PAWS.

He came for a short time of a couple of hours but won our hearts.

'Paws' was a pug who was brought by Mansi to our house as his owner Anita, a beautician had to go the airport to receive a guest. She casually asked Mansi whether Paws could be looked after for a couple of hours and Mansi was all excited along with Chaitra. They both went to the parlour and got Paws in the car sitting proudly near the window. The kids playing in the compound were excited to see the ad-popular species in the car and ran behind the car.

We were eagerly waiting for the four legged cutie pie to enter our house. Biscuits and Water were personally arranged by Chaitra. As soon as he entered our house, happiness entered our house. He literally started running all over the place, licking everyone with fervour as if he knew us.

Mansi and Chaitra are die hard animal lovers. They boldly carried him in their arms and played with him. My mother locked herself in the balcony as she is phobic of dogs. My dad who is not afraid of tigers also, calmly sat on tha sofa. Paws, an intelligent doggie immediately recognised the boss of the house and calmly sat at his feet. All his dancing and running about just stopped abruptly. Maybe, he was aware of dad's strict nature. This gesture made my dad happy. We again started playing hide and seek with Paws.

Prithvy, who was sleeping woke up with the ruckus and came crawling out of his room. On seeing him, Paws leaped towards him and licked him vigorously. Prithvy just trembled and burst out wailing loudly. He was shivering in fear for a pretty long time. He had an immemorable unpleasant first canine encounter. The maid had to put him back to sleep. He slept, crying in sobs, carefully watching his door.

Paws ate half a biscuit and sipped some water, much to Chaitra's delight. She clapped in joy. She asked us whether we could buy a pug for her. The answer was in negative making her sad.

Soon, Anita came to take Paws back. While going, he proudly pissed on the silk carpet marking it as his territory for probable future visits.

Chaitra bade good bye to Paws with moist eyes.

She skipped her dinner that day in protest. She wanted us to buy a doggie for her, badly.

I explained her that Prithvy was small and maybe he would get hurt if a doggie pounced or clawed or bit him. I told her as soon as Prithvy would grow up, we would buy a pug for her. She ate her dinner after that.

I am ambivalent about pets at this moment of time. I hardly spend time with my kids in view of my busy schedule. I do not want any obstruction in this activity. Whatever little time I get, I want to spend it with my kids.

Till then, a pet doggie would have to wait.

In the future, my kids had all grown up and were repaying me the same coin back by being busy through out the day in their academic life. Thay hardly had any time for themselves, leave aside their parents.

Maybe, We would think about buying a pet doggie then.