Chapter one :
Dogs owning Dogs
“Sayli, go get some tea powder and dahi “ instructed my mother. “Aai from where?”.
“We have been living in this neighborhood for 7 years.Do you really need to ask me that question?! This girl can be such a nuisance some times “. “From Gavde’s shop?” I asked. “Of course mazhi rani” said my mother.
“I don’t want to. Send Harsh.” “What did you just say?!!!!!” my mother called me out.
Opps! When you speak to your mother, you have to follow certain rules. Among those rule number one is “ Don’t Refuse your mother about some task she asks you to do”.
“ I said I am going”I replied back timidly.
It’s not like I don’t want to go run this errand. It’s just that I want to avoid encountering someone on the way. At 5 in the evening there’s a high probability that I might meet him on the way. But for the sake of saving myself from my mother’s yelling I need to endure this.
It’s okay Sayli you can do this! I told myself
Now, how can I avoid him? It’s 4:56 right now. I’ll reach the ground floor by 4:59. Then I will wait here until its 5:15. Then I will start my journey to Gavde’s shop. He must have past that street by then. Sounds like a nice plan.
Now you might be wondering who is this guy I am trying to avoid. He is Vineet my classmate (class 7). He is a troublemaker. Recently his family got a golden retriever ( That’s what everybody wants nowadays) and he takes it for a walk at 5. They named it Rockey.
That boy thinks he owns this whole world and won’t take care of his own dog! If he sees me he is going to ask me to take care of Rockey again and go back home as if he never owned it. Last time that Vineet joyfully handed over Rockey to me without a leash and went back home. Rockey saw a stroller and he ran after it. The lady, to whom the stroller belonged, had held her child in her hands. She got scared of the dog and made a big fuss about it. I had to apologize for it.
It’s 5:13. I’ll leave two minutes early. I need to look out for Vineet. I don’t see him here. The street looks all clear.
I am safe.I sighed with relief
“Sayli “ Someone called me from behind.That is Vineet’s voice. Let’s ignore him and head straight to the shop . “Bhow-vow” Rockey barked. He sniffed me and licked my foot. Shivers ran down my spine. I droped the cloth bag which I was carrying.
“Good thing I met you here. Do me a fa-“ “Oyyy “ Vineet was interrupted by an uncle.
“I told you to clean your dogs shit. That dog shitted on my car’s tyre!!” .
“Sayli, I am in trouble help me.You are such a good friend of mine . Rockey likes you too.Don’t leave us here. Help us please. Could you help me to clean that poop ? Your cloth bag can be of great help. “
“What , Why should I help you?”
It’s your mess ,deal with it,I thought to myself.
I was so angry I could slap him any moment. How dare he ask me such a favour!
“ Thank you!! ” He said and took the cloth bag that slipped from my hands earlier. All I could do was watch him clean that dirty shitty poop with my cloth bag.
“Here “ Vineet said and gave that poop laden bag to me with a smile. “ How dare you !!” I yelled. He just ran away leaving that bag near that car.
“ Hey You! Take that away from my car” That uncle said to me furiously.”Why should I?” I asked furiously. “Is that how you talk to elders ? Just pick that up and go away”
My body was raging with anger.
That Vineet! If someone asked me the definition of pathetic, I’ll give them Vineet’s address . If you can’t clean your dogs shit ,don’t own one!!!
-Ishita Khomane
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