All his life he had lived on the streets, picking up his meals of scraps from the garbage dump or alms begged from passers-by.
He had known no other life and he was content until the kind old lady down the street adopted him and gave him three meals a day and a chair to sleep on.
Now she’s gone he knows not where and he howls and howls in bewilderment and loneliness, an old dog friendless in the world–adopted and abandoned in three months’ time.
Hasmita Chander wishes she could live in a fictional world, and she does, through her stories. She inhabits the real world in Mumbai, writing articles, essays, and fiction. Editors in seven countries have used her work in their magazines, newsletters and newspapers. Her story “Bloody Carrots in the Curry” is due to be published by Unisun publications in their 2008 fiction anthology. Her home online is at www.hasmitachander.com.
Did you like this story?
A new and interesting story is posted every day.
A new and interesting story is posted every day.
Subscribe to the RSS Feed! (what is rss)
Don’t miss another story! Subscribe to Every Day Fiction via RSS.
Rate this story
19 Responses to “A DOG’S LIFE • by Hasmita Chander”
Comments
« ARROW’S WAY • by Vijayendra Mohanty | Home | ALL THAT GLITTERS • by Deven D Atkinson »
May 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Couldn’t decide if this is a dog or a boy, but sad either way. I’ve had a few strays in my life and they treated me as well as I hope I treated them.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Nicely done, Hasmita. Like DJ, I was left wondering if it was a dog or a boy. Sadly, I think it’s a boy.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Very haunting, Hasmita. I have a soft spot for strays.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Looks like the comments are working at last. Thanks for your feedback, Kevin, Greta and DJ Barber. I did mean a dog and not a boy.
Strays are still a problem and a sad reality in India, despite the efforts of the NGOs and individuals trying to help in this area.
Hasmita
May 29th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Sorry the comments weren’t working Hasmita. It has gotten a fair number of votes though, so people have been reading.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
chilling …
May 29th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Nice piece Hasmita. Also seems to pose the question: is being loved and cared for really such a good thing, in the face of the loss of love, and we were relatively content before?
Manoj
May 29th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Beautiful story! Just three sentences and yet, so poignant. Well done!
May 29th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Thanks, Jordan.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Thanks, Manoj, Vrinda, John.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Very true, we don’t know what we’re missing till we get some of it, and then we can’t bear to lose it and go back to what we were before.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Reality knock that was!Nice,Hashu!Strangely enough, it reminds me of a short story by Jayakanthan,that I read over twenty years ago!
The story,in a nut shell…is about two Men,one a Beggar,a patient of leprosy,who sits cheerful & content at a Railway Gate,begging his days thro’& the other,a dejected Student,who’s just retracted his steps after an abortive suicide attempt at the same Railway track!The two chat all night & when the day dawns,what remains of the Beggar on the tracks is just his one set of clothes,fully blood stained.. the student,completely sad but,head held high is home bound!!
They just exchanged their energies & that is one Life’s philosophy learnt!!!!!Always stay positive!
May 30th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Nicely done Hasmita. While you may have meant a dog, it works equally well, to me anyway, to consider the dog as anyone who has had to scrape by, be touched by kindness, and then lose it. Good job!
May 30th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Lovely true story of our strays. It also reminds us that we shouldn’t take things for granted and be thankful for what we have today;who knows what tomorrow has in store for us!
May 31st, 2008 at 12:06 am
Thanks, Mum
June 1st, 2008 at 12:45 am
I think a lot of the earlier comments already cover what I feel about the story. Very well written and brings out a sad reality in just a few sentences. Also feel the same about the question ‘Manoj’ brought up… It feels unkind to show someone (human or animal) love/good life if it’s going to be shortlived. In some cases one could say something is better than nothing, but in this case one wonders if the dog would have been better off not having tasted the pleasure of companionship at all.
I truly agree with what ‘Shashi’:) also said..
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:59 am
Hi, just tried to give in my star rating to this story but couldn’t. The stars are not getting selected at all.. It’s like no action is possible. Let me know..
June 15th, 2008 at 7:03 am
A touching story well told in just a few words. Good micro fiction snapshot of poverty, a chance to be loved, and then bewildering loss. Well done!
June 16th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Thank you so much, Moni!