An Apt Disposal

The Apt Disposal

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This story is included in my compilation, "The Remix of Orchid," which I'm trying to bring in digital form soon. Hence, it has undergone some revision.

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Dr Bhandarkar and Mr Kughato are friends despite no professional affinity, for a scientist has nothing to do with an airline manager. Mr Kughato looks after the commercial affairs of his airline on the tiny little island of Port Blair, and Dr Bhandarkar conducts the scientific survey of a disease called leptospirosis, the Andaman fever. Yet they become fast friends. Both are, incidentally, great dog enthusiasts.

As for the scientist, this love comes to him gradually, more because of the persuasion of his friend than out of any personal interest. Nowadays, whenever he receives a prize for his poodle dog, Master Snow, in a dog show or a word of appreciation from an appreciative cynophile, he never forgets to take the name of his worthy friend Mr Kughato.

The scientist is a friendly talker. If you ask him how he suddenly became a passionate and skilled dog owner, he will tell you this interesting story.

It is a Sunday afternoon when he is just strolling on the seaside road. His mind is occupied with the depressing thought of how all his attempts to get a transfer out of Port Blair have been drawing blank and how almost all his fellow scientists except him have left the sleepy little island. Then he bumps into Mr Kughato. The gentleman looks friendly with body language, which is nothing if not agreeable. He is with his big dog Bruno, who is on a leash, following his master in a leisurely amble. The scientist tries to keep at a safe distance. Why should not he when the dog is Bruno, a ferocious pet with two dark, probing eyes and an open mouth? But Mr Kughato wishes him and comes closer. He is bent on clearing the gentleman’s misunderstanding about the animal. For him, it is like ‘one good act’ that he must do to justify his day.

‘Don’t worry, don’t worry. He’s only a dog, no dragon, I say. He won’t do anything to a friend,’ Mr Kughato and his dog come menacingly closer, attempting to assure the panicky scientist. ‘By the way, I’m Kughato from Indian Airlines, and he is Mr Bruno, my most faithful companion.’

‘I’m Abhijit Bhandarkar, a scientist in the regional unit of the Indian Council of Medical Research here, and I’ve been on this island for the past ten years. I live near Middle Point,’ Dr Bhandarkar’s response is lukewarm, and Mr Kughato understands the reason. The fellow has not entirely accepted Mr Bruno as his friend.

Then, the two fellows continue to walk on the seaside road. The scientist squints at the dog, and the dog does the same. Surprisingly, in about five more minutes, they accept each other without fear, and Mr Kughato feels happy noting the rapprochement. Like his dog, he knows who to befriend and who not to. A compassionate tribal fellow at that. Yes, he is a Naga who knows what a dog is capable of, what a dog needs—and even what a dog tastes like!

They stroll a distance and sit on a rock by the roadside somewhere midway to enjoy the evening breeze. They talk for a while, and when it is time to resume their walk, both friends get up and move. But Mr Bruno does not. Mr Kughato proceeds ahead, yet the pet remains immobile. Then, the understanding master realises that the pet is up to something significant. He comes closer.

In the meantime, Dr Bhandarkar discovers that he has left his house key there, and the blessed thing has slid down the slope beside the rock. He is at a loss what to do since the place is almost beyond his reach, and retrieving the object seems impossible.

‘Gosh, it’s lying over there. Maybe it’s fifteen feet down. How do I get there? They’re all jagged rocks…’ The scientist looks at the object helplessly. With a sigh of resignation, he decides, ‘Leave it, it’s gone.’

But Mr Kughato proves he is a friend in need. He orders Mr Bruno, and the obedient pet gets the opportunity to prove himself to his new friend. With a move characterised by canine agility, he gladly climbs down the impossible slope of the craggy shore. Incidentally, it is low tide at that moment, and the object is visible. Mr Bruno holds it between his teeth and returns to Dr Bhandarkar to return it. The pet appears businesslike and mildly self-satisfied. Nevertheless, the incident impresses the scientist tremendously and fills him with deep admiration for the animal. He praises his presence of mind.

‘Wow! What a job! Mr Bruno, you’re terrific, I should say,’ Dr Bhandarkar feels like patting him.

‘Yeah, when he’s Mr Bruno, it’s a different matter altogether,’ Mr Kughato, the proud master of the brainy dog, gives a mischievous smirk.

The story ends there. But the scientist would not disappoint you should you want to listen more. He often relates another anecdote to his eager listeners about how he came so close to the dog. The story goes something like this.

One day, on his way home from his morning constitutional, the scientist drops in on Mr Kughato, who is also returning from the gym. Suddenly, Mr Bruno barks quite excitedly and does not allow even his master to enter his foyer. Nobody is inside to answer, not even Aloto, Mr Kughato’s valet boy. The scientist stands transfixed with fear, witnessing a strange behaviour in the pet. But his friend understands. He is quick to find there is a snake! It is poisonous, and Mr Kughato tackles it in no time. Had it not been for the all-knowing and alert Bruno, one of them, or even both, could have died of snakebite. The grateful master pats his dog, hugs it, and kisses its icy muzzle in a sudden surge of affection. Dr Bhandarkar watches it with tremendous admiration for the brave pet and his requiting master.

The scientist gradually evinces personal interest in Mr Bruno. He will surely not forget the pet whenever he asks about Mr Kughato’s well-being. It is no formality now; the dog is capable of discerning that. He starts playing with his friendly visitor, with all his playfulness gaining new sparkle and all his gambols reaching new heights.

Thus, one day, Dr Abhijit Bhandarkar is initiated into the grand world of cynophiles. His guru is Mr Kughato.

‘Abhijit, would you like to select a pup for yourself? I reckon you had better, now that you know all a dog can do,’ Mr Kughato offers a friendly suggestion. However, he has nothing in particular to recommend as yet.

‘Sometimes I, too, think that way, especially when I see Mr Bruno gambolling around me. But then…you know…’ Dr Bhandarkar stops short of voicing his apprehension.

‘But then what? Do you mean it’s a hassle taking care of the pet? Then you must also consider its benefits and decide, I say,’ Mr Kughato pats Mr Bruno, who is probably listening to a crucial deliberation concerning his species.

As if addressing the attentive pet, Mr Kughato continues his unrestrained praise for the animal. He says that Dr Bhandarkar’s family environment is perfect for a pet to grow up civilised. Family is where the animal learns human qualities like social accommodation, respect for orderliness, compassion and so forth. ‘A scientist’s dog is surely qualitatively different from a butcher’s,’ Mr Kughato chuckles. Further, he adds that a dog never interferes with the harmony of the ambience. Instead, he adds to its flourish. Say like the tinkle of a wind chime. He understands the entire family of the master and its requirements and ensures that one living under its aegis never slips into depression.

Mr Bruno starts pawing his master, his forelegs stretched and his head bowing. For Mr Kughato, this is the dog’s endorsement of his version, and he affectionately pats him on the head.

Then Mr Kughato offers to arrange a beautiful poodle pup for his scientist friend. Mr Kughato’s encouragement has its effect. The scientist makes up his mind, ‘OK, then, a poodle will do.’

Mr Kughato’s airline does not ordinarily encourage the transportation of dogs alongside regular passengers. As such, he entrusts this job to Aloto to bring the pup by sea. Since Aloto has the training from Mr Kughato, he knows how best to approach the job entrusted. He chooses a nine-week-old pup from a reputed breeder at Calcutta and brings that along to Port Blair. It looks as cute as an expert’s choice can deliver. A visibly healthy puppy exudes a playful temperament through its bright, clear eyes, clean skin, and shiny coat. Mrs Bhandarkar does not come up with her ready acceptance, but Sangeeta, her school-going daughter, is thrilled. She has seen one of her friends possessing a poodle and has been wistfully longing for a pet of that kind. Now she gets something she has long been craving for, or even more magnificent than that. She plans to clip its coat in a style that will make her friends green with envy. She waits for the puppy to grow to a year old to enable her to do so.

The poodle, ever so bright with his snow-white coat, is christened Master Snow, grows familiar with everybody’s temperament, and soon becomes the darling of the family. All enjoy his genial disposition. Even Mrs Bhandarkar starts accepting him, for dogs are lowly creatures entitled to their share of compassion from humans…as much as she and her family deserve it from lord Ganapati! The pet gets joyfully enraptured when Dr Bhandarkar returns home after attending his work. Before anybody in the family realises that the master of the house has reached the door and it is time somebody reaches the door to open it and let him in, Master Snow runs there impulsively. And as soon as Dr Bhandarkar is in, he starts gambolling and whining delightfully as if his need for attention is more urgent than anybody else’s or as if his master owes him an explanation for his long absence during the day. Nevertheless, the intelligent animal knows his responsibility. Whenever Sangeeta is busy with her homework or Mrs Bhandarkar with lord Ganapati, he keeps silent without any growl or yelp. He is so sober that he does not even bother a cat that prowls searching for a mouse at night. Obediently, he allows his shampooing or the clipping of his coat and does not raise a yelp after he hears the first reprimand, ‘Bad Dog’. Even the kids from the neighbourhood are not frightened and come to his friendly proximity.

One fine day, Mr Kughato leaves Port Blair along with his companion, Mr Bruno. He is under orders of transfer, and his airline does not even allow him the luxury of choosing his departure date. Everything happens so very unexpectedly. Only Aloto remains.

It is now for Aloto to preserve Mr Kughato’s memory at Port Blair. With Mr Bruno gone, accompanying his master, what else is there now to take charge of and keep alive? It is finally the friendship with Dr Bhandarkars.

Aloto chooses to stay back for no less a reason than his career. He is already employed, and the job is part-time. He believes his present temporary job will be permanent one day, and then he can build a modest career. After all, the Anthropological Survey of India is a government organisation whose job is at a premium. He has the talent to help him in this respect. He shares Mr Kughato’s interest in Western music and has picked up some intricate gospel, pop and rock music tunes from him. His familiarity with the music helps him earn a few more bucks from performances on various occasions. Dr Bhandarkar has known the boy since his association with Mr Kughato and considers him a well-behaved individual with a promising future. Aloto likewise considers Dr Bhandarkar to be his mentor and elder brother. He visits Bhandarkars quite frequently and has earned a ready acceptance there. Most significantly, he is close to Master Snow, the pet he has seen growing into the most fashionable purebred. Under his active help, the clipping of Snow’s coat has been done very artistically—like a tiny lion in a toyshop. Whenever Aloto visits Bhandarkars, the playful pet receives him with a welcome gesture by stretching out his forelegs, bowing, panting, and sometimes pawing at his favourite guest.

With summer arriving on time, the islanders start wearing their vacation moods. They all plan to visit their homes to fire their hearths on the mainland. Dr Abhijit Bhandarkar succeeds in getting two months’ leave this time. The family will avail such a long leave after a gap of two years. Mrs Bhandarkar and daughter Sangeeta start packing up their luggage in deadly earnest while reminding each other that they are soon starting, just in a week’s time. They decide not to brood over their elusive transfer but concentrate on the thing at hand. Their hard-earned leave makes them feel liberated, homeward, relieved, and nostalgic.

Now, a problem bothers the family: who will care for Master Snow, the pampered poodle of the quiet household? This time, Mr Kughato is not there to bail him out. Dr Bhandarkar knows about some boarding kennels run by the Dog Association of the Island. But he is not readily inclined to entrust Master Snow in the care of the Association as he fears his pet might contract a disease from others during his long absence. Master Snow is no longer a pup; he is now Mr Snow, like Mr Bruno—a handsome and healthy male dog, and all would love to have their female dogs mate with him. Still, Dr Bhandarkar has avoided such an environment of wanton promiscuity for his poodle. He knows Port Blair is not where he can get services from specialist vets and get Mr Snow treated should an occasion like this develop, unfortunately. No simple solution strikes him.

‘How about Aloto? Mr Snow will have no problem in his care,’ assures Mrs Bhandarkar.

‘Only if he agrees. Let me ask him.’ Dr Bhandarkar is unsure, given that Aloto is employed these days and has no time to spend on extra activities. Lately, he has not even made regular visits to Bhandarkars.

When Dr Bhandarkar approaches Aloto, he graciously agrees to take responsibility. He reassures Sangeeta that her beloved pet will be well cared for in her absence.

Sangeeta, her tone betraying more worry than authority, gives Aloto specific instructions. ‘Look, you should shampoo his coat every other day,’ she says.

‘Alright, Baby, I’ll do that,’ Aloto responds lightly.

‘And you need to brush him twice daily,’ Sangeeta continues.

‘Sure thing, I’ll do it your way,’ Aloto replies with a playful tone.

‘You must feed Mr Snow at 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. regularly. Is that okay?’ Sangeeta instructs again.

‘Of course, Miss, I’ll follow your orders,’ Aloto replies.

Mrs Bhandarkar gets amused at the dramatisation of the whole thing and decides to chip in. ‘Sangeeta dear! This is Aloto, you know. How can you go so jittery when he is in charge?’

‘I’m happy to receive her sweet instructions, ma’am. Let her tell me everything lest I turn forgetful,’ Aloto reacts, letting out a short, amused laugh.

The day of the voyage arrives. The Bhandarkar family starts with a queer ambivalence writ large on everybody’s face. On the one hand, they feel the excitement of being homeward, and on the other, they are bothered about Mr Snow and his care. Sometimes, they start doubting if Aloto could shoulder the entire drudgery single-handedly and for the whole sixty-day duration.

Mrs Bhandarkar has, however, an additional strange feeling, which she hesitates to share with her husband. Somehow, she feels that lord Ganapati will listen to her prayer very soon. This kind of intuitional optimism has swept her several times in different contexts; empirically, she has seen them all coming true. Are they her auto-suggestions? However, she has always kept the phenomena to herself, even after the events. In other words, she even hesitates to claim retrospectively that such a feeling had once occurred to her much before the happening. Now, adrenalin starts flowing rapidly in her veins, and an upbeat mood makes her display elated expressions. She feels the long spell of waiting for her husband to leave the island will end soon. She even thinks that he will quickly get a transfer to the National Aids Research Institute, Pune. Agog with happiness from within, the spiritual lady cheers everybody. Her joy is too prominent from the sudden lift in her temperament, but Dr Bhandarkar thinks his wife is ecstatic at the prospect of her upcoming reunion with her friends and relatives. So he does not ask her to explain the reason.

As planned, they reach Raigad, their native place, making everybody glad with their cheering presence. Their hectic engagements make them forget Port Blair, their anxious pet, Mr Snow, and the temporarily uncared-for idol of Lord Ganapati.

As if to prove the unsaid call from Mrs Bhandarkar’s sixth sense, Dr Bhandarkar receives an interesting trunk call while he is still at his native place. It informs him that his request for a posting at the National Aids Research Institute, Pune, has been accepted. He is to head a field-intensive research project as the scientist-cum-project leader. For a moment, the scientist, already in a mood of deep-seated despair, cannot believe it. But his wife has no big surprises; she smirks slyly. Of course, she is full of sublime gratitude for her lord Ganapati and goes on praying in total surrender. Dr Bhandarkar starts planning how soon he can join the new post. Internally, he is apprehensive: a delay on his part in joining the new post will be fatal since the offer can be withdrawn on that plea alone. He knows that such eventualities are not uncommon in his organisation. Sangeeta is also happy. Anything new excites her, and now she has so many things at once--a new school, new friends, new books, and new clothes...and the old ones, including Mr Snow, no longer hold the same charm.

Soon, the scientist gets a basketful of uncertainties to grapple with, like joining his new post, winding up his old establishment at Port Blair, securing his daughter’s admission to a school of their choice, and so on. He knows the project he will join is well behind schedule—a virtual non-starter. So, he cannot tell if he will be allowed a leave of absence as soon as he joins.

Dr Bhandarkar prioritises his daughter’s admission. All transfers unsettle the flow of education. He talks to the principal of her school at Port Blair and obtains her transfer certificate by registered post. Then, he instructs Aloto over the phone to find buyers for his household furniture at Port Blair. Finally, he promises to reach there well in a month. Aloto waits for the scientist to arrive and relieve him.

A person with a scientific temper, Dr Bhandarkar joins his new post without any elaborate luck-boosting formalities. The day he joined is a new moon, and any ordinary fellow in his place would have avoided starting his latest stint on that date. His wife is a devout religious woman, yet she can do precious little in this respect. She has always refrained from forcing her husband to go for astrological consultations.

As soon as Dr Bhandarkar signs his joining charge report, he meets the Deputy Director of his new institute on a courtesy call. It is a formality nobody in bureaucracy should ever forsake. The boss receives him well, makes him sit comfortably, and offers him a steaming cup of tea. But at the same time, he gives the scientist an alarming picture of the project he is about to head. He does this purposefully: the newcomer must understand his responsibilities from the word go clearly. Well, a boss is a boss who is entitled to his share of scare tactics! And that, too, everything he does is for the institute’s prestige! Finally, he states his expectations: he wants a report published in three months, and Dr Bhandarkar must accomplish that, at the minimum, come what may.

The newcomer scientist, eager to make an early mark in his new workplace, accepts it as a professional challenge.

With a month and a half gone, guilt scares the scientist of a disagreeable consequence. He gets increasingly convinced that his overdue trip to his old place of posting will be indefinitely postponed. His darling pet must be brought to the mainland and his wife’s revered idol of lord Ganapati. Both Sangeeta and Mrs Bhandarkar have already reminded Dr Bhandarkar about this.

‘Ah, I now understand what your boss is up to,’ Mrs Bhandarkar empathises with her anxious husband. She concludes, ‘Going to Port Blair this month is out of the question’.

‘But then I’ll go. I’ll make it next month,’ the scientist uttered in response. These words were more for self-consolation than resolve.

‘Then why don’t you send Aloto at least a money order? This will be good for his confidence,’ Mrs Bhandarkar persuades. Her tone indicates that she has also started doubting her husband’s sincerity about the trip.

‘Oh yes, I’ll do that today if that’ll help. How about sending two thousand rupees?’ The scientist appears neither generous nor stingy. His wife agrees to it.

Dr Bhandarkar decides that once his family moves to the new station and occupies a residence, he will bring everything there—first of all, Mr Snow, the pet in distress. Mrs Bhandarkar agrees. She cannot make it any earlier, travelling alone to the island. According to her beliefs, women are expected to take care of the home and the hearth, while everything else is the domain of men, and it is in everyone’s best interest that encroachments are not encouraged!

Dr Bhandarkar applies for leave for twenty days and reminds his boss to decide. But all his efforts fall flat. His boss does not budge an inch. He clearly states that there should be no respite unless a paper is published from the project. He reiterates that the flow of funds to the project depends on its progress.

The experienced scientist in him understands what it means. The project was a virtual non-starter before his joining, and now, even if he does his best, it will take him at least three months to develop something publishable. Or maybe four months—who can say that for sure? Nothing can be done earlier than that. Then how is he going to wind up his establishment at Port Blair? Does that not mean his reputation as a gentleman is getting slowly eroded before Aloto? Does that not mean his wife will question his sincerity? Dr Bhandarkar flounders for an idea of how to get out of the imbroglio.

Mrs Bhandarkar remembers her promise before lord Ganapati and feels uncomfortable that events are not shaping as she calculated. Nothing will help her restart her puja as promised to her lord. In the unknown niche of her heart, she fears the worst. That lord will shower curse on her for the slip is her fear. She should restart her worship rituals instantly; a month has passed beyond the spell for which she had taken leave of her god. ‘Lord’s magnanimity cannot be taken for granted,’ she warns herself in silence. ‘Please do something, dear…and do that early. A delay of this magnitude is not to be treated so casually,’ she pleads before her husband regularly as she finds him back from work. She is now clearly nervous, and in her perturbation, she starts doing something she has ever desisted from: she starts nagging her husband daily.

Aloto remains on the distant island with Mr Snow, the pet-in-trouble, struggling to comprehend the enigma called the future. Both are emotionally strained—Mr Snow longs for a reunion with his master’s family, while Aloto is eager to be relieved of the pet’s responsibility, but in an honourable way. Aloto, with his limited resources, cannot afford to provide the dog with wholesome food or meet its other expensive needs. Although he was willing to contribute his labour when he agreed to care for the pet, he never consented to incur expenses on his master’s behalf. Even if Dr Bhandarkar returns at some unspecified future date, Aloto lacks the means to buy high-quality commercial dog food until then. Simple table scraps cannot meet the dog’s nutritional requirements. Whatever money he received from Dr Bhandarkar has already been spent on rent. At a loss, he feeds the dog with table scraps and leftovers.

Mr Snow, the luxury-loving pet, is unhappy with his food and expresses his displeasure with a bitter growl. Aloto, the sensitive caretaker, feels unnecessarily guilty about it. Distressed by the pet’s reaction, Aloto grows increasingly upset. One day, when Mr Snow continues to whine despite repeated reprimands, Aloto loses his temper and delivers a blow to the pet’s muzzle. However, Aloto quickly regrets his actions and tries to make amends the best way he knows: gently patting Mr Snow until the pet pretends to fall asleep.

One day, a stylish woman interested in high-quality mixed-breed dogs visits Aloto. She has a request: she would like to breed her female dog with Mr Snow, for which she is willing to reward him with a handsome tip of five hundred rupees. The lady is incredibly charming and aware that what she’s asking for is a common practice—mating animals with the owners’ consent. From the animals’ initial body language, Aloto can tell they understand the purpose of the negotiation and are eager to proceed with zest. Naturally inclined toward such intimate behaviour, dogs often display it openly, and their actions at the moment are understandable.

However, Aloto, an honest tribal, considers it a sin to betray his master in such a way. He knows that Dr Bhandarkar despises lending his pet for mating. Aloto had previously cared for Mr Bruno, the dog of his former master, Mr Kughato, who believed that using a pet in any manner without the master’s explicit permission and the animal’s willingness was tantamount to an act of direct thieving. With this in mind, Aloto rejects the offer upfront and never regrets his decision. Unable to comprehend his reasoning, the lady frowns deeply at Aloto’s behaviour.

Aloto finds the scientist’s schedule deferred for the second, third, and fourth time in six months. Of course, he gets a regular money order of two thousand rupees per month, but that is paltry—barely sufficient for meeting the house rent liability. Practically nothing is left thereafter for the pet. In the meantime, Mr Snow starts accommodating Aloto—probably the poor pet gauges the extent of poverty its new master is presently undergoing.

Aloto begins to ponder: What should he do with everything in his custody if Dr Bhandarkar does not return? What should he do with his pet dog, Mr Snow?

He hails from a place where dogs are considered a local delicacy. He loves dogs but can also appreciate them as a source of food. The only taboo in his society is that the meat of an animal ceases to be eatable if it dies from disease or injury. Aloto would not have any qualms about eating Mr Snow’s flesh if it comes to that—an affection for the animal may not necessarily be a dissuading factor. To him, Mr Snow could be no different from a garden-fresh melon or a firm-fresh fowl! But the issue before Aloto is that he cannot do the same with Mr Snow without the express permission of its original master. If he were to do so, his conscience would prick, and he would consider himself a thief.

In the ensuing weeks, the promised day of the scientist’s arrival goes by silently. With every passing day, Mr Snow gets dirtier and more lacklustre. Aloto cannot spend on expensive shampoo and willy-nilly manages with cheap detergent soap. He regularly combs the pet’s coat, but without an oil-balanced shampoo, its fur mats with dirt. Sometimes, it becomes challenging to clear its coat off the tangles. The poor pet cries out in pain when Aloto forcibly runs his comb through it. Rapidly shedding its original glow, the dog appears to be heading for an inevitable sickness. There is nothing that Aloto can do to arrest it. Participating in this year’s dog show is simply out of the question. Then what would be the pet’s fate—Aloto has no clue. If Snow dies of sickness, will its carcass go into the trash?

Finally, Dr Bhandarkar contacts Aloto over the telephone and apologises profusely for failing to keep the schedule. He explains that he is still busy with a ticklish project, which is taking much longer than initially thought. Then, he goes on to explain how he cannot convince his boss that his need for a brief spell of leave is really compelling. As a result, it is not possible on his part to tell if he can make a trip to Port Blair in the next three to four months.

The scientist now instructs Aloto a few more things to do. Just a few more things. He should, first of all, return the possession of the house to the landlord immediately so as to save him from unnecessary rental expenses. Then he should realise the entire money due from the buyer of his old furniture, and remit that to him by money order. As a courteous finish, the scientist assures Aloto that as soon as he is free from the initial rush of work, he will make it to Port Blair.

The instructions of Mr Bhandarkar shock Aloto more than they dispel his anxieties. Stunned, he finds it difficult even to seek some genuine clarifications. Agreed, he can dispose of the small utensils and furniture for whatever price they may command, but what should he do about the other two objects—the brass idol of lord Ganapati and the once-pampered-but-now-neglected pet dog Mr Snow? He is a Christian, and will it be okay on his part to handle Mrs Bhandarkar’s object of devotion, lord Ganapati? Aren’t holy objects usually untouchable? Secondly, what should he do with Mr Snow that will please its original master? Should he finally entrust him to the boarding kennel? The Dog Association? To any Tom, Dick, and Harry who offers to adopt? Should he set him free to thrive on licking the leftovers of a hotel or discards of unknown households? Should he earn from the mating service, complying with the requests of interested bitch owners that he has so far spurned? Or should he kill him and save him from further life of neglect and pity?

Aloto garners composure with difficulty just to ask a couple of questions.

‘What about the idol, sir?’

‘Send the parcel by post if you can. Or hold it till I reach,’ instructs Dr Bhandarkar unambiguously.

‘And what about Mr Snow?’ Aloto asks the ultimate question and waits for his mentor’s response.

This time, his response is less clear than the earlier one. The scientist snorts a deep sigh and replies in a roundabout manner.

‘Um, I’m not sure…. Do as you feel. I’m sure you will do the best possible.’

Aloto is more confused than ever. He has seen love of pet at its best; now, he encounters neglect…yes—it is neglect in its most virulent form. He cannot explain how both the opposite feelings can originate from the same source.

He looks at the pet. Responding, Mr Snow looks straight into Aloto’s eyes. Probably, he wants to say something. Perhaps he intends to help Aloto decide what he should do next and how. It is as if he wants to say, ‘My friend, try to understand me. Can’t you see I’m suffering? Can’t you see I’m enduring the pain of existence? Can you do something to end my pain? Please, anything you do is acceptable…honestly, I won’t mind. Try,’ Mr Snow growls, and it grows feebler and feebler.

Aloto understands what they mean. He decides on the easy, permissible course. He prepares himself mentally and reaches for the sharpest one, the one he is sure will give the last pain, the least pain, and a pain capable of transforming a life of suffering into an enduring memory.

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By

A. N. Nanda

31-8-2024

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