Just when I started thinking the day was going to be dull and boring as always, my sister reminded me that we were supposed to take our dog for her yearly vaccine. Fine, something pushing me out of the house today. So we got all ready and got out to go, put the dog lash for Dabboo who was all excited to go out for a walk (she hardly knew this was a looooong loooong Jolly Ride instead).
A few steps from home, we found an auto who insisted for a flat 100 bucks just for a ride which would take not even half of the amount. Well, like I'm going to spare him. I haggled and finally concluded since we are taking a dog I'd pay him 20 bucks more. So there we (me, mom and Dabboo) set out on the auto while my sister had already gone half way by her scooty (she loves it >.<). Dabboo loved the ride on the auto, believe me, though I had to hold her real tight just so scared she might jump off the auto. Now for those of you who know nothing about my dog aka my Dabboo - she is the most untrained but the friendliest Labrador Retriever ever. Anyways, so Dabboo was enjoying every bit of the beautiful weather of Bangalore as well as the "Cars" that passed by. I wish I could understand more of her doggie language and feelings so I could tell you through her words. But all I could comprehend was that she loved the cool breeze, counted the number of cars on the road that passed us and was over-excited.
Now, when we reached the hospital, Dabboo remembered the place she visited a year ago, faintly. All the pain came back like a flash of agony through her eyes. She whined and yelped to go back but when she understood that she had to undergo the same she got really restless, walking around not knowing what to do. She didn't let the doctor check the weight nor her temperature. She just sat up on the pedestal type of steel platform salivating vigorously, sniffing to find way to jump off the place she sat upon. Then the doctor filled two syringes full with vaccine and my eyes popped out seeing two painful injections into my baby. I, myself, do so much drama when I have to bear those needles going through my skin, how would a mute creature bear it all? And, two? I turned to my sister and gave her an "OMG" expression, she had the same too. Next what happened was the worst ever. We had to hold an overly-aggressive dog, so what did the doctor think of? Yes, tie her mouth so tight that it wouldn't open. We agreed as it would not allow her to bite us. But that idiot tied it with her tongue stuck between her teeth in the front and he said "Yenu agalla" ("Nothing's going to happen") so sternly and ruthlessly. But still when the doctor injected the first vaccine, Dabboo agitated and tried pushing away the needle. Then the needle went through. We held her real hard so that she doesn't move. And when the needle went in completely, Dabboo gave me that one look of "Why did you do this to me when all I gave you was my love, love and all love? Why did you let some idiot hurt me so bad?" - that broke my heart into a million pieces for letting her take up all that bitter pain. She started palpitating with foams coming off her mouth. And she quietly took in the second injection. She didn't agitate nor push the needle away. But just kept looking at me the same way and that's when I wanted to cry a million tears.
The injections were done leaving Dabboo palpitating and salivating out of pain and fear. I took her out right then and we found another auto to go home. But this time, even before I ask the auto guy if he'd come Dabboo was already into the auto. The auto guy had to agree then. This time, on the way back, Dabboo was much sober than she was earlier. She lied down flat and watched the slight drizzle fall on her and the awesomely cool breeze blow on her face. She enjoyed it utterly. We knew. She loved the jolly ride on the auto as well as when people saw her and kids tried gaining her attention. Most of all, I felt proud when people around said "Such a pretty dog she is", just like my own baby girl (Yes the first thing I did was to put a black spot on her when I got back home keeping away bad sights).
When we got back home, all tired, we found Dabboo under the sofa, completely quiet and sleepy. Yes, she was tired, but most of all, the horrifying pain she underwent made her stay calm, probably. Well, it was a day to remember and Goodness me, it's going to come back every year. I just hope we learn how to train ever-willing-to-learn Dabboo how to stay calm and imagine that the needle going through is just like an ant-sting, just what mom says whenever I have to take one. I know it's really hard, but we've got 365 days more for all that.
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