions just took over…

Currently have 6 comments:

  1. Dearest Munnu's Man,
    Life gives an opportunity to very few to enrich their life by interacting closely with pets. This is possible only when you treat the pets not as animals but as fellow beings. I am extremely happy that you had one such great friend in Munnu. As you say I wouldn't mind losing all my socks and shoes too if only we can get back Munnu. But the harsh reality is that this can only be a wishful thinking. However the best tribute we can pay to Munnu is to remember him as one who enriched our life in his own special way. His greatest achievement was that he spread love to so many kids in Geethanjali that he was identified as "Namma School Munnu" ( i.e Munnu of our school).He was as well known in the lay out as any other VIP therein. He lived a great life & made our life complete in his own special way. I am glad you thought of sharing your feelings. Just look at Munnu's achievement - he has made a software engineer in his first foreign outing at London think of him !!! That's how good Munnu was - because he gave love in abundance to all round him without expecting any thing in return. A true lesson in how to lead our life - to all of us. Munnu I miss you too. Appa

  2. Hi varun, great blog :). my eyes are filled at the end reading this.
    I never had pets in my life.my dad is absolutely against this and me being scared of pets adds to this. I like to cuddle but can never gather the strength to hold these cuties.
    I wish i had a cutie like munnu. As u said life is very hard at times. but we have got to go on.
    i have no clue how to end this comment..have a great time at london n do keep writing more.

  3. Poignant blog, indeed !

    I had a similar experience except that i lost this stray doy to mumps.

    Life and Death are two perspective. One can be merely living as "dead" and one can be "liberated" when dead...if you know what i mean here...

    I am sure, Munnu, was blessed with you all, as a family, under the circumstances that you were a great force, unknowingly, to give him that.

    We have to learn that we are transient, dear...its tad difficult...and the first "incident" touches us deeply..

    Just keep the faith. :-) May munnu's soul rest in peace.

  4. I can recognise those emotions as i am a dog lover--in fact most of the pictures i take are those that of dogs...
    Mine was called Tiger before i lost him :(

  5. Wow, bro. I'm sitting here at work, tearing up. Holy crap in hat.

    I'm sorry you had to go through that. I dunno what it is about boys growing up that they have to loose their dogs. One of the cruelest parts of childhood, I think. Mine was an Old English Sheepdog named Mai Mai ("Sister" in Mandarin). I think we just have to satisfy ourselves with the time we get with them.

  6. Hi Varun i'm sorry to hear bout your dog you just have to move on whenever one of your loved ones goes away.