MYRA and COOCHIE!!

MYRA and COOCHIE!!

“Coochie! Where are you hiding!!” she squealed in a sing-song tune. Four-year-old Myra’s world revolved around her pet pup- Coochie. Weird name, one might think, but not so for Myra. The word “coochie” encompassed everything nice and lovable for Myra. She had picked up this word from her mother, who often referred to her as ‘cutie’, which, loosely translated in her childish lexicon became ‘coochie’. Her parents loved to see her struggle with the word in an attempt to pronounce it correctly and also experienced pride over her resilience and persistence to use it nonetheless. Coochie was Myra’s constant and only companion. Myra’s parents led the quintessential corporate life in Mumbai, and though they realized Myra needed someone closer to her age to play with, they could not spare the time and resources to have another child. When Myra took to Coochie like a fish takes to water, they were extremely happy and relieved.

Myra loved to play with Coochie in the small garden of their apartment in Mumbai. She and Coochie were escorted by her nanny, who, however, seemed more interested in gossiping about the other inmates of the apartment with the watchman and other “bais”. One day, when Coochie went to fetch the ball while playing with Myra, it was suddenly confronted by Mr. Mehra’s prodigious Doberman. When the Doberman let out a bark, Coochie ran out on the main street, shaking with fear and trepidation. Little did Coochie know that life on the streets in Mumbai was worse than confronting Mr. Mehra’s Doberman or any dog ten times your size for that matter! Myra became restless waiting for Coochie and started wailing. Her nanny immediately took her home and sent the watchman to hunt for Coochie. Myra’s parents were alarmed on seeing her cry. Her huge eyes were filled with tears and she was inconsolable. She had, after all, lost the only companion she had! Myra’s parents promised her that they would get Coochie back for her. In the mean time, to distract her, they advised her to have an honest conversation with God request Him to help her find Coochie. They told her that if she prayed with all her heart and soul, God would never disappoint her.

Coochie did not realize that the outside world would be so treacherous. It had to perform antics and daredevil stunts in order to survive. Dodge cars, hide from other sinister and seasoned street dogs, ignore the stench of garbage and escape children wanting to pelt it with stones! Coochie started missing Myra and her warmth and unconditional love. Utterly dejected and disappointed, it hid behind a small bush when two hands gently lifted him and muttered sweet nothings after what seemed to it like eternity. Mrs. Shah stayed in the same locality as Myra and often met her mother during morning walks, when she was accompanied by Coochie. She promptly called up Myra’s mother to inform her that Coochie was with her and was safe and sound. Myra’s mother heaved a sigh of relief and it was decided that Myra and her father would go and get Coochie back home.

Myra was ecstatic on seeing Coochie as it was on meeting Myra! She cuddled it forever. Her happiness knew no bounds on being re-united with her best friend! Her small and unadulterated heart blessed Mrs. Shah. As Myra was returning home perched on her father’s shoulders with Coochie in her small hands, she saw the huge effigy of Ravana being burnt and people singing praises of Lord Ram. When she asked her father about it, he explained to her that it was the festival of Dassehra being celebrated, which marked the triumph of ‘Good’ over ‘Evil’. Myra realized the significance of what her father told her and could visualize all things evil that Coochie must have faced before finally settling down in her cozy lap once again. She learnt the most important lesson of her life that day, which was to stay with her forever- “God listens!!! Prayers are powerful!! And no matter how cynical anyone might be, the good always triumphs”!! With this, she thanked God for having heard her and gave a loud, resounding kiss to Coochie!

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