Hum Do, Humare Teen

" Hum Do Humare Do" was a family planning slogan started back in 1960's and 1970's. Over the years, this slogan was very successful. Most couples in urban India in the 1980's and 1990's restricted themselves to just two kids. Both me and my wife were born in the late 70's and probably the slogan did impact our judgment.  

On June 23rd this year, I had to drop someone off at the Bengaluru airport, my cousin accompanied me to the airport and while returning, he wanted to take a detour to attend to something at Shamshabad. The detour involved getting off the highway into some dusty village roads. As our car approached the village, we saw at least 6 to 8 puppies suddenly emerging from the nearby bushes and running onto the road. My cousin slowed down the car and parked it on the side to avoid any puppy getting hurt. 

We got down from the car. The puppies were running in all directions, but there was this one who made a dash toward me. It ran hard and ended up at my feet, sniffing and licking my feet. No matter how much I tried, it just wouldn't budge. I could not resist picking it up. Its fur was soft and I guess it enjoyed my touch. The puppy's mother was nowhere near.  Usually, I think a lot before making a decision, but this time I dont know what got over me and I made an impulsive decision there to bring the pup home.

We waited for the puppies to cross the road and we started for home. The puppies were in mud and my cousin was concerned about the car getting dirty, he found a small cover and we packed the puppy in. On the way, we stopped to buy a cup and some milk for the puppy, I was thinking about how the family will take this, I had not consulted with my wife. The puppy enjoyed the touch and maybe my heartbeat was a good lullaby, it slept like an angel. 

We reached home, my mother opened the door, and I handed her the packet, she was surprised and with the first touch, she fell in love with the puppy. My kids came running and boy they were excited. My wife is afraid of dogs and she saw the puppy from a distance and said it's cute. 

I brought it home, but what do we do now, The big question now was what Next. I had no experience of taking care of a pet. I thought for a bit and then decided to first give the puppy a bath as it was dirty, covered in mud. After the bath, it started to shiver and we had to blow dry it. I made a few phone calls to figure out what to do, I was advised to take it to a vet and get it checked out for infection. Luckily, there was a Government Vetnaray Hospital, close to where I live and it was still open. We put the puppy in a small tub and took it to the Government Vetnaray Hospital. My wife accompanied me to the vet despite her fear. The doctor told us this was a female puppy, probably just between 3 to 4 weeks old. it weighed just 800 grams. He inspected and told us that we need to deworm the pup, there are insects in its fur and there could be some in its stomach.

We bought the medicines he had prescribed and brought the puppy home, Now the Pet parenthood started for real. We were officially HUM DO, HUMARE TEEN (two kids and a pup)

The next day, the news of a new puppy spread and neighbors queued up to see the puppy. One of the neighbors, an Old man about 75 years old who came, picked up the puppy, and said something very profound. "Of all the people on the street this puppy chooses you, Wonder what you owe to the puppy and from which life".

The joy the puppy brought to the family was immense, however, my neighbor's words stuck with me, I had never thought about it this way, was it just me or did anyone else in my family owe this life form something. As I thought through this I remembered the following text from Bhagwad Gita - God is in full control of every minute detail of our lives, he decides when and what we should get.

Chapter 9, Verse 9

na ca mam tani karmani

nibadhnanti dhananjaya

udasina-vad asinam

asaktam tesu karmasu

One should not think, in this connection, that the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no engagement. In his spiritual world, He is always engaged. Although He has control over every minute detail of the matter, He is sitting as if he is neutral.