Mr. D – I thought my blogs on him are completed and done and I won’t write on him anymore.. Never say never 🙂

It is rather strange (for me) though people at home think it is natural – that everyday brings many a memory of Mr. D. They sometimes bring a wide smile and sometimes a few tears.

I guess I never imagined the impact he would have on me.. didn’t imagine that his constant presence at home for almost 1600 plus days (and that’s a lot of time with him) would leave his indelible mark.. for someone who wasn’t for having a pet at home, this is a lot of impact..

Mr. D – just grew on me I guess and I didn’t know it, till he isn’t physically there..

The practice at home generally is to offer fruits or dry fruits or sweets, as gratitude to Iswara, during the daily puja. After Mr. D moved on, there is one additional offering in the puja room, on days I make something he loves to eat – Paneer, boiled Channa, Dal rice, Vegetable rice (with some selective vegetables); whichever part of the day it is made.

With two of these items (Boiled Channa and Paneer), I am reminded of how he would come running, whenever he smells them. He may sometimes be fast asleep and he would have smelt the paneer from the just opened packet or he would have smelt the steam of boiled channa from the just opened cooke. The smell of the hot steam must be travelling real fast. He would come with his nose up in the air, sniffing away; and a few seconds later, his drools would begin. Since the boiling hot channa can’t be given to him immediately, it would go in a broad plate under the fan to help it cool down. At times, we would also blow it ourselves, trying to complement the fan, in cooling it faster. One of us will have to closely keep a watch on him so that he doesn’t plunge into the boiling food and scald his tongue. The other alternative is to do the task we are doing and every now and then look at him. Time consuming but worth it 🙂

The funny part would be – he would be playing with someone at home and he would come running when he smells these two foods. This play that he would be so deeply engrossed in, would be abandoned, all for his favorite foods. The person who was playing with him is forgotten and the current favorite would be the person who is near the Paneer or cooling Channa. The current favorite would be mostly me, who will be forgotten, the moment his all-time favorite comes or when he knows it is time for his walk. Temporary favorites, depending on the need at that time. Such uncomplicated living!!  These eating times of his would be fun!!

The iron board and iron box at home, held a strange fascination for Mr. D (strange according to me). For some reason, he would think that the iron board is a play thing and he would move near it trying to figure it out. The iron box held a bigger fascination and he would put his nose near the iron board when clothes are ironed. It would be scary because if the iron box topples when he hits his face or his tail on the board, anything may happen. He would neither hit his face nor the tail, on the board. Smart guy and we would be worried unnecessarily!! Me being me, when I am in one of my moods to irritate him, will take the box and show him. He will feel the radiating heat from quite afar and run backwards; and then come forward again. The task of ironing clothes will go for a toss and irritating him would take its place!!

I always felt he sleep walks. He would be fast asleep in one room and suddenly would get up and walk to another room and go off to sleep or come to the living room, find a place and sleep. He would do this quite some times during the day. Then suddenly he would realise that I am there and he needs to bark. I am like “Why???”. Miss seeing him pace up and down and that absolutely unnecessary barking at me!!

My evening play time with him is one that was a lot of fun. Sometimes I wonder if he was to be born in the US. He would sleep all day and wake up after 6 in the evening and would want to play. Push his nose and nudge my hand and if I don’t play with him, and barking at me… or backward run, when I try chasing him.. or our joint pigeon spotting.. or a run in the terrace..

His backward walks and runs have always fascinated me. How can someone walk backwards so comfortably and so fast and not lose balance? If watching him walking or running backwards was fun, hearing his paws fast on the ground, was bigger fun.

Still baffled by his sudden unexpected passing on and that unexpected passing on is more difficult to accept; and so is his absence. It is amazing though how despite all the missing him feeling I have, he always brings a smile in me when I think of my many moments with him!!! A bundle of joy who brought in so much life to life. There are times when in the last five months, there is a void that is felt; in the next minute, will emerge a wide smile because of a memory of him.

We feel he lives on at home as that young, dark, handsome, dashing double hound, bringing in so much of life, laughter, love and joy in each of our lives. A delightful nutpot always!!