I hurled my leg over to the counter top with all my strength and held the handel of the top cabinet to balance myself.
"Come-on Ray..you're almost there!" I encouraged myself.
I tried to reach for the container on the top shelf by standing on my tippy toes but I couldn't hold it since my fingers just brushed it, so, I tried to bring it closer using my two fingers but the next thing I know was the loud sound of the bowl crashing onto the ground with a loud clink.
"Dammit Rayyyyy!"
I sighed and remembered how he used to help me to reach things by picking me up but I immediately brushed that thought away and cleared the mess I created.
I decided to eat from the pan itself. What? Don't judge me! I didn't want to climb the mountain again to fetch for a new bowl.
I took one spoon of the Maggi that I made, secretly praying for it to be atleast edible.
"Not bad Ray!" I patted myself on my back.
I'm a cook who can even burn water and the prospect of placing a raw protein or vegetable in a pan over an open flame for an extended period of time is so daunting that it literally makes me flop sweat. So I usually subsist on cereal, frozen dinners and my all time favourite Maggi.
I would rather eat sandwiches into infinity than attempt to boil, bake, roast or braise a single food item.
People always talk about how easy cooking is ... but it is not as easy as not cooking.
I live in the apartment all by myself with Jojo, my dog, to keep me company. Who needs those selfish, self-centred humans who can abandon you any moment like a chewing gum when lost its flavour. I'm happy with my four-legged canine companion.
He nibbles my sleeve and jeans, drinks from the toilet, follows me around the house, barks at anything and anyone outside, adores cheese, lies under the table at dinner time, gets on the couch when I go out, put's his paw on my lap when he wants to go out into the yard, pulls on the leash every single walk, desperate to chase squirrels, is not afraid of bears, gallops around the forest, jumps in ice cold streams, refuses to swim in the lake, will bark at you to make you throw a stick. And most of all keeps me from feeling lonely.
Anyways, Jojo met me during the time I was trying to get over him. He just followed me home one day when I was returning from the dance studio where I teach dance to the kids.
When I first saw him he was roaming around on the streets, he pushed his body into mine as soon as I was close enough, I don't know what was the reason behind his sudden liking towards me. In seconds my hand was covered in slobber, his tongue of sandpaper almost dripped with every lick. His tail wasn't wagging side to side but going round and round like a helicopter blade; any happier and I thought those dinner-plate paws might catch some air. I wanted to take him home so badly but I didn't know how to take care of a dog. So instead I pulled the bread from my pocket and he sat like a champ while I put them one at a time on her muzzle. With a flick of his head he ate them down in one bite and waited for the next- one by one until they were gone. Taking a last look at him I went home but found him at my doorstep with his doggy eyes. How could I ignore those??? So I made him a part of my life.
"Woof! Woof!" There came my Jo. He hurled towards me and started licking all over me. I think I'm used to that by now. Atleast his saliva doesn't stink like some other dogs.
He is an adorable large dog with a brindled coat and an extravagant ruff of fur around it's neck and a long tail that curves like the hook of a coat hanger.
Jo and I now have an understanding; it wasn't there at first. Back in the days he was fresh from the pound he was a raw bundle of unspent energy, crammed into a canine shape several sizes too small for his personality. He grew to twice the size I thought he might, but that can happen with mutts. I reckon there's some ridgeback in there, some kind of bull-dog too. You'd think in a head that size there would be room for some brains but perhaps his skull is inches deep. My furniture still has his chew marks and the front door is clawed beyond repair. I had to replace every shoe I owned and the carpet too. Everyone told me to take him back, but no way. Family is family. He'll leave my stuff if I buy him raw-hide bones and frozen marrowbones. He wont lie on my bed if he can have the couch. Two walks a day means he'll let me sleep at night. In return he adores me, cuddles up while I study and raises merry hell if anyone comes near the house.
"Hey! Jo. Wanna go for a walk baby." I rubbed behind his ears and his expression immediately changed to an excited one.
Jo lead the way and I followed behind holding the leash. I jogged with him for some time and then we started to play chase and retrieve- Jo's favourite.
I threw a stick and about three seconds later jo leaps through the trees that line the path with a stick in his mouth. With those big brown eyes and his golden tail swishing like he just got all his birthday wishes at once, I know what he wants. He wants that slimy stick thrown down the path, and not once, but over and over. The bark is going to leave brown flecks on my hands, this specimen fell from the tree some time ago and been rained on for some time. I wouldn't be too surprised if it snaps when it lands on the path. But I can never refuse Jo, he's just too damn cute. So I curl my fingers around the stick and feel the cool dampness. He releases it at once and sits. As my arm wheels backwards she runs forwards fast and instead of doing what she expects I wait until she stops and looks at me. Then I throw the stick back down the path behind me as far as I can and he hurtles after it. I walk all of six paces and she's back in front of me, eyes still dancing...
But now it's been quite a few minutes since I last threw the stick but he still hasn't returned with it yet.
What's the matter?
"Jo? Jo where are you? What's keeping you for so long?" I called out and started walking towards the path he went.
There I saw him with a sweet little girl who was feeding him bits of her bun. Even my dog can't resist food!
"Hey sweetie! I guess my dog has become so fond of you." I smiled at her and she grinned showing the two missing teeth in front.
"What's your name dear?" I asked. "Feya and Zu?" Her 'you' sounded strange due to the gap.
"I'm Ray."
"wray", she repeated and smiled broadly.
Before I could ask her if she was here all by herself, a raspy deep voice growled from behind, "Feya! I told you not to talk to strangers.. come-on now let's go."
And with that both went away before I could see the owner of the majestic voice.
Damn!
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Humor" Life is short, and so am I " Ray Chopra, there's nothing she can't do except reach the top shelf. She's always looking up, no, not just to maintain a good perspective on life but also cause she HAS to. She was broken, shattered really, robbed earl...
