Because

Dear Boy,
Because I love being hugged in the morning, because I like going for a walk before 7 and then making a cup of tea, because I don't really like reading the newspapers for too long (because then I feel very low), because you have my heart in your muddy paws, because you sleep under my table when i work. Because you place your trust in me. Because you see me from a distance and run to me.
Because I think you understand everything I say and think, and yet you let me have my way (some of the time).
This is why I love you.
Yesterday, I shouted at you, unfairly, because I was upset about something else, and you kept your head on my lap and I felt better. And you have grown boy, and you have become wiser, tell me again, how did we meet?

The Big Fight: Motu and the Blanket. A short play in one act.

Motu: Ah ha! I have found you Blanket! Cowering on the bed, as usual. Now feel my anger!!!
Blanket: _
Motu: Ah ha! Grrrrr. Not yielding ha! Surrender! Grrrrrr. (Pant, pant pant).
(Drinks water from bowl)
Motu: You ungrateful twit! I was giving you a chance to save yourself and you are still here! Ha, Now I have no choice left but to fight you. Grrrrrrrrr.
(Pulls at blanket, tires, pretends hearing a noise, runs to investigate, naps for a while under the table)
Motu: Oh Blanket you are minced meat! Where is that mistress of yours now! Nowhere in sight eh! Ha, after I am through with you (pant, pant, pant, sits down, waits for a while for panting to subside)...
Blanket: _
Motu: Ha, I don't have all day you know. You and me, open challenge!
(manages to pull Blanket to the floor. Wrestles it with great gusto)
Motu: And take that and that and th...(pant, pant,pant)
(Goes to the hall to check if food has been served in the bowl yet. Is not surprised to see that this is not the case, as it has never been voluntarily served. Decides to Make Presence Felt. Finds Mum in Front of TV. )
Motu: Am HUNGRY!
Mum: Dhatteriki! Didn't you just eat half an hour ago. Go away before I kill you.
Motu: Grumble Grumble. Poor hardworking dog. Defender of honour. Rascal Blanket.
Mum: WHAT did you say!?
Motu: Er...
Mum: Get Lost!
Exit, stage right
Blanket: _
Motu: Time up Blanket! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. DON'T FEED ME EVERY HALF AN HOUR HAAN! THINK FOUR BISCUITS IS ENOUGH! TREAT ME LIKE A DOG! GRRRRRRRR! I WILL SH_
ME: MOOOOOOOOOOOTUUUUUUUUUUU, RASCAL (slap, slap, slap)
(Applause, applause, applause)

Some nice things about Motu

I am so surprised at how much I bitch about my dog no?!
Ugh, so to set the record straight I will list the top 500, um ok being realistic.. the top 100... hmm. the top 2 best things about motu!

The TOP 2 best things about MOTU!
1. his super adorable self
2. his soft woofs when he is asleep and dreaming

The dog everyone loves

Yup. That's our Moturam that is :) A lot of friends wrote in on Facebook after reading the last 2 posts detailing motu's not so good sitter experience. To all of them: Pradnya, Surya, Deepika, Jayadev, Jhumur, Ruchi, Arpana, Urvi, Puja, and Divya: Thank you. Your concern for him really made me feel good and motu totally ecstatic what with the hugs and unsolicited biskoots he got that day!

Guilt trip

So, I went to Delhi for a really useful course, got a head full of great ideas and lots and lots of contacts for work, and shopping. And then I went to Pune to meet my sister and my new-phew.
And then I came home.
Did I miss Motu at all? You bet. Every minute? More. More more more. I woke up without him snuffling in my ear and went to sleep without him lying near my feet. I walked home and didn't look at anything around me. I felt more alone than I had ever felt. I have walked alone before, but I was extra extra alone.
So, when I finally reached bombay and heaved my bags to the sitter's place I was expecting the hole in my heart to fill up easily.
Motu didn't recognise me. He kept running after the sitter, he barely said hello to me. My hands were shaking, but I thought to myself, give him time. Did he think I was gone forever? Did he? Did I break his heart? I slapped myself and got myself together. We jumped into the car that was dropping us home, and then I saw the ticks. Huge ticks.
I can't tell you what I felt then. Everything just went really blurry for a moment. Overdramatic you think? No. Really no.
So, I snapped at the driver and he hmmed and hawed. Did I want to cause him grievous harm? You tell me.
And I found more, the driver/sitter, telling me 'helpfully' to check Motu's paws and armpit. Really, the nerves of that sicko.
I paid the money, I shouldn't have. Not for anything but for the fact that they were horrible people.
But, I did. I wasn't thinking right. And I told myself, but Motu is alive.
So, Delhi, Pune, and all those 19 days in between. Gone, grey, muddled up, blurry.