Bark! Bark!
My eyes flew open. Cursing my next-door neighbour's dogs for their distinct talent in barking at the most inopportune moments. I forced shut my windows to drown out the barking.
Now Amma was shouting at the top of her lungs, " Usha..how is your daughter doing?"
I sighed, bid adieu to my afternoon nap and went back to work.
" They said there are some complications. She has less water now, " I heard Usha reply in a lower baritone.
" Don't worry. Pray to God. Everything will be alright" my mother ensured her, still shouting.
*
*
In the coming days, I heard a lot of new voices other than Usha's and her gruff sounding husband's. My room shares close proximity to their living room, with just a boundary wall separating our houses.
The dogs kept barking during my afternoon naps and while I lay beckoning sleep in the dead of the night. I kept my windows shut.
*
*
Today, the new voices had quietened. I am guessing all the new guests in Usha's home left. A silence prevailed. I half expected the dogs to go back to barking. They were asleep I think. I wouldn't know; my windows were shut.
Soon the silence was broken. A short, shrill, subdued fussing..a small cry..followed by a new mother's cooing. It came subdued through my closed windows.
I prised open them.
Even the dogs seem to be listening.
I left the windows open.
My eyes flew open. Cursing my next-door neighbour's dogs for their distinct talent in barking at the most inopportune moments. I forced shut my windows to drown out the barking.
Now Amma was shouting at the top of her lungs, " Usha..how is your daughter doing?"
I sighed, bid adieu to my afternoon nap and went back to work.
" They said there are some complications. She has less water now, " I heard Usha reply in a lower baritone.
" Don't worry. Pray to God. Everything will be alright" my mother ensured her, still shouting.
*
*
In the coming days, I heard a lot of new voices other than Usha's and her gruff sounding husband's. My room shares close proximity to their living room, with just a boundary wall separating our houses.
The dogs kept barking during my afternoon naps and while I lay beckoning sleep in the dead of the night. I kept my windows shut.
*
*
Today, the new voices had quietened. I am guessing all the new guests in Usha's home left. A silence prevailed. I half expected the dogs to go back to barking. They were asleep I think. I wouldn't know; my windows were shut.
Soon the silence was broken. A short, shrill, subdued fussing..a small cry..followed by a new mother's cooing. It came subdued through my closed windows.
I prised open them.
Even the dogs seem to be listening.
I left the windows open.
