A Tightrope to Redemption-Tiger Is My Dog- Chapter 1

Chapter 1- Tiger is my Dog

In my childhood village, Tiger was a common name for dogs. When my dad gave me a puppy, I immediately knew his name was Tiger. He didn't have any similarities to a tiger. In fact, he was all black. He had a cage outside the house, where he slept at night. I loved my puppy, and he was my best friend.

Tiger's wiry hair was his main attraction. He came into our life as a puppy and grew strong enough to protect us from anything. In the daytime, he was my companion, especially finding lost balls while playing cricket. He never gave back the ball once he got it. He kept it in his mouth, and we had to forcefully take it from him. He never had a leash - it was something he never understood the meaning of. When he was alone at night, he howled but eventually settled down. Finally, he earned the freedom to roam around at night, and he protected the neighborhood. Even though he barked a lot at night, almost everyone adjusted.

"Now we don't need to worry about thieves," my mother said once when he woke her up in the middle of the night.

Since my parents were never blessed with another baby, he was like their second child. A guardian angel, protecting me from other kids bullying me throughout my childhood. "My dog even saved me from drowning," I would say as I proudly introduced him to strangers I met while we visited other villages. People thought I made up that story, but he did save me from drowning. Nobody ever believed me, even my dad.

We had a paddy field, and adjacent to that was a pond to grow fish. It was a battlefield to learn to swim for children in the village. The afternoon would be crowded with kids, but the evening would be reserved for adults. It was a quiet day for the pond since most villagers were celebrating a festival, and Tiger and I decided to spend our time there. My father had already given me a few swimming lessons, and I decided to practice more without telling anyone. I was holding the side of the pond and started testing my skills. I swam toward the center, which was deep. But I was too tired to swim back to shore. Swallowing the fresh water and filling my lungs with it, I was drowning. I felt death for the very first time. Even without calling his name, Tiger sensed the danger. He jumped in the water and nudged me forward. He gave me a little push and the energy to swim more. I didn't tell anyone about it because I didn't want to get in trouble. I learned that day disobedience could bring death.

I lost that old Tiger who swam with me, played with me, and chased with me. From an innocent child to a fearsome teenager, I grew up fast, but my Tiger became slow. I had never understood why he became dull, but my dad revealed it.

"An echo of life is what you see at the end of it."

Birthday Catastrophe

I was skinny, and because of it got bullied. But Tiger protected me. It wasn't a bullying kid he saved me from on my fifteenth birthday, but a serpent.

Snakes - a rivalry forced by nature but infuriated by the first snake bite Tiger got when he was one year old. Once he tasted the aftermath, we were all under his protection, including cattle, goats, and even chickens. He was known as "a docile one but a destroyer of snakes."

On my birthday, I had to get food for my father, working in our paddy field. I was expecting a fun day to play with my friends. But work always came first. My mother didn't allow me to take Tiger with me."He is too old. You may have to carry him. Go without him," my mother yelled. I wanted Tiger's companionship. It was probably my last birthday at home; next, I would be going to college.

"I am gonna miss you, my Tiger. Let's go for a walk. Please." I was begging my dog, thinking I would soon leave the house for studies, but I never realized there was a chance that he wouldn't even exist in this world. At last, I convinced my mother and Tiger.