DAY 1878
Jalsa, Mumbai June 6/7, 2013 Thu/Fri 12:23 am
As I sat in my Jalsa office, some years back, attending to some paper work, Abhishek appeared at the door with the cutest pup you could ever imagine. He just stood there silently holding it up. Amazed at the sight I just blurted out “what is this ?” and he said, this is Shanouk, my birthday gift from a close friend. He put down the little fellow on the floor, and unsteadily and curiously it sauntered up to me, I lovingly petted it, and then it turned away to explore the rest of the room - the first signs of attitude, which he carried with him throughout.
The entire house suddenly buzzed with this new member of the family and all talk and action only centered around Shanouk. Where he was, what was he doing, has he been fed, has he been taken for a walk …
A special bed was made for him to sleep in, but because he had been taken away from his Mother rather suddenly it was felt he must not be allowed to feel isolated. So he was given a prime berth in Abhishek’s bed.
And then he grew, rather rapidly and soon was pushing and kicking his master out ! Another more sized bed was decorated for him, and he enjoyed the comfort of being within close proximity to members of the family. At times he would start off by getting into his own bed, but soon would step out and cuddle with any one of us. This habit remained till the last. In the drawing room, he felt that where the master sat was where he should be sitting too. His size now substantial, he would occupy one entire section of the couch, the slightest sound of any kind of intrusion electrifying him into a snap position of protection in seconds ; a feat we would all wonder how he managed with his length and breadth.
He was never encouraged to be fed from the dining table, but his exclusion was never welcomed by him. No matter where he was he would turn up ‘uninvited’ and rest his large chin on the edge of the dining table, seeking sympathy and perhaps a morsel or too of what was being served. When ignored, as part of his training, he would gently shift his face right into the face of those invited for dinner, and with his most 'sad pathetic looking eyes’ seek attention, or petition for it through sniffs of varying sound quality.
On occasion I would take him for a drive around in the colony, in my then sports convertible. I think he found it to be a wasteful exercise, for, all that he paid attention to was how and where he would be able to fit his large frame in those cramped seats. Luckily I kept the distances short, but it needed a lot of cajoling for him to get back in for another spin.
Rather than have a normal dining dish for his food, we had to build one specially for him to cope with his height, so that he could eat at a comfortable level without having to strain his neck and body to bend down to the ground level. He loved ice cream. This was fine when served to him on his eating stand, but often his demands were so urgent that we would scoop out a large portion and drop it on the floor for him, and watched with glee his joy of enjoying it slipping away with each of his tongue lash at it.
On seeing members of the family after a long gap, his excitement levels would convert him into an athlete running at high speeds all over the house, in a frenzy ; his huge body parts banging and dropping objects of art all over !!
It was painful to see this admirable breed of elegance, reduced to an illness which almost crippled his entire form. Two days before his passing he had just returned from a very tiring walk, an indicator to us of his recovery. He had found it difficult to get up, but his mind wanted to spring up like earlier times. On realising his inability, he made a feeble attempt gave up and just put his face flush down on the ground, almost seeking an apology for being unable to give me the pleasure of patting him. I sat down with him and caressed his face. He remained still and appreciative, enjoying the gentle rub on his forehead ; a laboured swing of his tail indicating that he was happy …
This morning as I set off for work, he was there on the drive way after a short routine walk. He seemed almost alright, but his breathing was harsh and rapid..
At 10:52 am he just collapsed in the drive way shortly after I had left for work. I drove back. The staff had covered his face and body. I did not want to see him thus. Abhishek and his family had just arrived from London. They were not informed till he reached home. He took him to the electric crematorium. His ashes shall be brought tomorrow…
…and we shall bury the ashes in our garden … plant a sweet flowering tree sapling as a remembrance …
…. that warm gentle breeze on a cold morning shall no longer flow …
…..we shall suffer the cold now …
Amitabh Bachchan
