An Introduction

Aunty D lived in an independent house in the heart of a big city.  It was not a big house, it did not have a very big garden, but it had four large shady trees at the four corners of the garden.  In one corner was the lovely Flame of the Forest that bloomed with rich red flowers and shed silky soft petals on the garden floor.

On the other side was a jamun tree and every year in August – September the boughs would be heavy with luscious purple fruit bursting its skin and oozing the sweet juice. Squirrels and monkeys would scamper on its branches and at the slightest touch or breeze, some of the fruit would drop to the floor with a plop – staining the ground an inky purple.

In another corner was the Bahunia tree or Mantharai as it was called locally. The bright pink flowers were a treat to see. Many passers-by picked the camel foot leaves for cooking, and the birds favoured this tree over all others. 

On yet another corner was a large neem tree spreading its graceful branches and providing shade to the entire front yard and a large part of the terrace. Every year, Aunty D would gather its precious flowers and sun-dry them to use them in cooking. And sometimes she would pluck the baby leaves and turn them into delicious chutneys. 

Aunty D loved to cook. Her home was eternally filled with aroma of something cooking and her refrigerator was always packed with food. Perhaps it was because of this, or perhaps it was because of the trees or because Aunty D was a kind soul, but all the animals in the neighbourhood used to flock to her house. Over the years, Aunty D had squirrels and kittens and puppy dogs and monkeys and birds and even a bat who came to her home either when they were injured or needed food to eat or water to drink or just a safe place to stay.

Aunty D was a busy person. She really had no time to look after all these animals. In fact, she may even have been happy if they never came to her home. But they did and she was too kind to ignore them. So, she did the best she could. She kept out water for them, and sometimes fed them, or took them to the doctor or sometimes just took care that they were safe and secure in her home.

Now Aunty D had two sons – H and K. Both loved animals and would keep picking up stray cats and dogs and every other type of animal and bring them home. Aunty D would take one look and sigh – “Not again!” – and then she would busy herself finding ways to care for the animals.

Although many animals came to her home, none of them stayed. The first time Aunty D got a dog of her own was when a coal black Labrador named Shadow came to stay with her. Shadow was a big dog. In fact, he was big even when he was a puppy. A little neighbour of Aunty D came to visit Shadow when he arrived. She was all excited about seeing a tiny puppy. But she took one look at Shadow and exclaimed, “He’s not a puppy. He’s a big dog!” And that was Shadow.

But large as he was, he was a little puppy at heart and never grew up. Aunty D was constantly chasing him around trying to rescue phone chargers, shoes and foot mats that he carried off in his mouth. He thought it was a game and would make Aunty D run round and round before he gave up his treasure. I am sorry to say H and K were never very helpful. They only laughed at his tricks, and he just became naughtier and naughtier. The only time they complained was when Shadow chewed up the computer charger. It was their computer!

Now Shadow watched this parade of animals with deep curiosity. So long as Aunty D loved him and only him, he did not mind allowing her to care for these other animals. Aunty D lived in a strange mad house, and one day I sat down with her and asked her to tell me all about the animals that came to her home.  I listened to her stories with amusement, with tears in my eyes and with horror for these stories made me laugh, cry and tremble. Here are some of these stories which I would like to share with you.