Page 45 - Creature Companion, September 2020

STORY TIME www.creature-companions.in

“AND THEN

WE WERE THREE”

By Rachana Srivastava*

he year was 2012; Delhi was
Tengulfed by torrential rains.

There was a bell on my door. I was
expecting Binu’s driver to come with
a small dog who I was told was 3
years old and was up for adoption.
My job was to take his picture,
circulate on social media to expedite
his adoption.

On opening the door what I saw was
horrifying. There was a man standing
with a white furry dog, both of them
were drenched in rain. He handed
me the drenched ball of fur. His leash
was in tatters, his paltry belongings,

two filthy bowls, a wet and soggy number, which I quickly saved only

vaccination diary, and a comb was to find out later that it was a wrong
handed over to me. number.
TANGO DECIDED
I asked the man – “Why is the dog NEVER TO LEAVE MY I found myself helpless in a situation
drenched? Was he not in a car?” SIDE, HIS BIG BLACK like this; this furry ball came and sat
EYES FOLLOWED ME on my feet. He looked very sick and
To which the man replied – “No EVERYWHERE. HE uncertain, his big black eyes, hidden
ma’am, we came in an auto under a lock of hair, were following
rickshaw.” WOULDN’T SLEEP me all over the house. He refused
FOR THE FEAR OF to leave my side even when I was
Me – “So when will you come to pick LOSING SIGHT OF in bathroom. I still did not know his
him back?” ME; HE SLEPT ON name. On opening the vaccination
MY PILLOW FOR THE diary, I discovered his name was
Man – “You please speak to my DURATION I RESTED. Tango. He was not 3 years but 6 years
madam, she will tell you.” old, the breed name was Shitzu. The
FOR HIM, I BECAME
only good thing was that he was
HIS WORLD.
Me – “What’s your madam’s name vaccinated properly. So here I was
and phone number?” with Tango, a white shitzu, having
no idea what to do with him. By
He mumbled a name and a phone evening, I realized that Tango has

SEPTEMBER 2020 • VOL. XIII • ISSUE 7 • NOIDA | Creature Companion 45