Spot!

Continued from the previous week...

“Rahini... What happened? Did you hurt yourself?” Mrs. Joshi swung around to look at her daughter.

“Darling? Are you alright?” Mr. Joshi hurried to his daughter’s side.

“I’m alright. But did you hear that sound?” Rahini asked and bit her lip.

“What sound, my dear?” Mrs. Joshi asked looking around.

“There... can you hear something?” Rahini said again.

“Yes... it seems to be coming from... there...” Mr. Joshi pointed to some tall grass beside the rocks. “It sounds like... let me go and check.”

“Daddy, I want to come too,” Rahini said urgently.

“No dear. Let Daddy go and see. Be careful, Mr. Joshi...” Mrs. Joshi said putting her arms around her daughter as she watched her husband take off his shoes and roll up his jeans to his knees. He waded through the shallow water to the tall grass covering the rocks on almost the other side of the narrow brook and bent down. He lifted something in his hands and began walking back towards them.

“It’s a puppy! Mummy! It’s a small puppy!” Rahini said excitedly. They could hear the whining clearly now. The puppy was crying piteously even though Mr. Joshi was speaking to it kindly.

“Yes, it’s a puppy. I wonder how it got there.” She opened the small towel in her hand as her husband came closer. “Give it to me. The poor thing! Is it hurt?”

“I don’t think it is hurt. Wet, frightened and hungry too,” Mr. Joshi said placing the little animal in his wife’s hands.

“Let’s go back quickly. I have some milk with me. We’ll feed it. My heart is breaking hearing it cry,” Mrs. Joshi said. “Wait a minute! What about its mother? Any other pups?”

Mr. Joshi stared at his daughter’s face, looking in concern at the crying pup. He gave his wife a look which she understood meant only one thing. “Oh dear! Poor thing!” she whispered and held the baby closer to her bosom.

“Let’s go! Rahini... would you like to feed this little puppy?” Mr. Joshi said cheerfully.

“Yes Daddy. Will he drink milk from a cup or glass?” she queried innocently.

“He’s too small for that Rahini; we’ll have to feed him with a spoon or dropper. He’s probably not even a month old,” Mrs. Joshi said softly.

Once they reached their picnic spot Mrs. Joshi rubbed the pup dry, she spoke to it softly as she fed it milk with some cotton she took from the first aid box. Soon the little creature stopped crying and fell asleep in Mrs. Joshi’s lap.

“Now? What shall we do with it?” Mrs. Joshi looked at her husband who sat with Rahini in his lap watching the baby eagerly.

“There’s only one thing to do...” Mr. Joshi’s eyes twinkled. “Rahini... do you think you could look after this puppy? Would you like to have it as your friend?”

“Could I? Really? Ohhh... I would simply love that, Daddy!” Rahini hugged her father.

“Wonderful!” smiled Mrs. Joshi. “This is the best part about today’s picnic.”

“Now, having settled that we must think of a name for it,” Mr. Joshi said rubbing his chin. “Since Rahini was the one to hear it cry so that we could find it and help it, she should name it.”

“I love you, Daddy! Shall we name it ‘Susie’?” chirped Rahini.

“I’m afraid you can’t do that,” laughed Mrs. Joshi. “Your puppy is a boy!”

“Ohh... then... since he has brown spots on his white fur can we name him ‘Spot’?” suggested Rahini, a frown creasing her forehead.

“Wonderful! So, Spot he is! And, he better be a good dog. If he chews my slippers or newspaper, I’ll spank him,” Mr. Joshi said light heartedly.

“No Daddy! He’ll be a good boy. I’ll teach him good manners,” Rahini said happily.

“Very well! I think we should have a quick lunch, wind up the picnic and have him checked by the Vet before we go home. We’ll need to purchase some formula for him. He’ll be hungry and awake soon. We can have our celebratory tea party at home, a welcome party for Spot. What say?” Mrs. Joshi looked at her husband and daughter.

“Hurray to that!” yelled the father and daughter excitedly.

Dear readers, I hope you enjoyed reading this story and will keep me in your thoughts till we meet again. Hoping to be back after a few weeks! Stay safe! Keep reading and keep smiling till then!