Chp 2.

Although I had named him Field Marshal Jango, we all called him Chinoo. He was a complete odd ball. He made up for what he lost in height with his personality. Mischievous to boot, he always got his way. Couple of days after he was a month old, I gave out an ad in our local newspaper the Times of India for adoption of the six puppies. Including him and his brethren - all mix breed. A young guy of 24 year living in Dahisar (close to where we stay) walked in one day to adopt a pup.

His mistake, he chose Chinoo. Adamant Chinoo barked, nipped and refused the invitation outright, he tore the trouser leg of this visitor completely. Eventually, the visitor laughed and requested my sister not to give him away, for this dog was precious and had expressed quiet well that my sister was his owner and no one else could take this place. Eventually she gave away four pups, keeping back two, the first born Chinoo and the last born the youngest Snowy, his sister (cause she was and still is pure white in colour) in her family. They became the newest members of her family.

(Well, it seems appropriate that I mention here that one of the male dogs given to a Sepoy in Central Excise Department, died ten months after Chinoo died. He was being kept on a chicken farm near Pune, Maharashtra and was bitten by a poisonous snake, the doctors could not really decipher which antidote to administer he treatment in time. Maybe if he had been in the city he could have survived.) My sister had kept insisting that it was a mistake to breed my male dog with her female dog was a mistake. She kept insisting that we will not be able to give them all a loving and caring home. The two female pups are living pretty far from where we stay, and there is almost no news except a call that we make once in a while. One pup stays close to our place and has now become a father to four pups. He has shifted base from the city and is staying on a farm with his large family close to his owner’s father.

Chinoo, means Chinese in Hindi, a name given to him, cause someone in the family found his eyes too close to his forehead which gave him a little flat and chinky look. His sister Snowy, the last born in the litter of six , all of whom had a combination of black, white and golden hairs. She was pure pink in colour when born and is white where her hair covers her but pink in places not covered.

Chinoo had floppy ears, one that fell over his ear and the other almost stood sideways, giving him sort of a wonky look that made him look as though he was born mischievous. Short legs, a tailed that curled around twice and remained tight against his back, and would spring back into shape no matter how long we held it straight out. He walked with pride, his head always held high. His only problem was, he could never hold his bladder for long and always needed to go ‘every hour on the hour’ for a pee.

He usually sat with his head on his paws, and could remain asleep for hour’s altogether; no amount of noise from the TV would wake him. But an intruder's knock on the door and he would be on his feet, growling and barking. He would stop only to wag his tail if the visitor was known to him. He never slept at night, no matter what time you got up, he would be awake, to keep an eye on things and give you company.

He loved one person fiercely and that was my sister. He always waited for her to sit crossed legged on the floor, and he would promptly find a reason to jump into her lap and cover himself with her dress. Pick himself and work his paws on the dress and settle down again, closing his eyes and catching a nap. There was no way he could be forced to move till he finished his nap.

He had a glint in his eyes that stole everyone's heart. I noticed many people getting irritated with his behaviour, going to pee every hour, growling and barking incessantly when he did not like somebody, but no amount of anger and reprimand could dissuade him from doing exactly what he wanted to do. He jumped, ran and scrambled all over the house, the entire a one storey cottage space. No corner was left un-smelt and untouched. There was no barrier that could stop him - the sofa was meant to be jumped over to reach the window and the grill. People were meant to be scared with a speed run that imitated an express train coming towards you but halted just in time.

Each escapade brought a nervous laughter from the newcomers and the householders. For they knew he meant no harm, it was his way of playing games and may be it was a 'test of strength of character'. This seemed to hold a lot of importance for this tiny dog.