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| Sunday, 18 July 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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A tale of two dogs Sunday Parable Professor Sunanda Mahendra There lived two dogs in a certain village. One who was white and short
tailed looked after the rich man's house. The one who was 'Don't allow our dog to roam about and mix with that farmer's good for nothing dog, the rich man once told his wife, who was quite a kind hearted woman. 'Our dog is like my own child. I love his so much', she said politely. 'But our dog is of a higher pedigree and he must keep aloof from that low bred dog of the farmer, who barks even at odd hours of the day' 'That's how some dogs behave. For the slightest unwanted move they go on barking'. 'Anyway, see that you don't allow our one to mix with that fellow. The wife of the rich man obeyed the words of her husband. But she would allow the dog to go out when he was not seen around. Hello my putha (son), you had better play awhile with your friend. But see that you come home like a good putha without much delay' The rich man's white dog would run and play about with the farmer's black dog. They would play about and return to their respective places before the two masters arrived. 'Your master looks very strict. Isn't he?' asked the black dog once. 'Yes he is. He even scolds our mother so much' 'Your mother, who is your mother?' 'Why? don't you now that the lady of the house is my mother, for she calls me putha' Oh what a foolish dog you are' said the black long tailed dog. 'She never scolds me. She never uses harsh words. But you must see how her husband behaves. He once used the word Balli (bitch) on her, which meant that she is my mother'. The farmer's black dog laughed and said: 'Oh you and your mother. Tell me what has happened to your tail?' 'Don't you know that it had been cut when I was small?' 'But why?' 'Our master had told the lady, that's my mother that short tailed dogs are healthy. So they cut it off'. The black dog once again laughed and said. 'Oh you, poor son of a bitch' 'You seem to be making fun out of me' said the white short tailed dog of the rich house. 'I am sorry if I had hurt your feelings' The two dogs departed after a happy brief encounter. In a few days time the two met once again. The short tailed one of the rich man looked lean and crest fallen. 'What has happened to you my friend, for you look desperate and frustrated' said long tailed farmer's dog. 'Yes I do. I am fed up with that kind of living' 'Tell me what has gone wrong with you?' 'I don't get my meals in time, for the rich master of ours is becoming poorer and poorer day by the day. I can bear it, but I cannot bear the way he behaves towards our mother, the lady of the house'. 'Tell me what really happened?' "Once again the master used harsh words on my mother who is innocent, for he said 'you are a bloody bitch' and used the word 'bitch' (balli) several times. Then he looked at me and said 'that son of, bitch' should not be allowed to play about in the village, for he will be killed one of these days. See how painful the situation is!' Having listened to that, the farmer's dog said: 'I know my friend. Their riches are gradually declining and soon they will be quite poor. I see that you are not even given a good meal'. 'But my mother makes it a point to give me something, for something is better than nothing'. 'I propose one thing my friend', said the farmer's dog. 'What's that?' 'You leave that house as soon as possible. I will share my meal with you, for I get a good meal, and my master and madam are becoming richer day by day' The dog of the rich house pondered over it for a short time and responded. 'Thanks for the offer. But I cannot afford to leave my mother, for if I run away and share your meal, she would certainly lament saying, 'oh my putha, where are you? So it's better for me to be with her, and live in that desperate situation!' |
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black and had a
long tail looked after a farmer's house. The two dogs were very good
friends. But they did not have the chance to meet often, for the rich man
was too strict.
