Feb 15, 2006

It was the New Year Eve. I was over hearing the conversation between my wife and our dog, the Tarzan. I believe they were reading through a supplement released by a prominent newspaper.

“What a worst beginning my Lord ” exclaimed my wife with a great sense of regret.  “The year was yet to start and we lost our best friend, such a nice human being, our Mogambo, Amrish Puri”

“The worst was yet to start, M’me” – responded Tarzan with equal concern. “Did you not read further that George Bush got elected for the second time as the President of America?”

 “Now you keep on reading the news,” instructed my wife “ and we will review each event according to their merits and demerits”.

“7th January”- Tarzan read from the booklet -  “Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt, part company”

“Again, not a good year” said my wife, “ but I must admit, I do not know either of them’.

“January 22” - said Tarzan. “Parveen Babi is found dead in her apartment in Mumbai”

“That’s a bloody shame to us, the affluent families,” said my wife in her disgust filled tone. “We call ourselves as ‘High Class Society’ citizen and sometimes don’t even bother to know our next door neighbour! Who knows tomorrow a celebrity would have died like a rat at our next door and we don’t even know”.

“Relax M’me,” said our dog.  “There is no point being emotional. The life is uncertain and the death is certain for all living beings”.

 “I don’t like to hear this from a dog” – screamed my wife. “You better read from the booklet and stop commenting as if you are Mahesh Bhatt”

“January 31st, Nepal King Gyanendra sacks his government”

“That’s all right, “ said my wife. “ As long as he doesn’t sack Indian government.”

“February 1st - King Gyanendra imposes emergency” – said my dog.

“That’s alright,” said my wife. “As long as we are free to say what we feel like and tell them what they are doing is not right. Emergency is not a good word anymore; our own ‘Mother India’ experimented this formula and lost her ground and self-esteem. After all power is not permanent. But you please read ahead”

“February 9th”   - said my dog reading through the booklet. “ Former prime ministers and political rivals, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif meet in Jeddah for the first time in six years”

“A friend in need is a friend indeed,” said my wife.

“ And February the 11th-   serious floods and avalanches kill hundreds in north India, Pakistan and Afghanistan”

I could sense that there was a split of silence. Later I heard my wife admonishing the dog- “Please do not take it with a pinch of salt. Probably its just a coincidence!”

Again there was pin drop silence.

“I just feel pity for those millions who lost their everything M’me” said my darling dog.

And I am sure there were tears in the eyes of my wife, for I knew her very well. She was indeed a softhearted lady who loved the living beings, whichever race, culture or religion they belonged.

“Take it easy” said my wife as if she is too eager to console our dog.  “Close that bloody booklet which spells gloom on the human kind. Is there any other event that makes us lively, cheerful and pleasant?”

“Of course, M’me” said our dog. “There had been many events during the year which you may not have even heard of!

“Like what?”

“On March 10, Manmohan Singh invited General Mushrraf to watch cricket at New Delhi”

“Good, Good” said my wife. “History gets repeated by itself. This is exactly what General Zia Ul Haq did a few years back, if my memory doesn’t fail me”

On March 26, Rod Stewart proposed to Penny Lancaster”

“Good, Good” said my wife. “But I don’t think I remember knowing both of them.”

“April 9, Prince Charles married Camilla Parker, and fulfilled his long cherished dream”. 

My wife did not wish to comment, and I knew her more than anyone else.

“April 17, Gen Musharraf visits India to watch Cricket”

“April 21, Britney Spears confirms she is pregnant”

“But you did not read the news of her wedding?” – said my wife.

“I will, M’me” – said the dog. “As soon it’s announced”.

“April 25, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are engaged”

“April 29, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are married”

“Close your bloody booklet” shouted my wife, again. “This life is not meant only for watching cricket, getting engaged and married again and again after the children are big enough to get married. Look at that soul resting on the easy chair in the drawing room.”

“Are you referring to my Master, the Blaster?” asks the dog. “Your faithful husband of 50 years?”

“ Yes, “ said my wife. “ He is the real hero of my life. We disagree on everything on earth during the day but when the night becomes too unpredictable for both of us, we get too close friends. Nothing stops us from being together, not even each passing year!”.