You know how many humans have been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder and the condition manifests itself at intervals depending on the situation; a similar behavior is seen among man's best friends, especially the strays.
First, a first for us (among many other firsts during this trip). As my father, Kirti and yours truly watched Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani last night and got off the theater at 1 AM (yessir - my father, Kirti and I is a trifecta one would normally not associate as the group going to a movie with a 10PM start), the logical idea was to look for an auto to take us home. As soon as I trudged off in the direction of Mulund station where autos are normally available, a small hitch! A few stray dogs, who normally would be well behaved during the day, figured now would be the best time to put on the Manjulika avatar and display their beastly best behavior. Wrong turn, Rajesh. And so we decided to walk the roughly 10-12 minutes. Brilliant decision, says Kirti, with sarcasm dripping from every syllable.
As evening turns into night and the canine population significantly outnumbers the human one, the next 10 minutes might as well be a 4-legged demonstration of Michael Jackson's Thriller as every few minutes, a group of strays decided to go astray and see if the humans bite first (only figuratively).
The looks, gnarls, and the growls that we got along the way certainly sent my weak heart thumping a thousand different times. Fear, a feeling dogs easily detect, could have bought about disastrous consequences but we prevailed and reached home in one piece and more importantly, in peace.
Dogs, in general, and I have always had a love-hate relationship (most of my Engineering friends will attest to this) but strays take my insecurities to a whole 'nother level.
You may have seen the Netflix smash 'Stranger Things' but you have to see it, feel it and fear it to believe 'Straynger Things'!
See you on the other side, folks!
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