Mutt's real Mom!

I scampered out, while my brothers and sisters were still clinging to my mother's nipples deep inside the rain water drain. The sun felt warm on my fur, after the night's drizzle. Just when I was starting to enjoy the warmth, I was lifted high into the air and dropped into a puddle of muddy water. I squealed in pain and shock.

"Serves you right, scream you Mutt" laughed Raju,a street urchin and a bully who had spotted me."I feel just like you---terrified---when appa comes home drunk and beats me.

That bugger enjoys torturing me. I enjoy playing football with you." Raju kept kicking me in and out of every pot hole in the road, till his older sister Laxmi noticed his cruelty. A hard slap on his ear and "get lost ,you lout." saw him running away.

Laxmi picked me up,cleaned me at a road side tap,and took me home to a leaking hut. She kept talking to me saying "grow up fast. Be my friend. Have some milk. Shall I call you SAHELLI? She hid me under her bed sheet when she heard her father's footsteps. "Keep still and quiet or else he'll kill you.'

Next morning my saviour bundled me into  her clothes and took me to Sumithra madam's house,where she worked as a maid. She coaxed her mistress into giving me shelter in the garage.

She found a clean gunny sack, lined it with old news papers, to make a warm bed for me. She found two dented,discarded bowls for my food and water.

She looked me up as often as her overworked schedule would permit.She brought me tasty bits from the kitchen. She  kept talking to me and I dutifully wagged my tail to say I understood.

"I can't take you back to your mother. So grow up motherless, like me.My father killed her and I keep house for him and my brother. I work hard but he takes away all the money. Don't go into the house. Don't bark too much."

Her presence gives me security.Only nights are lonely inside the dark garage. Anyway this place is so much better than that drain. Laxmi is a better mother than my own. My natural mother has to search dustbins to fill her stomach, she has to ward off male dogs.

In between she has to care for her brood. I wonder if she has realised I have gone away from her for  ever. Sumithra has arranged for a vet to give me anti rabies shots and deworming tablets.

She has also given Laxmi, the phone number of CUPA to send me away if I don't behave.---NO JUMPING OVER HER CHILDREN.NO ENTRY TO HER CLEAN HOUSE.Two years of Laxmi's care and friendship has made me grow into a healthy dog,loyal to Sumithra's household.

That day Laxmi came accompanied by an old man.She was in bridal finery but sad enough to attend a funeral."The poor child has been sold for a mere 3000 rupees.wish I could call the police." sighed Sumithra. Laxmi whispered "follow me" and I did-----into a slum,where the stench of urine and shit was nauseating even for a dog. I refused to go out of Laxmi's new home because of the squalor around and also because fierce looking dogs roamed the area as if they were dons and goons.

One day Laxmi's husband started beating her and I attacked him. He kicked me so hard that my ribs cracked.Through the haze of my pain, I heard a vehicle stop .I felt gentle hands lift me into it. Laxmi sobbed-"You are the only friend I ever had but you can't stay here. Go away and never come back."

People at the dog rescue center treated my fractured ribs and put me up for adoption.Very soon I will find a loving family. But my god mother-----will she ever find someone who will cherish and love her, the way she did me.