Amma wasn't the most easy-going of people but she didn't mind it. Because every eccentricity of Amma's was balanced equally if not more with her love. You see, Amma snapped at her not to walk in the middle of the road but she also lovingly fed her food. So it balanced out.
But lately, Amma had been very vigilant when she took her out. She'd walk alongside her, never letting her out of her sight, even for a minute. If she happened to linger at the side of the road for even a minute longer, Amma would hurry her along. It was almost like Amma wanted to get back home as soon as possible. Even the World seemed to have changed- a lot of people she saw now had some covering over their nose and mouths. Thankfully, she didn't yet have one- she would have hated that! I guess Amma thought she didn't need one.
Anyways today, her hopes had risen slightly. They were out yet again. They went on their usual path for a walk but today, Amma was talking on her phone and didn't seem to realize that they had walked down far ahead of their usual path. In the opposite direction, in fact. Right in the direction of her favorite place! The HUNT was on!
Amma was talking animatedly on her phone and seemed not to pay the usual attention to her. Taking her chance, she sped up her pace, walked just a little faster and just a little more away from Amma. She furtively glanced behind her every few minutes, hoping that Amma hadn't realized her ploy. Where was it? Her favorite place seemed so far away, but she knew she was on the right path because she had seen this path so many times in her dreams! Pretty soon, her nostrils picked up the delicious smell of samosas and kachoris frying- aaahhhh, at last! Her steps quickened and she glanced one final time behind her. Her heart stopped- Amma seemed to have finally realized her trick and had started running towards her. Throwing caution to the winds, she sprinted the last ten steps to her favorite chaat shop!
"Hi there! You are back again!" she could hear the friendly chaat shop owner
"I want chaat!" she looked at him with pleading eyes and wagging tail.
"Kiara, there you are! You gave me a fright!" Amma had finally caught up with her. "Sorry, she loves your shop- comes running and almost drags me to the shop!"
"Its OK! I love seeing her too!" laughed the friendly shop owner and readied yummy chaat to give her.
Kiara had finally gotten her wish- it had taken only a few hundred hours of planning and a very carefully thought out walking plan to do so!
Note: This is how I imagine my dog, Kiara's mind voice, works on our daily walks outside! Every day, she furtively plans to drag me to her favorite chaat shop, where the owner is more than happy to oblige her 😀😀😀
