Ananya S Guha
There was a long corridor in School. During the incessant rainy season, with the monsoons belching fury over the hills of Shillong we remained closetted in it, chasing our wildlife drems in mackintoshes and gum boots. All extra academic activities were centred in that corridor a narrow strip with a long wooden foothold. It could be exhilarating running up and down the corridor, jostling with each other to see whether the rains were abating, or the cloud lines more sketchy. But one could not predict those rains interspersed with stormy skies and thunderous rain – claps. Sometimes it would rain for over two weeks at a stretch. So the corridor was the only shelter as the play fields lay in puddles of distress. But at times the monotony of the rains got boring and nerve racking. No afternoon games, no evening games and no cricket on Sundays. Only the school hall adjoining the tempestuous corridor was a reprieve if one wanted a bit of table tennis. But that too, in the midst of such consterrnation and dilemma had a long queue of bystanders; awaiting their turn patiently.
But Lassie could provide some entertainment albeit with some risk. Lassie was an Alsatian who found us boys irritating. She was always there lurking around the corridor and when it didn’t rain she was barking along the path overlooking the main fields. One of the teachers was her proud owner for only he could coax and control her. To put an end to Lassie’s dare devilry some of the boys would stand near the corridor teasing her by name. Soon we discovered that this was something she didn’t like and after the tease pushed into the safe precincts of the corridor shutting its gates! The animosity towards her had a major reason. Unprovoked she would pounce on us, her eyes on the timid, scared looking boys. And that of course included me.
With the years Lassie grew on in years and life became more peaceful but at the same time, less exciting. One day we were informed of Lassie’s quiet burial. There was some relief, but inwardly we missed Lassie – who was anything but lass. No taunting, no risk taking.
The corridor became more humdrum. But a shadow fell across it and its nether world.
