It had been an excruciating year for him, and he was defeated and tired. Losing a child is not what any father wishes. Imagine the multitude of canine parents who lose their furry kids every 10 to 15 years and must find the strength to carry on and live with the memories that they are left with and find space in their hearts for a new member as that is probably the only act that would make their child happy in a realm that all of us call The Rainbow bridge. He belonged to that tribe.
He was driving on the road that he always took to the city of Mysuru. There were two of those roads that were his regular driving routine now. The second was to Chamarajanagar towards his new project. He had driven on that stretch connecting Bandipur and Chamarajanagar so many times to get things done and faced many challenges in the two decades he had used the road from getting humiliated for being physically challenged to get a driver’s license to the numerous visits to government offices where very little got done in a day’s time.
The first was what he frequented the most and dreaded driving past a particular spot since that fateful day in August 2019 on which Jabu Senior had slipped away on his own palm. A little further away from that spot the road turned into a curve and as he drove, he saw a dog that was trying to cross. He hit the brakes, pulled aside and got out to help the canine, who stopped, looked up to him and wagged his tail. He decided to carry the pup across the road towards a green pasture on the other side, hoping to reunite him with his pack.
Walking further he saw a head looking out of a bush and he walked towards it. Who are you looking for came a voice and was astonished for an instant that a dog could talk. Well, there isn’t one, said the dog. But you could leave him with the good grandmother here. Ok he thought and turned to see. To his surprise he saw Zulu standing here on the pasture full of poise and grace as always. He rushed; his feet seemed to so effortlessly carry him. He stood there placing the pup on to the grass, his vision blurred from the tears that had welled up as he called out to her with the words: Baby Zulu to which she wagged her tail and sprung up to reach him. He hadn’t seen her jump like this in ages. Gone was the old age, arthritis and breathlessness, all that had accompanied Zulu for 3 years at least.
And there she was letting out the howl that was so sweet to his ears, a song that he had yearned for years together. He joined in the chorus as he was used to and when it ended, he looked towards Zulu and said: Komm Baby! Let’s go.
No, I can’t, came the swift answer, I must finish my work here, these pups have been separated from their mum and need me. But we will be together just as we have been before, be patient.
Oh Zulu, life hasn’t been the same since you have left my side, he said. There isn’t anyone to care for me like you did, no one to lay my weary arm on, no head lying soft as you did on my tired palm. How am I to just leave you here and turn back, he asked.
There will be a day when I shall return said Zulu. Just as Jabu did and Simba has managed, I too will. He was tired and the thought of leaving without Zulu had weakened him. He paused and eventually lay down so that he could look into the most beautiful eyes he had ever known. Slumber seemed to get the better of him, and he gave in.
He felt a kiss on his lips and then his nose just as Zulu had given him each morning all the years, waking him up as he would laze a while which he did, with his eyes shut. But this time it didn’t stop with a kiss Zulu seemed to lick his ear and his eyes so much so that he decided to open his eyes. Baby Zulu! he called. It was twilight, and he was in his bed in Bandipur and the little head over him was that of Ulinda, Zulus grandchild. Babylein Uli he called to her as she looked into his eyes conveying the message: I am here with you. It dawned upon him that Zulu in her love for him had waited so that he could say goodbye to her and left behind Ulinda to shower upon him the love that she so carried in her, long after she was gone.
Caressing Ulinda and kissing her snout, he said: Papa loves you more than anything else under the sun Baby! He raised himself from bed, got ready putting on his shoes announced: Gassi gehen! He heard her paws tap the floor with such gusto that would put any flamenco dancer to shame, and they descended the steps into a garden that bears the name: The Land of Shaka & Zulu.
End
Note for the reader: Written full of hope and thankfulness for having experienced unconditional love on Zulu’s birthday on 23rd December 2024.