December 30. “Now you’re all clean and sparkling. Feeling good?”
“Yes. There was a lot of dust inside my ears which made me itch, inside my nose which had me sneezing often.”
December 29. “Button, I saw a beautiful sight on my way to the club this evening—
a stray, who looked very much like Rani but thinner, lay sprawled on her back and was taking a roll in the dust at the corner of the street. She was either taking a dust bath or scratching herself but she looked so cheerful and happy that I turned back to look at her.”
Flash Post 39!
“Button, I don’t know how this little gem of a story escaped me but here it is: a much-worn pyjama belonging to my elder daughter kept tearing again and again and again till she was in tears and very frustrated! Dost, the paterfamilias, had to come to the fore and offered to stitch or better still, darn the pjs for her.”
December 28. “I saw your smiling face when I looked in on you this morning.
You must be really happy to have the door to your room wide open now. Another day when they take off the partition entirely and I’ll be able to give you a tight hug.”
Flash Post 38!
“Button, what’s happening to humans! Why are they suddenly becoming so heartless and cruel!
This 8-week old rhino was found cowering in the shade of a car after her mother was killed by suspected poachers in South Africa. She was dehydrated, severely wounded and emaciated as she approached this vehicle in desperate need of rest.”
Flash Post 37!
“Button, look at this picture! It’s the cutest thing I’ve seen in a while! How could I not share this with you?
It also reminds me of a stray we have at home who was rescued from the clutches of a brood of monkeys who were flinging the tiny little thing from the arms of one monkey to the other.”
Flash Post 36!
“Button, ever since the policy of issuing Aadhar cards to each and every Indian citizen was mooted, the number of errors that have been made and published in newspapers from time to time, have been ridiculous to say the least! Some of them have been outrageously funny!”
December 27. “My daughters were up before 9 this morning.”
“But why?”
“It’s because the glare from the outside is too much and since their curtains have been removed due to the building repairs, they couldn’t sleep till very late.”
December 26. “Button, you must be rejoicing!”
“You bet. I may be all dusty but, finally, there’s light in my room and I can look outside. Am I happy or what?”
December 25. “Button, another 6 days and it’ll be the end of another year!”
“Unbelievable.”
“Also, once the door to your room is opened, I’ll have to take you in for a good scrub. You must be covered with dust. Do you like bathing?”