My best buddy

A friend called Mickey….

1991 end my wife along with my sister in law visited a friend house where a small tiny 1 month puppy caught her fancy and she was gifted this beautiful little puppy by our friend, this little Pomeranian was daughter of Pluto and Jupiter and she was real cute one.

Coming home I was not really comfortable as I never had a pet before and was too afraid of dogs, my sweet little daughter at that time was 8 years was also very afraid of Mickey and this tiny naughty dog made all antics and we would scream and run away while my wife used to pamper her and make her befriend us. Slowly we realised the friendliness and naughtiness of Mickey and started enjoying it. She was then taken to Animal Care Clinic of Dr.Lakshmi and Dr.Ramanna advised us about the care needed and a file was opened for her and she was christened as Mickey Bajaj now she was our proud family member. Our family of three was now four, she was always cooperative when Dr.Lakshmi treated and touched her otherwise it was one hell of a job to test her for anyone else but it was a fine team of human beings at Animal Care Clinic to handle them with ease and peace.
As Mickey was growing her antics were becoming too naughty my parents who were living together that time also took liking for her and my father started pampering her with fruits and sweet dishes which she enjoyed very much and would jump when my father used to hold the sweet up near dining.
Mickey’s favorite pastime was taking my socks from inside the shoes and biting it to pieces, chasing the cats and killing cockroaches and frogs around the house , during those years we were in an independent house and she used to run away whenever the gate was open on two occasions we were searching like mad in the colony to find her, whenever we were planning to go out she would be ready to join us and we used to pack her water and bowl our journeys were more enjoyable and used to more drive less tops as we would never prefer to leave her in car for long time. Once while we were having our lunch in Gaytari Bhavan Restaurant having our lunch Mickey was in the car and it was parked on the wrong side of road and when we came out we were stunned to see our car not there and on learning that the Traffic Police has towed we took an Auto rickshaw and chased tow away vehicle which was in 1 KM away on seeing the tow away vehicle we immediately stopped and though it was our mistake of wrong parking all three of us pounced on the Cop and made him aware that a life was inside the car the gentleman was puzzled and understanding our feelings let the car down and handed over with a warning.

Time passed and the Mickey was growing along with my daughter I used to tell my daughter that even Mickey goes to school and used all Rhyming words for her friends name and school where Mickey also goes and enjoyed all the moments. I used to tease my daughter that Mickey has more holidays in her school and she used to fight saying why was she getting so many holidays everyday she used to get up and say her that there is call from her school as holidays being cancelled and sorts of thing.
My wife developed so much liking that she used to spoon feed her everyday lunch which became so much habit that Mickey never ate her lunch by herself. Mickey was her first priority then both of us and on her every birthday she used to buy some gift silver bowl beautiful ribbons and even a chain she made sure that all her birthdays were celebrated with cake and we used to have great fun. She used to save her pocket money in piggy bank, whenever my wife was away for few minutes in bathroom she used to sit and watch when will she come out, the moment she dressed up to go out she used to know and would stand across the door saying how can you leave me alone and go out. In the car her favorite place was my lap and two occasions while driving Mickey got hanged in middle of road dangling by the belt and situation was so panicky that my wife would literally shout at me and pull her but Mickey never listened and would just love sitting on my lap enjoying the road side view.
Mickey was very much afraid of crackers sound and that made us realize how the street dogs must be feeling on such occasions and then onwards our Deepavali was soundless enjoy lights sweets and decoration. Mickey and we enjoyed all festivals on Sankrathri we all used to go to the terrace while myself and my daughter tried flying kites she was busy tearing them and there would be fight between four of us and my wife winning the fight was usual.Holi colors we made sure were chemical free for Mickey to play with us and of course her sweet tooth was always having treat. When we needed advice whether Mickey should eat sweet we would consult Dr.Ramanna who was generous and said yes while it was always no by Dr.Lakshmi.
One day Mickey started bleeding severely and on examination at the clinic she was diagnosed with uterus problem and surgery was to be performed to remove the uterus Dr.Lakshmi assured her to take care and 30 minutes surgery was performed to remove the uterus those were the most tense moments for both me and my wife after the surgery when she was bought out we heaved sigh of relief next two days she was bit drowsy and we even enjoyed her being drowsy as she walked like a comic character.
Time was flying and we were given to understand that dogs grow older by 7 times every year then the humans and our small darling was now less active and used to be like a grown up matured no mare chasing but just shouting barking and sleeping we used to wake her up and talk and cuddle her.
Then 2 years back she developed breathing trouble and cough regular medication didn’t help her till one day the Animal Care Clinic got a Homeopathy Physician Dr. Shivprasad who got into the depth of the problem and started treating her Mickey got liking for the homeo pills as they were sugar coated problem was under control with few ups and downs.
My daughter joined a job Mickey used to tell her that she also got job it was real fun, whenever we were on tour our first priority was to see what can we take home for Mickey who was left at my in laws place and the best part was when my wife was away she would eat all by herself my in laws had all the great liking for Mickey just like another grand daughter.
We realised one day that her hind legs were getting weak and the culprit was the marble flooring but she used to fall often treatment was more of homeo and less allopathy.
A fortnight back we were troubled to see her falling more often and when we took her to clinic Dr.Lakshmi who was just recouping from a double viral fever for past few months gladly obliged to look her and started her treatment matter was becoming worrisome as she stopped eating even her favorite sweets walking was becoming very painful and she would sleep without moving then to our horror she stopped drinking water also and there was blood in her motions we rushed to clinic and she was put on her first drip myself and my wife were closely watching as the Animal Care team started the routine investigations blood samples and drips 3 days every morning evening she was given drip her legs were swollen it was becoming difficult to get a nerve but she was very cooperative without uttering a word she bared all the pains which was making both of us watching painful and my daughter was constantly on mobile for her well being. 4th day after the drip suddenly her gums started bleeding non stop ice and other medicine was applied but the blood stopped after almost 30 minutes the sight was unbearable and we were both panicked but we got her home after that, Mickey was put on her bed and she never turned her position till next morning when we again begin to take her for the drip by now she was not urinating too and Dr. made her urinate, the time had come to bid farewell to our beloved friend and member Mickey, while I left my wife to go in Auto he body of Mickey was taken to Punjagutta crematorium and there I realised that this faithful creatures don’t even have right to be given a dignified farewell and I managed to have one for my dearest Mickey a space as I knew the way to get one ,Though Mickey the daughter of Pluto and Jupiter has gone from this planet earth she gave us immense happiness during her stay with us memories they say never die it is very hard to believe, my daughter hasn’t still come to terms and my wife feels that Mickey is left for her journey very early and keeps weeping and me well in order to make sure they both are made to come to reality I only weep in car or bathroom and put a brave face in front of them but the truth is I miss Mickey like them, I believe what Dr.Lakshmi said today morning that Mickey is now released from the old body and she will come back to us in new young body, I know it is difficult but truth is the attachment is known only to those who live with relation without owning them, as no can own a life but only make a life worthy living.
The time spent with Mickey for me her pet name was Ghantu, the small bell we tied to find her when in hiding, will always remain in our fond memories and Mickey we will always miss you, dear I have stopped eating biscuits mama has lost the desire to get a new body and gamma your beloved sister doesn’t joke anymore will you come back soon we are waiting for you, Ghantu I will miss you a lot baby.