MY BRONTY
We sat in our portico in the evening and was just watching
the children play in the garden in front of our house. As I
slowly sank into my own world of
memories, I felt a light chill behind my ears………………….
His eyes were red and watery. Ear lobs were down and still. His Looks were very intense
and it was difficult to bear. I went up to him and cuddled him for the last time.
Then his car slowly moved away. That was
the last time I touched him. As in the
past, my presence and my simple touch pacified him instantly. As the car
slowly moved away, our eyes were fixed till it faded away. Slowly slowly his picture also faded away from my memory. It is normal to say fading of memory is
quite natural but what is unfading is the
unconditional love demonstrated by him.
That can fade only when my memory
ceases to exist.
I remember, one evening when we (me and my wife) sat down in the portico, he was also let out
from his chain for some exercise. Sitting side by side (shoulder to shoulder ) with my wife was our usual way of romancing. That posture would give a feeling to my wife that my ears are very close to her
mouth and she would think I hear everything
what she murmurs even if my mind is elsewhere. Occasionally she would find out
that and then you know, that will be the end of the day.
As I was almost lost
in memory, I felt a sudden tickling in my ear lobes. I looked at my wife, was she is the culprit for that?. No, she was coolly sitting there and still saying
something. I turned back and saw my Bronty
(My full grown Dober man) standing just behind me. He was trying to lick me
again with his long tongue. Had he showered
little more affection on that day, probably I would have lived rest of my life with one ear.
He wanted my full affection and did not want me to share
anything with anyone when he is with me. I noticed that whenever we sat together he
will come behind me and try to lick my ear
lobes. Whenever I
recollect this incident, a shock wave will pass through my nerves.
He was 3 months old when I brought him to our house. During his
feeding time, nobody could dare touch his plate. He used to love me like
anything, but it was only one sided
love. I never used to love him back. It
was my wife who used to take complete care of him. Preparing the food, bathing him, combing him, cleaning his
bed etc. My contribution was only to cuddle him when I return from the office. But somehow
he considered me as his master( Doberman dog is supposed to be one Master
Dog) and obey only my orders. He always like to sit near me
touching my feet.
His demonstration of
unconditional love was something
I cannot forget. He used to recognise the sound of my car from a distance and starts
barking. My children also loved him very
much. Whenever I returned from tour
after a week he would never let me go without cuddling him. I remember the warm hug from him using his front legs.
Those days my house was the only house in that area and at
times I had to go out in the night. when
I open the door at any time in the night, he will appear immediately at the door. That gave me lot of courage to
venture out even at night. One night he was shouting unusually at high pitch. He
had different sounds for each occasion. For food, for a stranger, calling us, sight of danger etc. Hearing his unusual sound we came
out and saw that he was barking against a snake. Both dog and Snake were head
to head. Snake can spray venom to his eyes and dog can also
bite if he gets a chance. Both were very
ferocious fighting and not ready give up. I called my elder son (His
boldness was demonstrated on that day)
and he
lifted the barking dog from the nose of snake. Seeing the danger being removed,
the snake moved away.
To cut short, Bronty you taught me what is truly meant by
selfless love. The truth is selfless love makes one to give up his own life for the loved one. My Bronty……
one big salute to you.