“Neeti, what is this animal doing on my couch.” Mom said.
“Mom, meet cupcake. My new pet.”
“This animal, where on the earth did you get it from.”
“A car was coming and her leg is hurt. So I quickly picked her. No one was about. I waited for half an hour but no one came so I had to pick her up.”
“Return this animal to the place it was.”
“See ma, cupcake is so sweet.” Rumi, Neeti’s sister said.
“It is so sweet then eat it but don’t keep it here.”
“Didi, I think we must take Cupcake back.” Neeti.
“Good.”
Rumi and Neeti went to Tower road from where Cupcake was brought. No one was nearby.
“Di, I think it is too unsafe to keep cupcake here. See there is a small corner, we can keep her there till mom allows her in. Till then her leg would be fine. I have brought some milk, water and a piece of bread, please don’t tell mom.”
“No, I won’t. But would she be able to live here?”
“I don’t know but she is too weak and small to face the world outside. She has to live.”
Mom forgot all about cupcake. After all she used to hate dogs. Not only dogs but every animal. She couldn’t share a home with them. Neeti and Rumi used to visit Cupcake every 8 hours when mom was preoccupied. They brought food, water for her. If they had their way they could spend a whole day with her. But circumstances were against them, always. Their father got transferred.
“Neeti, we must say everything to ma. Cupcake is almost 1 now. Pa and Ma would understand, I think. We should try.” Rumi said.
“Ma will scold us.”
“Cannot we hear a few scolding for Cupcake.”
“I think you are right.”
They revealed everything. Ma scolded but then kept quiet. She broke her silence after Pa came. Pa said that Cupcake could come but she was not allowed in. They were too happy.
Going and adjusting in a new place was difficult but more difficult was to chain Cupcake in the garden. The girls had come to Kolkata, where their grandparents used to live. They had a large bungalow and a garden. Cupcake was chained in the garden. But after all she was a dog. One day Rumi had kept the chain untied and Cupcake ran into the house. She spoiled the bed sheet and chewed the slippers. Mom was so angry that Neeti and Rumi had to actually hide Cupcake for a few days.
Days passed by Cupcake was almost two. As usual the family went for a Sunday shopping. But they forgot the way. Cupcake found the way and they reached home. Other day some thieves broke into the locality but they were relaxed as Cupcake was there to save them. However when one day Ma was upset, Cupcake came and started scratching her feet but to a viewer it seemed like dancing. Ma burst out laughing after seeing the funny steps.
Cupcake slowly became a companion for ma’s evening walk and was the only one who could drive away loneliness. Pa also liked her because she fetched newspaper every morning without tearing it. She slowly became a family member.
