Prince

It was a winter afternoon, my Happy Holidays were on with nothing much to be done, as I don't think I was ever a naughty brat waiting for vacations to do something out of the way, neither was I creative enough to pursue my 'hobbies' or 'pastimes' except for reading which also exhausted after the first week... 
I was all of 8 years and killed time mostly reading Jughead and craving for his burgers and fries as there was no sign of a Mac Donald's back then in my city.. in fact, until then I had seen burgers and fries only in my comic books 

Well, this ain't another blog on my 'Foodie Cravings'..  its about the sweetest memory of finding my first love..!!
Yeah, I found my first love when I was a tiny missie 8 years old.. 

One fine afternoon, Daddy brought him home.. i saw him first at 8 weeks old.. the smallest and the most beautiful bundle God could create.. Cooing in a cardboard box, there he was my 'Prince'..!!
Shining blackish-grey his coat, with the droopiest of faces and the eyes of a man in a drunken stupor, he was sooo strikingly handsome even in his babyhood!

Why call him Prince?-- because he never listened to what anyone had to say, he would walk and run and eat and sleep and play and fetch, at his will.. he was Capricious..!!

The rest.. is history..!! I discovered and re-discovered so many facets in myself because of Prince. I understood that I could love--love ferociously, love protectively, love unconditionally..
Some non-dog-lovers, think that dogs love you because you feed them, but it's so much more than that. The joyful squirm I got when I hadn't been home for a few months was just wonderful - he used to be so pleased to see me (and me him!). I don't think I ever had a dull moment in life, while at home after having my dog.

He was my happiness, he was my best friend, he was my link to paradise.. he knew me like no one else, he would spend hours sitting at my feet while i used to read or gently lick me on my cheek when i gave him a warm rub on his rough dry nose..
In him I found joy, his carefree attitude inculcated in me the spirit to follow my heart, no matter what..!! He taught me to appreciate the simple things.. Prince taught me about selfless love and unwavering loyalty.

I found it so hard to be sad with him around, coz he would lick away my tears and try and sit on my lap like he used to do when he was a puppy, only failing to realise that he was now almost double my weight..!! 

Prince was the magician of my universe.. He could express his love by volumes by simply wagging his tail and the speed of it would tell me how happy he was..

My family has had dogs before, in fact, we've always had dogs.. we still do..and I have adored them all.. with all my heart and love.. If I have to choose my favourite out of them all, it would be like choosing among my own children, but Prince was really someone apart.. may be because I kind of brought him up, may be because I fed him with my own hands on days when he would be bored of his food and create tantrums on eating, or may be because I have nursed him whole nights when he has fallen sick..I really don't know, what was it that made a big soft corner in my heart for this Neapolitan Mastiff boy I had..

He isn't around anymore, he hasn't been there my whole life, but he has certainly made my life whole..!!!

“If I could be half the person my dog is, I'd be twice the human I am.”
RIP Princie.. I miss you loads..