Life of Paw

For the first ever time, I opened my eyes, as I came into this world. I could feel my presence among those stinking garbage and few dried leaves around me. My mother gave a kiss on my face and patted me. She rubbed my paws and cuddled me with her tail. I touched her paws which were as warm as toast. She grabbed me by holding my neck with her mouth and left me on a rock.My tiny, pink and soft paws felt the rock to be a very hard place to sit. I was moving my legs to find a comfortable position to sit on the rock, without getting scratched. When I looked beyond the dirt and dust, I saw grey and harsh roads,noisy cars and bikes, few cows and a pile of plastics. I could also smell the rotten meat and few bees buzzing around it.I licked my belly to clean myself. I also saw few people who were walking on the pathway. 

I just gazed at them. " Do you feel this rock to be a rigid one to sit?" queried mom. I just blinked as if I was lost in a crowd. She scouted for a tree to get shelter but she found nothing. She spotted one, behind the streets. I saw her walking among those giant people and petrifying cars on the rigid road.  I saw the vehicles to be moving swiftly and suddenly, I heard a 'thud!' and a 'thrash!'. I was shook and my heart skipped a beat. That noise horrified me. I spotted some red blood on the road and some splashes of it on the car. I was wobbled to see it and was very much afraid to go near the car, to see what it was. People gathered and started muttering.Then, I realized that my mom will never ever return and my life is gonna be as hard as this rock. I couldn't even understand what death was, but I understood just one thing,that humans live longer than us. 

I didn't know what to do.Slowly I got down and peered here and there. I felt some rumble and grumble in my tummy. My tongue was as dry as those leaves around me.I noticed a broken pot near the stone bench which had some water in it. I cautiously walked towards it and licked. After I had a sip of it, I was a bit scared to see the growing darkness and the setting sun. Those red lights on the road and the bright yellow and white lights on the street's corner just irritated my eyes. I began walking away from those dirty stuffs and my paws began gnawing.Just then, I heard someone screaming. I turned, and saw a young man on a bicycle. "What is this? Eww! A dog!

 I hate these... Hey! Choo..! choo..! Just go away. I am afraid of dogs!"I was shocked to hear that. Such a giant creature, being afraid of me, a tiny, harmless fellow. I slowly turned away  and started walking. I never knew what distress I rooted to him, but in a hurry, he rode his bicycle on my tail. I was so much hurt and I couldn't even lift my poor tail. I just laid on one of the street lamps. I literally felt like he broke my tail. I whimpered in pain and fell asleep.After a while, some droplets fell on me and woke me up at the middle of the night. The water droplets were so fresh and as pure as the driven snow. I got drenched in the rain and that place became an unfit one to sleep as it was filled with dirty puddles. I wonder, how such an angelic rain could  cause a demonic puddle.I began walking and was shivering in cold. I spent the entire night searching for shelter and ended up in losing my sleep. 

Later the same night, I found someone standing near a store with fumes of smoke coming out of his mouth. Hoping that he would help me in getting some warmth, I slowly went near his feet and looked up, at him. He was having a face in between his beard and was wearing a red cap.I gazed at him, pleading to get some help, but that cruel guy,kicked me with his feet, dropped down a paper roll which looked like a stick, from which he got that smoke and just walked away. I was immensely bruised. Unsuspectingly, I stamped on that stick with which he smoked and 'oh!' I burnt my paw. I literally felt this place was as dangerous a shell. Later, I saw the orange sky with bright sun awake and  the dawn arose. 

I was crossing the road and glimpsed a car ,coming towards me, in the speed of a bullet! I quickly ran with my brittle legs, to the other end of the road. In a hurry, I just banged on the bark of a tree. I felt itchy all over my body and my hunger grew into a massive one. I discerned that being under this tree was much safer than walking on the terrifying roads. I closed my eyes, and tried to sleep.Quite sometime later, when I opened my eyes, I saw few boys around me. They looked as if they were about to bully me. They started throwing stones and I became furious.I was just an injured puppy, sleeping, without doing nothing to them.But, these people troubled, in spite of me being so good to them. I lost my cool and gave a snarl at them. Those boys just scuttled. Hence, that became my first bark. 

Obviously, that wasn't so much loud and aggressive. But still, I was proud of myself, being a brave, young boy.I was terribly in need of food and actually I could see that I'm dying out of hunger. I couldn't resist myself from going in search of food. I had to cross the road to get some remains of food in the dustbin. . But I didn't notice a vehicle coming towards me. It almost came near me but that time, I heard aloud break. I was petrified. A girl got down from the car and carried me with her tender soft hands. " Aww! So cute. I'm so  sorry. Are you hurt? Don't worry ... You'll be okay!" She spoke to me in a feeble voice.She saw my broken tail and injured paw. She took me along with her, to a place where I saw few of them, who were similar to me. 

I also saw few other people and inside a room,there was a man with a pleasant smile and a white coat.Then I realized that he was a vet.Those kind hearten humans aided my tail and made me feel cozy. They cleaned my paws, nails and teeth, and I felt really secured. That moment I realized that, when devils exist,angels too exist. I felt as fresh as a dew. She took me back to the car and patted my fur. I licked her fingers, cuddled and felt the same warmth which I felt with my mom.Soon after she took me to her home, she introduced me to both of you. You were such a good looking dog, Charlie...You were a little bigger than me and you became my first best  friend. 

And then came Coco, who was very warm hearted and naughty as well! I was truly blissful and that's how she named me 'Champion'."So, is this how you came to us? We are greatly lucky to have you champ." Replied charlie. "Even when I came here, I was so much gleeful to see my dirty-brown fur, turned into smooth and silky white,"uttered Coco. "Boys! Let's go for a walk before the sun sets. Come on..." And this is how I got my mom, my friends and an entirely loving family. 

- Samyuktha Ganesh