Chenghis was my first pet, a gift from the family to my sister. It was a golden brown pug with really sensitive eyes and a playful nature. What I came to know later about him was that he had immense spirit and a soul of steel. In spite of being 40 days old, he could learn, play, listen understand and feel whatever I felt. The connection was beyond words. Just holding him in my arms and singing songs to him was the most adorable memory, and every time he would frown or look up or come and lick my face, just made me feel how much I was important to him. He would come close and his moustache would pierce me. And each one of us would be running after him to clean his cute little nostrils.
The inception of the bonding came to me in a very special way, as I was never comfortable with pets. Maybe I had been too detached to the mute bonds which encircle us all the time in our lives. I bought a kennel for him which was made of tiger prints. I named him "Chenghis", dedicating him to the mighty Chenghis Khan. The great Mongolian Monarch, whose father was killed when Chenghis was only 12. He fled from his massacred tribe in Mongolia and survived for some years till he came back and avenged his father's death. Post conquering, Chenghis became the mighty conqueror Chenghis Khan and went on a world conquest. Even the Indian Mughals were afraid of Chenghis Khan's army, and used to descend down south from Delhi whenever his armies came close to India. I wanted Chenghis to be that brave. Even if a Pug is supposed to be a toy dog, I wanted him to be as brave as a tiger. But I guess Chenghis taught me a lesson about bravery which I never knew in his last moments.....
Comprehending the bond was a difficult task for me. I guess it began when everybody used to leave Chenghis in my sister's room and run away.... he used to run after everybody but could not catch anybody other than me. I felt like he was a younger brother playing hard with his older companion. In the morning, whenever I used to go to wake him up, I often found him sleeping at the entrance of his artificial cave, with his legs spread like a relaxed lion. I use to feel so proud to see him sleep like that. And I used to keep him on my chest and talk to him. He would look at me, often lick me... or else both of us would sleep.
The death of Chenghis was an outcome of sloppy and irresponsible vets, guys who fake their passion for animals or as a matter of fact, their profession. After Chenghis was detected with gastroentites, we barely knew that he is going to be with us for less than 24 hours. If only we had known that, I swear, each one of us would have fought the world to save him. By 12th night Chenghis has gone dim, very dim. It just felt like he needs to go to a hospital. We rushed out in the car for the only animal hospital in Mumbai. In the car whenever Chenghis closed down his eyes or went dim, I used to scream "Common Chenghis" and he used to wake up. I still had a lot of hope. The doctors said that he has very less chances of survival. My sister was already breaking down, but somewhere deep down I believed that he would make it. That very soon I would be teaching him how to fight & play. That soon we would be travelling around in our car watching the world together, from my eyes and from his eyes. Later, I even learnt a fact that 70% of the world's population is descendents of Chenghis Khan. I used to chuckle to myself thinking that our Chenghis would also have a lot of fun with his female counterparts. That he would rule.
After certain doses of Intravenous saline and certain antibiotics, Chenghis became a little normal. My sister finally stopped crying. We waited till 4:00 in the morning at the hospital. According to their rule, we couldn’t wait there anymore. Only one could stay. So we decided that we would come back in two hours. While leaving I called out and slowly whispered in Chenghis' ears... "Common Chenghis", and as a miracle he sprang up. I could understand his pain but I couldn’t feel it. But I could feel his love and he could feel mine. And there he taught us that no matter how much pain you are in and no matter what you are fighting in life, never fail to express your love for your dear ones.
The morning at 6:30 am, Chenghis excreted blood again in his stool, and at 6:45 am he puked blood and left for his heavenly abode. I woke up with my sister crying in my face. We cremated his body, we all mourned for him. The morning was the gloomiest morning of my life, but that’s how life is maybe.
Chenghis would run around my father trying to bite his feet. Would encircle and play in the drawing room in a play arena set by my father. He would look for my father in his absence and would sleep with some part of his clothing in his den. The first time he sat on my chest he bit my chin, and trust me I loved his wildness. He would bark when he was not given food, and would look at my mother with very eager eyes for more milk. Nobody could take rest in his presence. Always hungry and always ready for action seems like a family trait which was very much present in Chenghis.
This was the toughest article I had ever written down.
And soon on my way back from Goa, I saw a couple of beautiful hills with lush green grass and clear blue skies. On the edge of valley I saw me and Chenghis sitting together next to each other and watching the magnificent view. Slowly the car drifts away and my vision starts fading..... And all in the background I can hear a sweet tune...
"You and I, in this Beautiful World",
"Green grass, Blue Skies",
"In this Beautiful World”.
Chenghis was born on the 3rd of November 2010, came home on 8th December and left us on 13th December in the morning at 6:45 am. 5 days were enough to still feel his loss. Also a special thanks to all the Parsis in Mumbai who created the Bombay Vetenary Hospital. Maybe they didn’t need words to feel the pain; it could just be felt with the breath and eyes.
The inception of the bonding came to me in a very special way, as I was never comfortable with pets. Maybe I had been too detached to the mute bonds which encircle us all the time in our lives. I bought a kennel for him which was made of tiger prints. I named him "Chenghis", dedicating him to the mighty Chenghis Khan. The great Mongolian Monarch, whose father was killed when Chenghis was only 12. He fled from his massacred tribe in Mongolia and survived for some years till he came back and avenged his father's death. Post conquering, Chenghis became the mighty conqueror Chenghis Khan and went on a world conquest. Even the Indian Mughals were afraid of Chenghis Khan's army, and used to descend down south from Delhi whenever his armies came close to India. I wanted Chenghis to be that brave. Even if a Pug is supposed to be a toy dog, I wanted him to be as brave as a tiger. But I guess Chenghis taught me a lesson about bravery which I never knew in his last moments.....
Comprehending the bond was a difficult task for me. I guess it began when everybody used to leave Chenghis in my sister's room and run away.... he used to run after everybody but could not catch anybody other than me. I felt like he was a younger brother playing hard with his older companion. In the morning, whenever I used to go to wake him up, I often found him sleeping at the entrance of his artificial cave, with his legs spread like a relaxed lion. I use to feel so proud to see him sleep like that. And I used to keep him on my chest and talk to him. He would look at me, often lick me... or else both of us would sleep.
The death of Chenghis was an outcome of sloppy and irresponsible vets, guys who fake their passion for animals or as a matter of fact, their profession. After Chenghis was detected with gastroentites, we barely knew that he is going to be with us for less than 24 hours. If only we had known that, I swear, each one of us would have fought the world to save him. By 12th night Chenghis has gone dim, very dim. It just felt like he needs to go to a hospital. We rushed out in the car for the only animal hospital in Mumbai. In the car whenever Chenghis closed down his eyes or went dim, I used to scream "Common Chenghis" and he used to wake up. I still had a lot of hope. The doctors said that he has very less chances of survival. My sister was already breaking down, but somewhere deep down I believed that he would make it. That very soon I would be teaching him how to fight & play. That soon we would be travelling around in our car watching the world together, from my eyes and from his eyes. Later, I even learnt a fact that 70% of the world's population is descendents of Chenghis Khan. I used to chuckle to myself thinking that our Chenghis would also have a lot of fun with his female counterparts. That he would rule.
After certain doses of Intravenous saline and certain antibiotics, Chenghis became a little normal. My sister finally stopped crying. We waited till 4:00 in the morning at the hospital. According to their rule, we couldn’t wait there anymore. Only one could stay. So we decided that we would come back in two hours. While leaving I called out and slowly whispered in Chenghis' ears... "Common Chenghis", and as a miracle he sprang up. I could understand his pain but I couldn’t feel it. But I could feel his love and he could feel mine. And there he taught us that no matter how much pain you are in and no matter what you are fighting in life, never fail to express your love for your dear ones.
The morning at 6:30 am, Chenghis excreted blood again in his stool, and at 6:45 am he puked blood and left for his heavenly abode. I woke up with my sister crying in my face. We cremated his body, we all mourned for him. The morning was the gloomiest morning of my life, but that’s how life is maybe.
Chenghis would run around my father trying to bite his feet. Would encircle and play in the drawing room in a play arena set by my father. He would look for my father in his absence and would sleep with some part of his clothing in his den. The first time he sat on my chest he bit my chin, and trust me I loved his wildness. He would bark when he was not given food, and would look at my mother with very eager eyes for more milk. Nobody could take rest in his presence. Always hungry and always ready for action seems like a family trait which was very much present in Chenghis.
This was the toughest article I had ever written down.
And soon on my way back from Goa, I saw a couple of beautiful hills with lush green grass and clear blue skies. On the edge of valley I saw me and Chenghis sitting together next to each other and watching the magnificent view. Slowly the car drifts away and my vision starts fading..... And all in the background I can hear a sweet tune...
"You and I, in this Beautiful World",
"Green grass, Blue Skies",
"In this Beautiful World”.
Chenghis was born on the 3rd of November 2010, came home on 8th December and left us on 13th December in the morning at 6:45 am. 5 days were enough to still feel his loss. Also a special thanks to all the Parsis in Mumbai who created the Bombay Vetenary Hospital. Maybe they didn’t need words to feel the pain; it could just be felt with the breath and eyes.
Miss you Chenghis. And I know that your soul will always be with us. God Bless.
