Are we really different from animals ? Or are they different from us ?
So, there are three friends (stray dogs) who come home to get biscuits both morning and evening. It was Rota's favourite to get three Marie biscuits both morning and evening, bless the manufacturers. We continue the same for Puppy the matriarch, Achu the young guy and Waggy Boo, the cool guy and Puppy's heart throb. Waggy Boo is not shrewd nor street smart like the other two. We are sure he has been either lost or let loose by the owners. For sometime now, we have an ongoing tussle with them over their habit of hunting peacocks. No coaxing, scolding, threats nor absolute silence deters them. You would not believe until you see the strategic hit Puppy and Achu can make in coordination. Achu and Puppy are born hunters, both in terms of agility and speed. They communicate just by a look before hitting top speeds. The only other dog around here who matches them is Roxy, a neighbours' pet, who we guess has a wolf's gene somewhere in his lineage.
Anyways, the transformer in front of our home is easy hunting ground to catch a wounded bird. Peacocks are most hit being poor flyers and if my deduction is right, with not so good eye sight. Their wing touches the line, and they get knocked out. We have saved some, lost many. The next most hit are myna's followed by crows. Our race is nowadays with these three to get to a wounded bird first.
So, today morning, Achu finds a peacock walking in the area among shrubs, and looks to catch Puppy's eyes. She is resting looking in the opposite direction. Waggy Boo is next to her sun bathing himself. On seeing this from bird's eye view from the terrace, I warned Achu, 'No'. A line or two more as a threat. So he walks away from the area, and takes a far left turn somewhere and reaches back near the transformer. God only knows how, Puppy has got the signal and reaches there. Both stand still, looking into the shrubs for movement before they move in. Absolutely still, intense. Along comes Waggy Boo, goes in the middle, stretches himself wagging his ever wagging tail, and is digging mud backwards with his hind legs pumping himself up for the hunt. On this, Puppy and Achu look at him, at each other and then again at Waggy Boo, their shoulders move down and walk back towards our gate defeated.
Now, tell me. How many of us have a friend like Waggy Boo or are ourselves Waggy Boo on occasions ?
I couldn't believe this scene that played out today morning in front of me and every time I think of it, I can't stop laughing. It was so good that I acted it out to Arun who knows Waggy Boo. If only they could talk, Arun would have got a re-enactment of the whole thing from both Puppy and Achu, to Waggy Boo's constant wagging of tail.
