JIMMY WE MISS YOU

Jimmy was our Labrador retriever. True to his nature he never let any intruder or stranger into his domain. He died fighting a cobra that strayed into our land. Though he killed the cobra he succumbed to its venom. He was nine when he was taken away from us abruptly. He gave up his life to keep alive people he loved most.

Jimmy came to us when he was three weeks. The puppy, black, had not yet opened his eyes. He needed warmth. Like a child he was fed milk through the nipple. We kept him in our bed room for three months in a large basin covered with clothes to keep him warm. When he grew out of the basin he was free to trundle in the bed room. He was the new born in the family. He made high decibel noises. We had to clean the floor umpteen times a day. No one complained. With him after us life had a new definition and dimension. He was transferred to the kennel after three months as he did not require closer attention like in the initial phase. Though the kennel was his abode he was allowed into the house whenever he chose. He would lie down in the living room quietly after making sure we took our place. Time flew. He became full size. Twice he had fathered puppies. He was an exemplary watch dog. Our neighbors felt secure as he was doing an excellent job in a virtually seamless vicinity. Slight movements anywhere near our place put him on the alert. His snarl meant something was amiss.

Jovial and playful he was obedient to the core. He would watch, listen and respond quickly. He read our minds so well that his response to what went on in our minds at once surprised us and our visitors. He had no inhibition in expressing his emotions either.

We felt miserable when he left us. We wanted to save him, but the venom acted so fast that death was instantaneous. We could not do anything at all. We felt devastated. Death is real. It is brutal. One moment you have the animate brimming with energy. The next, it is all very quiet. Motion is stifled. The animate becomes the inanimate. The space is vacant. We stare into vacant space hoping for a turn around. The inevitable mocks at our pretensions of invincibility. What is gone is gone. Those who live have to carry on till they too reach the end.

We buried him covered in clothes. As he was lowered gently into the grave the three of us looked at each other with ashen faces. We could not hold back our tears. He meant very much to us. He had kindled a sparkle in our lives. He loved us. We loved him. He trusted us. We trusted him. He was a member of our family. He loved a ride in the car. We shared celebrations with him. .

“Jimmy, thank you for what you had been to us. Thank you for every thing,” was our spontaneous and tearful expression as death parted Jimmy from us with an irreversible and cruel finality.