MB#5: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙡 𝙂𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝘼𝙡𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙤𝙜'𝙨 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙑𝙚𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚.

[MemoirBlogthon #5] My father brought home a German Shepherd puppy named Jikki. My mother insisted that the dog must always stay outside, a rule upheld by our servant.

MB5: From Puppy to Protector: The Four Years We Spent with Jikki

In 1965, my father unexpectedly brought home a 10-day-old puppy, filling our household with joy. The tiny bundle of fur, a gift from a friend, immediately became the center of our lives. My mother, though allowing the new family member, set one firm condition rooted in our vegetarian lifestyle and daily pooja: the dog, from day one, was not to be allowed inside the house.

My father quickly and uniquely settled the naming process. He named the puppy Jikki after his favorite Telugu playback singer. The name, sweet and unique, quickly became synonymous with a loyal and diligent personality in our home.

The Diligent Guard and the Special Enclosure

My father identified Jikki as an Alsatian (the old name for a German Shepherd), a breed known for its intelligence and versatility—qualities our puppy quickly displayed.

To honor my mother's condition, we set up a special enclosure for Jikki in the outhouse, lined with soft hay and warm blankets. Our dedicated, full-time servant, Rajaiah, became Jikki’s primary caregiver. He meticulously prepared its non-vegetarian food, cleaned its space, and ensured its comfort.

Rajaiah also patiently handled the house training, teaching Jikki to use a specific corner of the premises. Jikki never tested the boundary of the main house; its domain was its enclosure, the garden, and its nightly watch. It grew into an excellent guard dog, barking loudly and fiercely, chasing away anything from cats and birds to human intruders, safeguarding our isolated home.

Playtime became our daily highlight. We spent hours playing hide-and-seek, but Jikki's favorite activity was water play. When we took him to the nearby canal, he learned to swim across it, even against a heavy current, showcasing his strength and enthusiasm.

Illness, Loss, and Lasting Attachment

After four years, our blissful life with Jikki came to a heartbreaking halt. While we were away on a week-long tour, and Rajaiah was on vacation, Jikki fell severely ill under the care of a temporary servant.

We were devastated upon our return. We rushed Jikki to a government veterinary hospital, where a rare infection was diagnosed. We diligently nursed him, doing everything we could to make him comfortable. The experience of shared distress over Jikki's illness deepened our family bond and taught us the complexity of caring for a sick pet.

The crucial contrast between the joy of its arrival and the sadness of its passing was profound. One morning, Jikki passed away. My mother, despite her initial condition to keep him out of the house, cried uncontrollably for several days, deeply saddened and showing the depth of her silent bond.

We arranged to bury our dear friend at a distant place on the banks of a canal, but we marked its grave with a small stone in the enclosure where it had lived.

The ethical 'why' of this story is the profound lesson in life attachment and bonding detachment. My father's gift taught us unconditional love, responsibility, and the inevitable pain of loss. Though the sadness remains, the memories of Jikki—the little puppy named after a singer, the diligent guard, and the playful swimmer—will stay with us forever, defining a precious phase of our childhood.

MB#5: Quiz

MB#5: Question: What philosophical lesson did the family learn through the dog’s life and eventual passing?

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• A. The financial cost of pets.
• B. The process of attachment and detachment.
• C. The challenges of vegetarianism.
• D. The value of outdoor hobbies.

MB#5: Quote

"The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be." – Konrad Lorenz