|
|
 |
  |
| Sunday, 24 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
The tavern keeper and his dog by Sunanda Mahendra Are you not going to attend the funeral?" one tippler going towards the village tavern asked another.
"Didn't you know that our friend the tavern keeper's dog is dead?" "Is that so?" "What a fine creature he was? When is the funeral?" "I am not too sure. Let's go and ask our friend." So they were on their way to the tavern to meet their friend. On their way they met several other tipplers. "Did you get the sad news?" the two friends asked them. "What's it all about?" It's about the death of the tavern keeper's dog. Then they would heave a sigh. "Oh we are sorry to hear that? He was such a nice dog." The talk will centred on the dog, how he wagged the tail, the way he barked, the way he ate and how he looked after the tavern and its keeper. "This dog was indeed a lucky one," one would say. "Why?" another would ask. "He had plenty to eat." "But did he drink liquor?" "No. What are you talking? Dogs never drink liquor." "So is it only humans, who drink liquor?" "I think so." That was a big problem and an issue for them to talk about. "Is it only humans, who drink liquor?" they all went on asking. Quite a number of tipplers were seen at the tavern attending the funeral of the dog. They all met the tavern keeper, and conveyed their condolence. "We are sorry to hear this sad news. How did he die? Was he ailing for sometime?" The tavern keeper would answer them. "He was quite alright as you all remember. But he was not feeling well for two or three days. We did what we could to save his life. But as you all know destiny is such that one cannot avoid death." "That's it our friend, we are all saddened by the death of your dog. So what can we do?" asked some in order to give a helping hand for the funeral arrangements. "I got to bury him in a suitable place," said the tavern keeper. "Oh no. You should not bother yourself. We will look after that part. Just show us the place where you are going to bury him. We will do it ceremoniously." The tavern keeper was very happy. He had a small land adjacent to the tavern. He wanted to bury the dog there. Some more people entered the scene. They all paid their last respects. They dug the burial pit. Then they placed the body in a wooden coffin obtained from a village carpenter. In the procession, they all walked in a solemn mood. They slowly placed the coffin and covered it with earth. One of them made a special oration. "This friend of ours was not just an ordinary dog. He was in many ways a noble dog, who had the intelligence to gauge who a friend and who a foe was. He also looked after his master in the best possible manner. What more could you expect from a guardian? Will a human being do such a thing? So we convey our sympathy to our very good friend and pray that this great creature be born once again to look after him." Then they placed floral wreaths. "Now we all want to drown our sorrows in a special way," said one of them. The tavern keeper nodded his head in agreement to offer them a special treat. "I am thankful to all of you for attending the funeral of my dog. And it is my duty to call you all to the tavern for a special treat, for the help and kindness shown to me." Then the tavern keeper offered his friends the special treat. They drank to their hearts content, and talked more and more about the good qualities of the dog as well as his master. As liquor poured, they went on crying and some holding their hands and dancing. In this manner more than the normal number entered the village tavern. One whispered to another. "I wish he had many more dogs, who would die soon." A few days later the tavern keeper complained of a sickness, but he kept the tavern open. He suddenly died, perhaps from the illness. Once again the news spread into the village. His body was kept in the house. One asked another. "Are you not going to attend the funeral of the tavern keeper?" "No I don't think I can make it. I have some other work." The funeral of the tavern keeper was attended by a handful of villagers. In the gathering there was a wise man, who claimed, "When the tavern keeper's dog died hundreds attended, but when the tavern keeper died not even a dog attended. This is the sorrowful way of life." |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
"Funeral? Where? Whose?" the second one asked.
