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Articles: Short Stories | Neighbour's enemy
- Ms. Sowmya V.B.
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The day our new neighbours arrived was probably the most silent of all the days in my apartment life. Though I was at home all that day, all alone, with not a sound to disturb me, I never realised that somebody just landed nextdoor. God knows how they succeeded in getting all the luggage in without a bit of sound…not even that of the lift which always disturbs my afternoon siesta saying– please close the door. Or was I in a sleepy mood? This is what I never understand, even months after their arrival. However, retrospecting, it was only a lull before a storm which lasted till they stayed here.
I don’t hate pets. I don’t love them either. Now, don’t handover me to PETA or Blue cross. I am never cruel to them…for I am afraid of most of the pets. Many people I knew as a child had pets. Some times, I was afraid of them and sometimes, they were afraid of me. For that matter, throughout my childhood, there was a Doberman (Doberwoman rather..its a Bitch) in our neighbour’s house. But, that was different as both of our houses were independent houses and we only had a glance of Daisy(its her name) as we approached our staircase or when we threw our ball in to their compound and tried to sneak in, foolishly imagining that the doggy will not realise!!! But, an apartment, with an ever-barking doggy by the side, is the worst place to live in. It is a neighbour’s enemy. Owner’s pride however.
The very first day, the day when they joined, I didn’t notice them till dusk. Cometh dusk, I’ll be off to an evening stroll. I have to go past their house either to use the lift or go by the steps. All of a sudden a continuous barking began. A born coward that I am, I took two steps back. The barking stopped. I took two steps forward. The barking began. As I was about to go back by two steps again, I noticed one thing..there was a grilled barrier similar to a road divider in front of their main door, probably to prevent the doggy to move around. Now, coming out of my chimerical fears of Rabies and 14 injections which I already began imagining, I went past their house with a fake-audacity. However, thinking it to be safe, I stopped using the lift. Else, I would have to wait for the lift right in front of the “great barrier reef” which I suspected to be vulnerable to an escapade by the Dog.
I heard that this is a 11 year old dog. Looks like its sense of smell grew with its age. Even as I tried to tiptoe the path between the stairs and my house, all most all the time, the doggy caught my scent. Within no time, I became a voyeur, on a look out for the Doggy’s scent!!!! Not just this, I began appearing like a thief…though I tried to enter my own house. My tale of woes never appeared to cease. Every evening, at around my stroll time, the doggy and its owner returned from a walk. Whenever the owner’s wife is busy, she delayed opening the door. The restless doggy will be barking. I would have already locked the door and can’t go back for I’ll make a fool of myself by backing out seeing the doggy then…the fear of being laughed at is one of the most influential fears. Those few seconds, when the doggy keeps trying to escape from her owner’s chains and I trying to appear cool are perhaps the longest seconds in my already long, monotonous days.
Topping all is the most terrifying thing that happened the other day. I was as usual coming from Office in the evening. Their door was open and that great barrier was open too…..my heart sank. However, I tiptoed past their house. I was jubiliant at my success in hoodwinking the dog. In that euphoria, I inadvertently slipped and fell on the iron stand beside their house. This resulted in a sound audible enough to be heard by the family. Even before I regained my composure and started moving towards my house, a barking sound crossed my ears. In a moment, it was running after me. I too ran, though there was no need to run. My house was only 20 feet away.
But, to my shock, our outer grill was bolted from inside!!!! Mom must have come and did this…the doggy came…I was unable to move. I thought of climbing the grill door…but, it was not of much height. Now, the doggy almost fell on me. I was petrified. I think I shouted. I stood looking at it. Don’t know what it saw in my face. Whether I terrified her or she saw a beseeching urge in my eyes, I don’t know. She stopped just a millimeter before me. As a few seconds passed by with us looking at each other, the dog’s master came. To my irritation, he began-
“see, how nice it is! It will not do anything. People unnecessarily worry seeing my munna” saying so, she continued – “ arey munna! Frightened seeing this tall lady? Don’t worry ma, I came na? I’ll tell her not to frighten you” Later, turning to me, he said – “ I say, why do you get frightened and frighten the dog?” As if I’ll do something to the dog while I am in shock myself !!!!!
Days went on and finally, my happiest moment happened. The people left the place. Next day, I celebrated it by making halwa. As I ate the first serving, I almost felt like throwing it out. It was with such a sick taste……
“Why is this tasting this horribly?” – as I was contemplating on my recipe, I heard a bark. In a sudden fit of madness and shock, I moved towards the main door. Can you imagine what I found there? It was a new family shifting and they had a new doggy, stout, fierce looking and one that barks louder, with them!!!!!
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