I got to know him quite late... Almost 4 years after he was born... But when I came home after my education from Canada, I was not expecting to see a new member in my family.
When I opened my gates, someone new welcomed me and I knew at the moment that this relationship is going to last a life time.
I treated him with some foodies and played with him for a while and before I knew it I had made best friends with the man's best friend. We went along very well. He was a matured and old dog to every one else but to me he was a puppy.
He waits for me to return every day and the minute I open my gates, I can see a head popping between two legs that was used to balance on the parapet wall from the first floor... With a deep woof, he would run so fast that he covers 20 steps in two stride to the ground floor and with out a pause he would pounce on me and get to my shoulders, I would lift him off the ground, the heavy one of at least 50 pounds. I can see a tiny wag from his clipped tail.
A voracious eater who once in a while runs close to the baker nearby and threatens them to give a bag of freshly baked buns which he would get in no time since all customers seeing this ebony giant would be way to scared to stand any where near him. He brings this extorted prize home and chews away to glory.
Everyone who knows him loves him and the rest fears him. His athletic build, his uncommonly full black coat with a bright red collar and the deepest bark in the neighborhood has made him a nemesis to other animals. An excellent rodent hunter, he does not like animals much and not to mention birds either. He fights face to face with a full grown ox and eludes the sway of their horns with ease. He scares goats and gives a run for their life with a style of an apex predator. Never hurts them, he just scares them off.
He had a fear of travel and avoids the car, but when he found that the only way to be with me is to jump inside when the door opens. Jerry and I did a lot of happy miles together.
I take my motor cycle some times in the dead of the night, unleash him and make him free ranger. He follows me and mind you, it ain't slow walking but sprint running trying to catch up with me. His exercises was perfect considering an urban metro setting.
Food is his weakness and he steals it off the table some time and no one can even yell at him after that 'look' of innocence. The only person he is afraid of is my dad.
Time passes and it doesn't seem a minute, I leave India again and come back after three years this time earnestly anticipating a recognition from my 'puppy'. He recognized me the instant he saw me. And the rest is all the same...
He covered the same 20 steps in two strides. But this visit was bigger one and Jerry spent a long time with me. He knocks the door for annoyingly long time, till I let him inside my room. He was always discouraged from entering my room especially after my brother's kid became the newest entrant.
Once my brother yelled at Jerry and asked him to leave and the lad got behind my back and started barking. He found solace in me. From the bark was the trust he has in me that I would protect him and in a bit, I was chided for anything he does.
We became like other side of a coin....
Time flies again and it doesn't seem a minute but this 2 strides now took 10 and slowly more. He was not playing with me anymore and he was not the voracious eater anymore. I realized a little late that he has grown very old. He seldom barked and the last week, he was not able to walk. He developed variety of physical conditions including jaundice.
Today he left us all at 3:37 in the morning. I was feeling numb but as I write this blog, my eyes well up. He has left a void in us. His rigid and yet loving face is a connection I am afraid of living with for the rest of my life.
Now all that is left of him is his bright red collar and memories so sweet that I never wish I experienced. His absence is killing me already
I love you Jerry mone. I am gonna miss you a lot. I am sitting here reminiscing...
