Anyway. I always found peace in the strangest ways. And forms. I always cherished furry dogs of all kinds and while growing up had an array of pets throughout. From little birds, big parrots, fish, baby squirrels, even a little chick! The list would have grown longer had I not grown up, I'm quite sure.
So anyway, somewhere around mid-2010, the year I got married and moved to a little town in one of the biggest states in India, I found my present furry companion - Elsa. She was a little pup at the time, abandoned on a side street of the small town I called home at the time. It just felt right to give her a home and so I did. Sometimes, decisions aren't that hard to make. If your heart is set. The point is, you have to have your heart set on something first.
This basically means that Elsa has been around and been a significant part of my marriage ever since! In fact, she is considered a valid and VERY important member of the family today. As are most domestic pets in any household.
About 12 days ago, (on the evening of 4th April) to be precise, our little dog, Elsa gave birth to 6 healthy, thriving angels. It was always on my mind to breed her, at least once.
It just so happened that Siddhartha and I were at a party of sorts that evening. However, I had an ounce of an inkling that Elsa was going to deliver her angels that night. How did I know? God motherly instinct? Or just plain instinct? :-)
Well, to be honest, she had been showing symptoms of a "dog in labour" through the day...so I had my guess in check. This is why, like the responsible parents we are, we left an attendant at home when we went to the party (well, it was a social function that neither of us were allowed to skip, to be as honest as I can).
An hour into the party routine the call came. Elsa had started her delivery.
Why did I choose to write about it? Well, here's why.
We rushed home, Fortunately, we weren't too far away from it to begin with. I remember feeling a sense of great worry at the time. I mean, my dog was going to have babies! Only a true animal lover would understand what it's like to care for your own dog. And worry about it at the same time.
As soon as we entered, we were greeted with the sight of one small, tiny, palm sized puppy lying on the mattress we had prepared for Elsa and her family. The miracle had arrived.
It takes a while to understand why the simple birth of any creature is such a miracle in itself. It happens every day, every moment of the day. Yet, everyone claims it to be miracle. Why? I guess it's because the entire action of creating something with life is a story in itself. A story that pulls at your heartstrings and makes you wonder about every little thing you have ever come across.
Elsa had a total of 6 puppies, the first one was already hale and hearty by the time we came home. However, the 2nd one and beyond needed some help to get here, into our world. Siddhartha and I, played the role of untrained physicians and inexperienced vets extremely well. We got on our specially bought gloves for the purpose and started helping her deliver her puppies. One by one. After each, cutting the umbilical cord and helping the puppy out of the phlegm like shell it was born in. An entire night of labor and 6 puppies later, we could finally rest.
Did I ever think that I would help deliver a litter? Never.
The entire, naturally conducted process made me think. Birth, death, the life in-between are all parts. Natural parts. Phases. Yet, we play around with it, every chance we get. Humans seek extravagant medical art to help deliver children. They walk into hospitals and stick around till they are assured and reassured that everything is and will be alright. In a way, we like putting ourselves at the mercy of others. Why else would something so natural need so much interference?
A lot of people would call this thought unimportant. But, it really does make you wonder. The rules were never really laid down.
Nature is a canvas, a canvas of miracles. It takes a simple book and an open mind to actually recognize it. The rest of the things around you are just things. Be it people. Be it places.
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