‘Is he really gonna come with us ? Will he be able to do this ?’
Thoughts kept spinning in my head.
It was my first trek with Shraddha. Although had I read about her through the blog written by Savita ma’am, I was going to meet her in person, for the first time-the occasion was Kamalgad Trek. We all were asked to meet atMatoshri old-age-home, near Rajaram bridge. Accordingly, everyone arrived at the venue on time. By the time I could park my scooty at a safe place, the bus had arrived. While rest of the trek-mates boarded the bus, Shraddha was yet to come, so I preferred to stay down and started my favourite thing, to watch the surrounding and capture the frames.
The otherwise crowded Rajaram bridge was breathing freely, reminding me of a pro Yogi, doing Pranayam. The morning walk of the elderly people had a tinge of praising words about the son who recently bought a new flat, the grand-daughter who had given a surprise gift and many such happy moments. Another married couple going double-seat on a bicycle, an old lady religiously worshiping the Shivalinga near the old-age-home gate and such many small things were adding to the beauty and livelihood of that morning and I was literally enjoying every bit of it. There was another young girl walking on the sidewalk, along with her Indie Stray dog…Wow…there was something catchy about it…that dog wearing a deep pink sleeveless t-shirt, confidently walking with the lady…I could not take my eyes off that dog….
“Should I click his pic ? Nah, what if the lady takes an objection and passes some Puneri taunt ? Why spoil the day because of her rude reply ?”
A small friendly leap of the same dog onto me broke that thought-chain, followed by the lady’s comment-
“Are you comfortable with him ? Hope you don’t have any problem”
“Well, if someone, whose looks are so attractive that I was about to click his pic, comes to me and start playing like a kid, what problem would I really have ? Rather that was a lottery for me !”
Of course, that was all going in my mind, I didn’t utter anything of this, but just as a formality I started telling her that I was comfortable with him, rather I love pets. But before I could start a word about clicking his pic, that lady came with the next comment
“Come on Toby, get inside, we are already late. You too get inside, Rohini, Lets go…”
‘What ! How come she knows me ? Oh, is she Shraddha Mehta ? And this doggy, Toby, is gonna accompany us ?’
I seriously needed some time to absorb all this, but since we were already late, without any further question, I just got into the bus…. Happy for a reason that this cute doggy is coming with us, giving me a chance to click as many of his pics as I could, I was still stuck in the thoughts…
‘Is he really gonna come with us ? Will he be able to do this ?’
The bus got a good pace on the highway. Me trying to capture that golden-orange sun, playing hide-n-seek across the mountains, was still thinking about Toby.
