Man’s best friend

by Sunila Nanayakkara

She lived alone; but not quite. The two dogs hovered everywhere she went. The dogs were just ordinary ones, not belonging to any affluent breeds like Bull, Alsatian or Spaniel. They belonged to what people called the ‘Paraya’ clan. The word meant that these dogs had no pedigree, were born to poor homeless parents and were living on the streets, till they were accommodated, most often, by an animal lover or a large-hearted human being.

We put down the bar of the gate cautiously. It made a tinkling sound. Then the barks started; continued non-stop. As the front door was closed, we proceeded to walk across the yard admiring the neatly kept flower beds. Some plants were in full bloom; others bore the mark of being planted a few hours ago. On either side of the drive were a few fruit trees. The mango tree was putting forth tender leaves.

It was not the season for mangoes. But the avocado tree bore fruits. They were as big as coconuts. Only in cool highland areas do the avacados grow so lusciously and taste like butter. Once she had given me one fruit, saying “This is enough for both of you.” Really it was. Never had we tasted such butter-like tasty fruit.

We paused and looked at the fruits. Chandra expressed aloud what all of us felt.

“I have not seen such big butter fruits before”.

“Kata! Kata! Guard your mouth. If she hears you...” warned Ira.

“She will say 'touch wood, touch gold' and actually touch a wooden chair or a table and also her gold earrings, to ward off the effects of an evil mouth.” I said.

“Looking at the fruits so many would have said the same thing. But nothing has happened to the tree so far.” said Sumithra who was sceptical about folklore.

“Anyway we'd better guard our mouths,” Ira warned.

A brand new car was in the garage, a small red one without even a speck of dust on it.

“Who drives the car?” somebody inquired.

“Why? Didn't you know that Padma drives?”

“I didn't know. But she comes to the Institute by bus”.

Ira explained. “Padma takes the car out only to go to the market now. When her husband was living she took him to hospital and wherever he wanted to go.”

“So now... she can say 'my car, my petrol and I being the driver, I go wherever I want!”

“Just because you have a car and money, you can't be careless.”

“What is the use of having a brand new car, locked up in a garage and struggle by bus?”

“When I wear the only gold chain I have to the Institute. Padma advises me not to. She says she doesn't wear what she has 'because you never know when it'll be snatched.' I added.

Chandra who was still looking at the avocado fruits said with a smile “She has lot of gold jewellery, they are in a bank vault!”

Sumithra was curious. “How do you know?”

“She told me once that she has the traditional jewellery her mother gave and also what her husband had given her.”

“My God! Who is going to get all that?”

“You, my dear, you are going to get part of it and I the other half”, I added teasingly.

“If she had a child, she could have given everything to that child”, said Ira. Her face had a sympathetic look.

“How sad!” A sigh escaped from all of us.

By now the dogs' barking had died down. Padma opened the front door and came out.

“Come. come”. Her cheerful voice rang out “I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I had to put those creatures into the kennel, before opening the door. Nice to see all of you after a long time.” She had a voice that carries far which is an asset to a teacher, unlike me who strains to be heard.

We walked into the sitting room. The floor looked very clean, without a hint of dog fur anywhere or the smell that hovers around in houses where dogs are a part of the family. We looked around; we did not see a place to sit. The furniture was covered with sheets. Padma noticed our bewilderment and went into action. She hurriedly pulled away the sheets from the settee and the chairs.

“Please take a seat. I have to keep the furniture covered. Otherwise the dogs climb onto them.”

“What a nuisance!” Chandra exclaimed with a pout on her face.

“No. You can’t say that. I live here because of the two dogs. Friends and relations may drop in to say “hello” during the day. But at night, I'm alone here. They sleep in my bedroom, on either side of the bed. They get up and bark even if they hear a slight noise; so I can sleep without any fear.”

“Yes. You have to be careful these days. There were several incidents, the papers reported, where women living alone had been the targets”, said Sumithra who is an authority on media news.

We noticed the concern on Padma's face. “It's not only those who live alone, even families are targets for unscrupulous individuals”. Ira would have wanted to lessen the seriousness of Sumithra's words.

I wanted to steer the conversation in another direction. “Let's talk about something pleasant”.

“What would you like to have? A soft drink or cordial?” We looked at each other as Padma asked us the question. Most of us preferred a hot cup of tea. But we were reluctant to say it. Chandra gave voice to our preference. “We will have some tea, if you don't mind,” she said. I just looked at Chandra and smiled. At any time of the day or night for that matter my preference was for a hot cup of tea. We were all yearning for the hot beverage and were stunned to hear Padma saying, gesturing at the wall cupboard containing chinaware.” It's so messy taking out the cups and saucers and putting them back. I hardly take them out.”

Again Ira came to the rescue. “Yes. That's true. We too keep the tea and coffee sets in a wall cupboard. They are only ornaments now, unlike those days when we entertained a lot our friends as well as friends of our children.”

“If we don't need a certain thing, I feel we should give it away so that another person could make use of it.”

You and your philosophy! Have you given away any of your possessions like that?, queried Chandra.

Not yet. I am going to start soon,” said Sumithra.

All of us had a hearty laugh and gulped down the cool drink.

We discussed about our next trip. Should we go to the North or East before the rains set in? Or to one of the wild life parks specially to see the ‘Elephant Gathering’ the spectacle of hundreds of elephants coming out of the jungles in the evenings?

“O.K. We'll go to Minneriya; we can find a decent hotel to stay the night.”

“Then it has to be a two day trip, isn't it?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Though I like to see the herds of elephants coming out of the jungle to the tank to quench their thirst, I won't be able to join you.” Padma's face wore a helpless, melancholy look.

“Why?” The question came in a chorus.

We looked at Padma in surprise.

“If I go for two days, who will feed the dogs? And I'll have to lock them inside the house. Then they will play havoc.”

Chandra suggested “Why can't you keep them in a Home for Pets? They will charge only a nominal sum.”

“I did that once. You know what happened? They got an infection and I had to get them treated for quite a while.”

“So you cannot go anywhere?”

“I'll be able to join on a day's outing. Nothing more than that”. And she added “they are my companions and also my guardians. All of you have somebody in the house when night falls. Think of me. I have only the two dogs.”

We listened to her and understood why she is leading a secluded life; a lady of means.

The visit had enlightened us about the twists and turns that fate or luck brings to each one of us.