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Prose

The Kill

Pooja Gupta Mahurkar

Nathan and Duggu got acquainted quite accidentally. Or shall we say it was bound to happen sooner or later. After all, if a person keeps visiting your garden, you would certainly notice. Wouldn’t you? Rather, it’s just a matter of time.
If someone does that with me, I would take it as an invasion of my privacy. Besides, if I know that this adversary is fully aware that I am the mighty one who can, quite literally consume him, I would be further offended.
Nathan was a wolf who marked his territory diligently and Duggu was audacious enough to disregard it regularly. It can’t be said why a dialogue struck between them instead of a face off. Duggu talked about his adventures in the city, how dog feeders fed him and how he was venturing into Nathan’s patch of mangrove looking for more variety. He had enjoyed night heron eggs on one occasion. They were delicious. Duggu told him about how the authorities ensured his health.
Conversations with Duggu perplexed Nathan. He actually could not believe it when Duggu told him about the incident when he bit the old lady who was doing grocery shopping. There was quite a furore. The lady’s friends wanted him to be taken away while the feeders ensured that nobody moved Duggu.
It had been some time since he met Duggu. He was not feeling very well today. He was puky. Out of the blue, he stiffened, his body shivered, his mind was not able to process anything. This frenzy lasted some time. Was this something he got from Duggu?
When he recovered, he decided to venture in the city thinking about the safety and the food it offered. His joy knew no bounds when he saw a pair of human children. As he neared, he heard gasps. And then he heard a loud noise, something hit him hard on his forehead and he knew no more.

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