Chapter 6

( Brar Mansion, Ludhiana. )

(After yash gone back)

– my mother jasmeet and my aunt simarjeet both were talking how lonely they are feeling after yash gone

Their words are like:-

“our son is so competent.. he just come and went back to London for work, he work so hard, day and night,
He is so responsible, he understands his duties, our son is mature now, please god bless him.”

Now who tell them that
“ woh nalayak to bhabhi se milne gya hai.”

(Incompetent son was went to meet sister in law)

My mother said“ aur yeh ek nakara, nithala ladka ghr pe hi hota hai, kam bhi kr liya kr kabhi ,ghr se nikla kar, sekh koch to apne bhai se, zimmedari utha….”

(And look here my son, is sitting free at home, and always at home, do some work sometime, go outside the home to work, learn something from your brother, be responsible)

“Are are matashree mene kya kiya? Aur na ghr par rh kar bhi kam ho sakta hai, notanki hai sala …”

(Ohh! Mom what do i do now?
And we can also work from home
He was a gimmick that……now sala is somehow a curse also, and also used for brother in law)

And my mother removed her slipper and asked what? “What were you saying”

“Woh..woh
…i mean notanki hai sale ka jijaa …matlb hone wale bhabhi ke bhai ka jija…mai ese aa raha tha….”
And i run away…i listened them laugh….

( I mean he is gimmick,brother in law…like my future sister in law’s, brother in law is a gimmick)

“Huff!!! Saala kutte ka pila, khud to bach jata hai,aur mujhe fasa jata hai, to aa beta tere ko to mai btata hu….”

(Sigh!! *Curse” dog , he always gets safe, and i got stuck everytime because of him, child once you get back I’ll teach you….)

*****
Rathore’s Haweli, Jaipur

“Mom, I’m not going tomorrow. I have a test the day after, so I’ll stay home and prepare,” I told her.

“As you wish. And take Rocky to the hospital he’s not well,” she said.

Rocky… my baby.

I rushed to him. He looked tired, weak. He hadn’t eaten properly in days. My heart sank.

It all started after that man  our neighbour. Rocky used to sleep outside sometimes, so we built him a little house in the porch. But one day, someone tried to take him. We got him back, but we had no proof of who did it. Still… I knew. And it made my blood boil.

I pushed those thoughts aside and gently stroked Rocky’s head.

We went to the hospital. The vet said we were just in time. He gave him some injections and medicines. I stayed with him the whole day. I was worried… but hopeful.

He’ll be okay, I told myself.

✧

Next morning

Somehow, I woke up at 5 a.m. I couldn’t sleep.

I went for a jog.

By the time I came back around 7, something felt off.

Mom and dad were crying.

No.

No, please.

Please don’t say it.

But they didn’t need to.

Rocky… died.

My dog. My best friend. He died.

He’s gone.

I froze. I couldn’t breathe. He was the one who listened to everything I said. The one who waited at the door every day when I left for college. The one who jumped on me when I came back, wagging his tail like crazy.

Now who would do that?

He always went for walks with me. Always understood when I was low.

Now what?

I broke down. I never cry like that. Not in front of anyone. But this,  this was too much.

My parents tried to hold me, calm me… but nothing worked.

We buried him in our backyard.

Later, I stopped crying in front of them. Quietly went to my room, sat on the floor, and cried again. Alone. In silence.

Everything felt heavy. Like something pressed down on my chest.

✧

Later that night

I don’t even remember when I fell asleep. I hadn’t even taken a shower after my walk.

It was 9 now.

I heard Mom calling me.

I got up, took a quick shower, and went downstairs.

“Were you calling me, Mom?” I asked.

“Yes, beta. Come here,” she said gently.

“I made dinner. Let’s eat.”

“No, Mom. I’m not hungry. I have to study for the test. Please, don’t call me.”

She stopped me.

“Beta, please eat something. You haven’t eaten all day. Not even a glass of water.”

“This isn’t good. You’ll fall sick. And just think if Rocky saw you like this, would he be happy? For his sake… eat something.”

“Mom, I’m serious. I really don’t feel like it.”

“Okay. At least drink some milk, hmm?”

I sighed. “…Fine.”

Later that night, I just lay in bed again. Staring at nothing. Missing him. Everything felt heavy. Like my heart wasn’t mine anymore.

But somehow, I fell asleep… lost in his memories.

______________________________________

Hi guys.

So this isn’t just story. Its reality. My dog , rockey died today.

And i was crying while writing this chapter.

I planned something different for this chapter but because of him i changed my plans.

So this chapter is dedicated to rockey.

Heading off!!!!!

4 APRIL 2024