Dawa finally
went back to Paro where some of the older dogs recognized him. The only reason
for his coming back to Paro was that he wanted to meet Moley and went to the
places she normally visited. But finding her nowhere, he went to her favourite
place under the steps of the lhakhang in town. There he found a young dog
mother feeding and licking her litter of puppies. Dawa was suddenly overcome
with a sense of paternity. She looked so contented that Dawa did not want to
intrude into this serene scene of a happy family. He was turning back to go
away from that place when she called out asking him if he wanted anything.
Through the
talk with her Dawa learnt that she was the third generation niece of Moley and
she was her great-great-great aunt. Dawa then introduced him as a friend of
Moley. When Dawa looked surprised on hearing that Moley had passed away years
ago, she wanted to know what was so surprising about it as Dawa himself did not
look so young either. Dawa rushed back to the pool he would use as a mirror, on
the left bank of the river, to practise his howling posture long ago. Dawa was
intrigued by the seemingly long passage of time and wondered about his place
amidst all the visible changes. He had to look at himself. But the blue
pristine pool was no more what it was before. When he looked into the water, he
could not find his reflection as there were plastic bags, empty packets of
Maggi, two empty bottles of Mountain Spring water, one half shoe and even a
packet of Amul Taaza on the water and the bushes and plants around!
Dawa removed some of the garbage from the
surface of the water and looked at himself in the muddy water. He found a
blurry figure in the murky water with rainbow colours around, like the ones one
finds around the statues in the temples. He was surprised and crouched down to
have a closer look. It was not luminous like the one finds around Buddha’s
head, but oily and poisonous. Concerned Dawa looked around for the changes. So
much has changed during his absence – the ever growing number of cars, the
mechanical workshop, and the buildings everywhere. He wondered if the sleeky
rainbows in the pool of water were being caused by the garbage or the changes.
Being a dog without the intellect of the humans, it was difficult for him to
find out the answer, so he decided to concentrate on his reflection in the
water. He looked very old and pensive. He then smiled a smile of contentment
thinking about all the places he had been to, beyond Paro. It was mainly due to
Moley.
Then he
positioned himself like he used to long time ago. He tried to focus on the
imaginary moon, the source of his name and identity. He thought about his dead
family next. Then he howled, the loud, muffled sound slowly rising to a
crescendo followed by a lingering tremor. This is how he paid his tribute to
Moley and Paro.
It was no
different in Thimphu. Most of the younger lot had no idea about who Dawa was
and those who had heard about him being the leader of the howling pack once,
found it difficult to believe that he was the same Dawa. They thought that he
was trying to have fun by trying to be a part of an urban legend! The only
logical explanation, felt Dawa, of the mysterious passage of time could have
been his long stay at the cave of Gelong Ma Pelmo.
Thimphu is what he has chosen to be his home. He has a
wonderful view of the whole Thimphu valley from his place near Changangkha
lhakhang. He rues not having any children of his own, but that frees him from
any responsibility of parenthood. He smiles when he hears the nightly howling,
as indisciplined as it was not during his time. But he was pleased to think
that every dog was entitled to freedom of speech. Day after day he watched
Thimphu town growing and spreading, converting the paddy fields into concrete
blocks and climbing up the forested hills. He realized with fond wisdom that
Thimphu will grow to its destined size and his eyes become misty with loving
emotion.
Contd on page 2/-
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