Achilles and Me

It was a rainy day. I just had returned home from college, till my eyes fell on a black and white dog resting in our parking area. As every dog lover my first instinct was to address him. I did so with a quick “Hello” and pat came his reply with a friendly bark and rigorous wagging of his bushy tail. I noticed he wasn’t wearing a collar and seemed to be new in this area. So being the good host that I am, I decided to welcome him with some biscuits and warm hospitality of course.

I ran upstairs and managed a packet of Parle G biscuits for him, which the non fussy guest gladly accepted. Followed by a monologue from my end responded effectively with barks, nods, wags and whimpers from his end. Well the night fell and I looked through my window only to find my new friend gazing back at me with those soulful eyes. That moment I realised it was just the beginning of beautiful friendship together.

From that day onwards I fed him regularly twice a day and he returned his gratitude by guarding me in the night under my window. He needed a name befitting his magnificent personality therefore I decided to call him Achilles, after the Greek hero of the Trojan War.

As time passed, Achilles grew friendly to all the children in the building and enjoyed playing with them as well. It was a daily ritual for him to accompany Mom and me to the rickshaw stand every morning. We looked forward to these sweet endeavours every single day until things began to take an ugly turn.

As days passed by, there was a discernible change in Achilles behaviour. He had turned ferocious and had started snapping at people. At first I couldn’t seem to fathom the change in his behaviour. But one day I noticed him sitting downstairs with a group of children who were manhandling him. To my outrage, they were pulling his ears, plucking his hair and tugging his tail. I immediately rushed down to reprimand them and to my relief they promised they would never repeat their actions again.

I thought everything would be alright now. But my happiness was short lived as to my dismay just a few days later I noticed him annoyingly chasing some bikes outside the gate. When I enquired about it to the watchman, he told me that some ruthless boys were deliberately speeding up in the lane, attempting to hit dogs as a part of some sadistic game. Then it struck me, why he was getting so ferocious these days. He was just acting out his natural instincts of self defence.

Days went by and Achilles grew more unruly. As he was under my care, complaints about bites and attacks were being lashed at my family because of me. And in spite of giving justifications towards his behaviour, all fell in deaf ears.

The cruelties towards him increased day by day. People sent written complaints about Achilles to the municipality so that they could have him picked up. In fact, one day one of our neighbours was all set to bash him up with a huge rod. And only when my mother intervened that he backed out after much hesitation.

Only to take his revenge a few days later. I still remember that Sunday morning distinctly when I heard Achilles cries and men shouting from downstairs. I rushed to the balcony to find out what had happened only to see the corporation guys drag away my Achilles with a rope in the most inhumanly manner. And the helpless mongrel was looking up my window pleading me to save him with his scared eyes. But before I could do anything they had dragged him away.

A feeling of powerlessness dogged me down that moment as I knew for sure there was no way I would be able to get him back ever.  I cried my heart out for days together and just couldn’t come in terms to forgive myself for letting him go.

But that incident did change my life getting me closer to these adorable four legged friends more than ever. As of now, I have adopted four dogs and have named them Teddy, Bumpy, Alien and Brownie who are just as dear to me as Achilles was. I still remember my old buddy at times and I’m sure if he is alive he does too.

More articles by Ishna Nerurkar

• Pay homage to the war heroes at the National War Memorial - January 13th, 2010
• Rajni-kant take Can’t! He is the Boss! - January 4th, 2010
• Green Christmas - December 22nd, 2009
• Spirit of Christmas - December 21st, 2009
• Sketching and Painting Workshop at Aperture India - December 10th, 2009

Also see:

• December 18, 2009 -- PMC now levy a fire cess on all high-rise building (0)
• December 17, 2009 -- City gets its first fully ‘green’ building (0)
• September 18, 2009 -- PMC asks to fill building application online (0)
• July 15, 2009 -- City to get its first 100 metre high rise in Ghorpadi (0)
• July 1, 2009 -- Blueprint of water use a must for building permission (0)