Misha, my darling.
She stared at me sheepishly.
I was equally cold. If she doesn't care, neither would I, for my ego is nothing miniscule.
After a long while, I took a day off to spend with my kids. My daughter, the younger of the two, is doing her plus one at St Antony's in Kanjirapally. The majestic school which has one of the best campuses is in the midst of lush greenery, overlooked by the cool mountains.The serene campus would stimulate any child to learn and they indeed have brilliant academic records. Getting an admission is no mean task and my kid was indeed fortunate to gain a seat. Yet, I was sad.
She's cool, candid enough to tell me that my jokes are mean while many pretend to smile. Though proud of her dad, who hopefully is her model, she wouldn't, unlike rest of the family, mince her words. She's fascinated by politics ("your genes", my wife would remark) and as a small kid often gave me company for IMA meetings. Once, still in her primary school, she told me while returning from an executive, "Acha, you speak too much. Not just that, you don't allow others to speak. That's not how you behave in meetings". I knew she was right, but couldn't resist asking, "How do you know, you are just a little girl", to which she replied, "we've far more meetings than you. We've assembly everyday in school". I was clean bowled! Another day at Doctors club she wanted me to wait till the crowd built, to recite the poem which I taught her, while I was persuading her to do it early to avoid stage fright.
I'd always enjoyed her company. Her wits, bickerings and retorts were amusing. She is honest, loving, hardworking and had empathy in abundance which makes her too dear to me. Though I'm hardly around, her being at home gave the comfort that I could see her anytime and cuddle or quarrel at will. She tried hard to get an admission to the school and we also did appreciate. But to see her move away wasn't easy at all.
My wife was a boarder right from her primary classes and wasn't averse to putting her in hostel. I was never a hosteller, and wasn't too amused. Yet, we had little choice. She had to stay away. It wasn't easy at all staying alone, away from family with the added stress of studies too. She was staying away from us for the first time and though she took to it boldly, we could sense the despair.
She loves dogs. My kids grew up with our pet Minnie, a she Labrador who came to us when they were small. They, especially my daughter, was so fond of her. Her little tricks, like fetching the ball and going to cage while ordered, did amuse them a lot. Knowing that my daughter wouldn't be able to absorb her demise, we told her that Minnie was recruited as a Police dog and they took her away. She was initially glad but later sensed from our mood that probably the pet is no more. That's when she demanded a puppy as her birthday gift. She was nine or ten. We brought Leo, another Lab, my sister in Bangalore following suit got Sirius, a Golden retriever. My sis couldn't manage the dog in her flat and packed him to our house. Since then we've both of them and my daughter was doubly excited. Leo and Sirius were her close companions. She loved them and they loved her too. Perhaps she missed them more than us, when she had to shift out.
Misha came as a boon. She's a Lhasa Apso, owned by the land lady where my kid is staying now. My daughter instantly took to her and little Misha too liked her. She was excited to talk about Misha, when I visited, and to show me how much she's attached. I was so happy, to see her find some company in a world of strangers. Where men often fail to bond, it's amazing to see how these little creatures share unselfish love and can be a real shine in moments of despair. To my daughter, this little dog is a solace, a close companion in an unknown world, a loving friend in a house far away and one more reason to stay in her new home where she anyway has to. Look around, wherever you are, there are gems beckoning.
I glanced at the little dog, when I was leaving, with joy and awe. Her eyes didn't seem sheepish anymore, infact they were sparkling.
For making my little angel a bit more happy, Misha, I should let you know, I adore you. From an unknown little dog, you have become a darling.
She stared at me sheepishly.
I was equally cold. If she doesn't care, neither would I, for my ego is nothing miniscule.
After a long while, I took a day off to spend with my kids. My daughter, the younger of the two, is doing her plus one at St Antony's in Kanjirapally. The majestic school which has one of the best campuses is in the midst of lush greenery, overlooked by the cool mountains.The serene campus would stimulate any child to learn and they indeed have brilliant academic records. Getting an admission is no mean task and my kid was indeed fortunate to gain a seat. Yet, I was sad.
She's cool, candid enough to tell me that my jokes are mean while many pretend to smile. Though proud of her dad, who hopefully is her model, she wouldn't, unlike rest of the family, mince her words. She's fascinated by politics ("your genes", my wife would remark) and as a small kid often gave me company for IMA meetings. Once, still in her primary school, she told me while returning from an executive, "Acha, you speak too much. Not just that, you don't allow others to speak. That's not how you behave in meetings". I knew she was right, but couldn't resist asking, "How do you know, you are just a little girl", to which she replied, "we've far more meetings than you. We've assembly everyday in school". I was clean bowled! Another day at Doctors club she wanted me to wait till the crowd built, to recite the poem which I taught her, while I was persuading her to do it early to avoid stage fright.
I'd always enjoyed her company. Her wits, bickerings and retorts were amusing. She is honest, loving, hardworking and had empathy in abundance which makes her too dear to me. Though I'm hardly around, her being at home gave the comfort that I could see her anytime and cuddle or quarrel at will. She tried hard to get an admission to the school and we also did appreciate. But to see her move away wasn't easy at all.
My wife was a boarder right from her primary classes and wasn't averse to putting her in hostel. I was never a hosteller, and wasn't too amused. Yet, we had little choice. She had to stay away. It wasn't easy at all staying alone, away from family with the added stress of studies too. She was staying away from us for the first time and though she took to it boldly, we could sense the despair.
She loves dogs. My kids grew up with our pet Minnie, a she Labrador who came to us when they were small. They, especially my daughter, was so fond of her. Her little tricks, like fetching the ball and going to cage while ordered, did amuse them a lot. Knowing that my daughter wouldn't be able to absorb her demise, we told her that Minnie was recruited as a Police dog and they took her away. She was initially glad but later sensed from our mood that probably the pet is no more. That's when she demanded a puppy as her birthday gift. She was nine or ten. We brought Leo, another Lab, my sister in Bangalore following suit got Sirius, a Golden retriever. My sis couldn't manage the dog in her flat and packed him to our house. Since then we've both of them and my daughter was doubly excited. Leo and Sirius were her close companions. She loved them and they loved her too. Perhaps she missed them more than us, when she had to shift out.
Misha came as a boon. She's a Lhasa Apso, owned by the land lady where my kid is staying now. My daughter instantly took to her and little Misha too liked her. She was excited to talk about Misha, when I visited, and to show me how much she's attached. I was so happy, to see her find some company in a world of strangers. Where men often fail to bond, it's amazing to see how these little creatures share unselfish love and can be a real shine in moments of despair. To my daughter, this little dog is a solace, a close companion in an unknown world, a loving friend in a house far away and one more reason to stay in her new home where she anyway has to. Look around, wherever you are, there are gems beckoning.
I glanced at the little dog, when I was leaving, with joy and awe. Her eyes didn't seem sheepish anymore, infact they were sparkling.
For making my little angel a bit more happy, Misha, I should let you know, I adore you. From an unknown little dog, you have become a darling.
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