Another post on my four legged friends. We take so much pains to name our children, just a word of advice to pet owners, - do put in the same amount of effort to name your pet as well, reason being they're stuck with that name for the rest of their lives. Not that they care, still wouldnt you want your pet to have a nice name!
We have a German Shepherd in my in laws place. We had to take him to the vet to get his shots and for some problem with the ear. R and i took him. R parked the car while i got Foster (the German Shepherd ) out and waited on the platform. Even before R could take the leash from me, he looked kinda shocked. I wasnt sure what i had done but R was looking else where. Turned around to see what he saw - outside the clinic was this humongous creature for a dog. It bore more resemblance to a bear though.
I handed over Foster to R. Went to the beary dog. She was on a leash, not that it was needed as i realised later, and the caretaker was sitting with her. My first question - does she bite. Thankfully not. She started playing, jumping and licking my hand. When she stood on all fours, she was upto my waist. I stand at 5'10 so you can imagine how tall this dog was. She was a pure bred German Shepherd. It was evident. Each of her legs were like tree trunks and she was needless to say huge!!
She was extremely friendly though on first glance anyone would have retreated a couple of steps. Like i had earlier mentioned she was just one huge teddy bear. I struck up a conversation with the caretaker. Including the dialogue verbatim so you can figure out how many watts the bulb on my head should have shone!
From the beginning, here goes:
A : Kadikuma (Does she bite)
Caretaker: Kadikadhu Ma...ana romba vaalu so gudhikalam ( She wont bite but she is naughty so she may jump)
A: Whistle whistle. Chamathu kutti. Enna vayasu achu. (Good girl. How old is she?)
Caretaker : 11
A: Ohhh you're 11 years. Irundhalum vaalavey irukiye. ( inspite of being 11 years, you're still naughty)
Caretaker: Ma..11 masam ma..11 varusham illai (ma she is 11 months not 11 years)
A: *Shocked* Ennnaa...11 masam dhana!!! (What...11 months only!!)
Caretaker: Ammam Madam (Yes Madam)
A: Enna sapadu kudukareenga. (What do you feed her). Veedu enge. (Where are you put up)
Caretaker: Chicken dhan ma sapdum. Veedu vandhu ECR le oru farm house., ( She eats only Chicken ma. House is on ECR ..its a farm house)
A: Hmmm...seri per enna..( Ok whats her name)
Caretaker: Kuttima!!
A: *Bulb bulb bulb* *Stutter Stammer cough* Enna Kuttima va!!! Idhukka!! (What kuttima..for this one)
Caretaker: *Chuckling*..ammam Madam ( Yes Madam)
A: Enga...nalla dhaney irundheenga...ivalo periya nai..yaravadhu kuttima nu kupada mudiyuma!!!..(You were alright nah. For such a big dog, would anyone name it Kuttima. Kutti meaning small)
Caretaker: Nan enna madam panna mudiyum..naana per vechen ( what can i do madam, did i name her?)
Never mind! I turned around to see R laughing at the super bulb that i got. I'm not one of those people who can disguise my expressions. If I'm shocked it would show on my face. Looking at my expression, both R and the caretaker had a pretty hearty laugh.
In my mind...this creature was the size of a full grown lion and she was stuck with a name called Kuttima, an oxymoron, for the rest of her life. And she was only 11 months old!!!
Can you imagine standing in a huge farmhouse. You whistle and call out "Kuttima come here". You would expect a Pomeranian or a rabbit to come jumping not a 50 Kg German Shepherd!!
