Our Rana Dynasty!!!

The first Rana, I ever remember had reddish brown patches in his white skin. He was our dog, in my mom's house, where I was born. In fact he was 5 yrs elder to me!!! Achachan  never used to tie him up. So he was a free bird(dog!!). Not much of a pedigree, he was not a pure mutt either! He was achachan's pet (he named him too!!). He used to call him "mone" which meant baby-boy in malayalam. The main thing I remember about him is his behavior in Diwali day. He was so scared of fireworks and crackers, that before him, I felt (when I was 3) like a big courageous heroine!!. Usually he was not allowed inside our house. But all the Diwali days were so special to him , that the whole night, he would be under some body's bed !! On Diwali, after locking  Rana inside our house, we used to go and light crackers, outside!!

 

I didn't like his name when I started going to school. Cos every single friend of mine had a "tiger" or "ronnie" or "jimmy" or "tommy" as their pet, while mine was "Rana" . I complained to achachan that its a disgrace to me, that my dog doesn't have an Anglican name. Then he told me that it was "Rana Pratap's  " name(who was a Rajput King!), and that the word "Rana", meant king, in Hindi/Marathi.  He said that I should be proud, that our dog bore the name of an Emperor, while others dogs where ordinary "tom, dick and harry", kinds.  Any way I didn't feel much better, cos I knew less about Rana Pratap, then!

 

Rana died in an accident, -- a hit and run!! My parents didn't allow me to see his dead body. Me and my cousin were locked inside our house, while they buried Rana's body in our compound! I was just turning 4, then.

 

After that, some months later, a puppy was brought to us. No one had any objection in naming him, this time. He was Rana-II, making the beginning of a dynasty, in our home. Again , that was achachan's idea! Rana-II was complete reddish-brown, with dark brown nose. He was younger to me, also (I was glad, cos,  Rana-I sometimes  used to give me a look, as if he knew everything!!!). Now this puppy was so noisy and cried and cried all the night. We gave him bread soaked in milk. I don't know how, but he grew up so suddenly!! This time,our Rana was well-bred. He was chained at daytime and freed at night. He wasn't afraid of Diwali crackers too. His ears, were folded (formers' ears were upright!). But he used to lick us, and I screamed when he did so!

 

He was there with us for 12 yrs and died of old age. By that time, I had moved to dad's house and then to hostels.

 

Now theres Rana-III at my mom's house. He is a kid(2 yr old), cos, we didn't have any dog for a long time, after Rana-II. This Rana-III, is little bit furry with a dirty muddy color. His eyes are like two transparent-yellow globes. His looks are those of  sledge-dogs, with a pointed face. When I saw him, what came into my mind was that of a jackal. As he is not familiar with me, he is not very friendly, when I go there. And he is very selfish. If I try to sit on my cousin's swing, he would not allow me. When I start to go towards the swing, he would run and lay himself just under the swing, preventing me from sitting on it. I have never seen so much, selfish dogs!!!. And he would not eat, his food, if strangers (like me) are looking at him.  He is also not afraid of fire-crackers.

 

When we were kids, achachan used to tell us that Rana-I is our brother. Even now, my cousin, who is 27, addresses our Rana-III, as her brother!!!

 

 

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