PART 1 Second Chance

Second Chance!

 

With all the odds happening, I fight a little more harder  with myself to  fit  right into this super-rush system. 

I face challenges and break my confidence down just to prove to others that they are right.I have a fear that they'll disown me. 

I am scared of living alone. I don't need attention or fame. All I need is someone who can hear me and not judge me.

It all started when Tipsy left me. 

Chapter 1

I got my first pet when I was 14. I was the first kid in my joint family who had a pet of her own, after my aunt. 

The first look of that little pup staring into my eyes when my brother handed it over to me is 

unforgettable. Tipsy! I named him. He was white, fury and had a faint brown mark on his back. I walked like a queen holding him,

in the corridor of our house. My cousins gave me an extra privilege just because I had Tipsy.

Tipsy grew a bit  bigger and I was a year old when I entered my 10th class. The year where I had to be serious about my academics as it is a very crucial year for SSC syllabus. 

Everyone in the house was worried about my exams except for Tipsy. I loved staring into his eyes because he was more confident about me than anybody.

He waited every single day for me after school. He managed to  unleash himself and used to come running to the main gate of our bungalow the moment he heard the gate open. 

I wonder till date how he got to know my presence. He sensed me daily without  fail. At night, Ma used to  tie  him out in his kennel. And that was the only condition that Ma let tipsy into the family, which I was ok with but Tipsy was not. He managed to sneak into our room where my sister, Sushmi and I had our lower bedding. 

Tipsy had the habit of sleeping near my feet. He then managed to  get up and slip out of the room before Ma could catch him.

 I used to share all my rough times with Tipsy and he grew possessive day by day. On one hand, the board exams began and on the other hand the joint family was splitting up with the idea of  demolishing the bungalow. All my cousins started to split. We were the last ones to shift. Ma and Daddy did not shift because they were worried about my exams and waited for the exams to finish. But the idea of demolition work did not stop. I used to get disturbed in the day time with the noise of the labourers and the huge hammering sounds, but still I used to focus on the books and Tipsy would understand that.

He used to go out and bark at the labours. This act of his made me laugh and I hugged him tight. I studied late nights when I had exams like Math and Science. 

And that night, it was not the Math or Chemistry formulas I was scared of, it was the freaking noise coming from the darkness outside and the cool breeze that hit my neck.

 I gathered little courage to look at the window and suddenly Tipsy got up and stared at me and took a casual walk towards to window. He looked out, came back and rested his head beside me. It was as if he assured me that everything is ok. He was there all alert for me like a bodyguard.

Soon we shifted to an apartment which was not very spacious like our bungalow. Sushmi managed to set up our new house with all the decor art she had and our house really looked beautiful.

 A few days passed and we got a notice from the appartment incharge saying that we cannot have pets in the appartment due to some health issues faced by one of our neighbours.

 I was not ready to give away Tipsy at any cost. And my Daddy's influence worked to convince our neighbours at that point of time. 

The day arrived when my results of 10th grade were out and we celebrated as I passed in 1st class with distinction. My parents were shocked and didn't believe that I managed a distinction with all the chaos of building demolition and family disputes that happened. Only Tipsy and I knew what it actually took to achieve that distinction. I danced holding Tipsy and he too was happily barking and wagging his tail. My little Tipsy was not a very fancy dog like the ones you see on TV shows and he knew no tricks of grabbing a ball or curling a mat. All he knew was to guard me, stand by me, be it whatever

Chapter 2

 

The vacation had started and just like any other teenager's mind tickles for some pranks  and fun, I too  was eager to  meet my maternal side cousins.

 As they made up some super plans for summer vacation, I made all the arrangements for tipsy because I was not allowed to take him along to my Tatha's house. 

Tatha's house was huge with a big joint family. They were typical brahmins. Tatha was sweet to us but was strict with Ma and Daddy. He was still angry with them because Ma chose Daddy over everything and got married in a different caste and state. Just like the story of two states, but Andhra and Kerala. Fortunately culture wasn't different and language never seemed as a big barrier.Tatha was a retired army personnel. He was well educated and used to speak to us in English. We all spoke in English to break the the language barrier. 

Though Tatha was very well civilized, he had certain rules.They had a dog as a pet already, so no other pet was allowed. And Tatha's rules were the final verdict for the others in the family.I took a promise from Ma and daddy that they would take good care of Tipsy. I left giving Tipsy a big hug. He shook his tail and barked. I kissed on his forehead and left without looking back.

A few days had passed by at Tatha's house and I was having a lot of fun  with my cousins.  Sushmi  was very studious and a typical stereotype girl. 

She chose to learn cooking from Attha during this vacation. She completed her graduation and was a student of honours. She always made Ma and Daddy proud with her astounding and phenomenal academic performances. I very well remember the day my parents had come to Tatha's home with a big box of sweets. Everyone sat in a big circle praising Sushmi as she was the the first person in the whole family, who got a gold medal in graduation.

They set her as an example for all our little younger generation. I looked at her feeling proud that she is my sister but at the same time 

I felt bad as I was being compared to her. And that is when I missed him. I missed Tipsy I missed him so badly and asked Ma "How is he doing?" She said he was fine and turned her face to Attha and diverted the topic. I looked at Daddy, he mummed his lips and smiled wickedly. I asked him what was wrong. He refused to tell me as Ma looked at him seriously. I decided to go home back to Tipsy.

 

Ma, daddy and me started from Tathas home while Sushmi decided to stay there for some more time. I understood that it was tough when you split from a joint family. 

You always feel lonely. Sushmi liked it in here at Tatha's house because it was a joint family. With me it was different, I never felt lonely because I had Tipsy.

 

Chapter 3

 

On my way back I just closed my eyes and leaned my head on Daddy's back. I was just hoping that everything should be right with Tipsy.

We reached the apartments and I ran up to our flat which was on third floor. I stood right in front of the door waiting for Ma.

After Ma reached, she was trying to unlock the huge lock. As I got restless, I grabbed the keys from her and unlocked quickly.

 I rushed into the house whistling. My heart beat was swift and I could hear  my  own heart beat. I thwacked the key on the floor and screamed  loudly 

 and cried out  "Tipsy!." I asked Ma with a heavy throat, "Where is he? Please tell me Ma..Please!. My daddy couldn't see me fall on the floor and weep. He

told me that after I left for Tatha's house,Tipsy became restless. He barked day and night and wasn't listening to my parents. It was as though Tipsy was questioning them,

 "Where is she I need to know ". Like the same way I was weeping in front of them at that moment.

My dad explained how the people in the apartment were against Tipsy and how they were annoyed with him barking. The neighbours requested my Daddy to do something about it immediately.

 

"So.Where is he now?" I shouted with a shriek in my voice. Ma tried to console me but I kept screaming.

 Daddy understood that I wouldn't give up so easily and told me that Tipsy was with Jagmohan uncle, one of our family friends. I thanked them and stood up wiping my tears. 

I started walking towards the door and Ma stopped me. Daddy asked Ma not to stop me as he got my pulse right. I walked down to my Uncle's house and called out to Reenu!

Reenu was the youngest and the closest of all cousins. She was  my secrets-holder and the only person who knew me inside out. 

I hugged and cried loudly saying that Tipsy is gone and asked her to join me in getting him back. She did  not  speak a word and was ready to go with me the way she was. 

On my way I was just thinking about Tipsy and Reenu was quiet as she knew how much this mattered to me. We soon reached the apartments where Jagmohan  uncle lived with his family.  

I met them a couple of times before and their elder son Nitesh had a crush on me, which only my secrets-holder knew. While getting into the apartment Reenu looked at me and asked if I was sure of what I am doing. I nodded my head and said "Let's go!". She followed calmly.

Before I rang the door bell I could hear him bark and I could not control my tears. Reenu rang the door bell and held my hand,making me cautious. I wiped my

tears and looked straight. The door opened and we saw Nitesh with a huge smile like all his 32 pearl white teeth popping out of his mouth. 

I really wasn't interested in that smile that day. Had it been another day, Reenu and I would enjoy that moment and would make fun of it later laughing our hearts out.

 "Welcome!", he said and we walked in. He made us sit and all I could hear is Tipsy's loud bark.

Nitesh was sitting with a wide smile. I shook my legs in anxiety and was staring at the aquarium and meanwhile Nitesh's mother arrived. She looked at me and said

 "God would punish me if I stopped you from taking Tipsy back". I was shocked and pleased to hear what she said. She showed me the way to where Tipsy was tied. 

I rushed without speaking a word and he stopped barking. I hugged him tight. I could hear his loud heartbeat. Aunty told me that he did not eat for 2 days. She gave

me a bowl of milk and I fed Tipsy. I thanked Aunty for understanding and we left the house with Tipsy. Tipsy glued himself to me throughout our way back home.  

He was staring at me for assurance that this would not repeat again. I took him back to my house. Reenu stayed with me for that day. Tipsy was with me for the rest of the day and slept that night near my feet.

 

Final Chapter

 

One week later we got a message that our Uncle passed away. He was big Ma's (Ma's elder sister) husband . 

And we had to go to attend a few rituals. This time I did not take any chance. I decided I would take Tipsy along and I did so.

 Two days later without my knowledge, Ma and Daddy decided to take Tipsy back home, as people were getting bothered at big Ma's house. All thanks to my teen cousin gang I came to know. However I was sure this time that my parents would never repeat the mistake of giving Tipsy away to someone else.

A month passed by and big Ma was happy to get back to normal life. It was time for me to get back as my new session of inter first year was going to begin. 

Daddy had come to pick me up and I was all excited to head back home. After all I stayed away from Tipsy and I was going to see him after a month. 

I was so excited as I bought a new leash for him from one of the fairs I attended during my stay at big Ma's.

 We reached our apartment and I walked up the stairs humming my fav song. I knocked at the door and I was quite impressed with Tipsy that he got well trained by Ma and had become disciplined. Ma opened the door I walked in and sat down on our sofa tucking my legs under my thigh, waiting for Tipsy to come and sit on my lap so that 

I can show him his new gift. I sighed and lifted my brows to ask Ma,"Where is he?"

Ma left me alone to do her chores without talking a word. I kept staring at the leash. My Tipsy was gone! Forever.

 I lost him and this time it  was my mistake  for  I trusted my parents and gave them a second chance. And, guess what!

 Now it's been 16 years I've lost Tipsy and I don't give people a Second Chance!.

Like I said I am scared to live alone and I need someone who can listen to me and not judge me, I ask myself, "Can anybody match my Tipsy?"

I curse myself when people hate me for not giving them a Second Chance but sorry, I've developed a fear of giving a second chance and the fear is Tipsy!