Jackie, Madho, Rancho, Rango. We are popular as ‘Fantastic Four’ in neighbourhood. No outsider can trespass the area without our permission. We stand by our brothers and sisters in all circumstances. That’s the reason both elder and younger dogs respect us. We are undisputed king of the area from Clock Tower to Railway Station which is quite fertile. Due to presence of temples, hotels, bus stop, slums and bunglows, there is never any issue of shelter and food for survival.

The beggers at railway station are our biggest caretaker. They share alms and look after us in ups and down. They get ample food, blankets, medicines, money from kind persons & social organisations. I don’t understand how they still remain begger after receiving so much aid. And festival season is bountiful, whether it’s Eid, Diwali, Christmas or Prakash Parv. We concluded that it’s a business too. Do nothing and make merry off people’s guilt & pity.

Saturday is feast day. Lot of god fearing people feed us for taming their rogue planets. We enjoy our day with chapati and milk near Shani Mandir. Tuesday are fine too when people visiting to Hanuman Temple buy us biscuits and bread. However we love to hangout at nearby cafe where girls buy us maggie, soup, coffee, muffins and sometimes even bring delicacies from home. They feed us with their soft hands and stroke softly on our back with lovely pats on forehead. We really enjoy by the jealous look of their hungry boyfriends who crave to switch places with us.

Another reason for visiting cafe is to get glimpse of Queenie & Softy. Jackie and Madho are crazy for them. Me and Rancho tried to persuade them that they are rich foreigners while we are just commoners. There is no match. But love begins where rationality ends. Both of them keep lurking around master of girls in garb of getting food. They sometimes even try to touch and lick them. Rancho warned that them to be cautious else we could be banned from cafe.

And it happened one day. High on hormone, both the couples got caught in compromising position. We were chased off that day. But things did not end there. Male guardians of Queenie & Softy came to the cafe next day and beat us with sticks and stones. They used their influence in municipal authorities for organising sterilization drive in the area. Due to Jackie and Madho, whole neighbourhood had to suffer. Everyone got punished without their mistake. We cursed both of them for their misdeeds and adventurous love affair.

While in pain, one of the eldest dog known as Dinu Chacha visited us. He shared our pain and said your are lucky to be alive. Humans disown their own children who love someone from different community. And their Khap Panchayats kill when love flourishes in same clan. Be thankful to be a dog where you may get killed in road accidents but atleast you don’t die for love.