Casper goes to Meerut

The last exam of the semester spelled holidays not only for me but for another member of the family. Casper is our English Springer spaniel who has never travelled out of Delhi and NCR. Although, technically he had made his first journey from Kolkata to New Delhi by air when he was hardly a month old to land at our home but this was going to be the first time after that. In 90% of the places it is difficult to travel with dogs – hotels prohibit them, they get uneasy in a new place, flying makes them uncomfortable and nervous. However, Casper loves riding in car and so we decided to go for a short road trip to Meerut to visit our relatives.

We left around 8am, yes, the target was to leave by 7am…well never mind, it was a Wednesday and we did not come across heavy traffic so it was all cool. As Papa sat behind the wheels and Mummy as the unofficial navigator, Nani and I sit in the back with Casper. The little furry boy usually enjoys looking out of the window but since it was going to be a longer trip so he just wanted to relax and made it a point to sit in the centre i.e., right in front of the AC!

Casper here comfortably seated with his Nani ready to ride!

The roads were largely well-built, we did not really come across any unmetalled road except for one short cut in Meerut itself which drove between two vast fields. The ride was otherwise smooth and fun especially with Casper’s antiques along.

He is naturally apprehensive and a cynic… we had taken a short break on our way as we stopped the car and let Casper out so that he can do his pee-business, have water and might as well have some biscuits. He peed immediately after jumping out of the back seat and sniffed around the side of the road. I poured out some water in his bowl and offered him some Pedigree chunks but he simply refused to even look at it. The dog was resolute to act tough. He quietly hopped back in car and THEN had some sips of water. He was worried we had come to get rid of him there… and leave him behind. Silly dog!

There were times when he would simply cuddle up and rest on my lap and in the next moment he would scratch on the window to put his head out. He loves it when his long ears are pushed back against the gust of air. We listened to old movie songs, courtesy Nani. The sky was cloudy and the sun gave us a pleasant surprise by playing hiding-and-seek with us. 

Get, set, goooo!!!

Finally we made it to our destination without getting our car drenched in mud thanks to fine roads and the benign absence of puddles. We were well received by our relatives but not Casper by the dog-next-door and a bunch of street mafia (cute dogs they were). I hurriedly brought him inside the gate, of course after he had peed. Casper found a spot in this new home in front of the cooler. I met two of my young cousins with whom I ended up watching X-Men’s first part. Before this we had played a round of Ludo. The kids went along pretty well with Casper who was equally pleased to have met them.

At the time of a walk, I went to my car to fetch the stick we usually keep to prevent any fights between dogs or to keep Caspy from eating anything from the road. No, we don’t hit any being, just banging the road once or twice does the trick to indicate what not to do. Dogs, and in fact any animal, often fall sick after consuming rotten food people leave by the side of roads. As he strode around this new colony, he often detoured and ran towards the car to hop in. He craved for the ride again.

Having his head out of the window coolly, Casper loves to be brushed against the breeze as the car drives on...

It was time to say goodbye now and Casper could not have been happier. It was a day well spent in good company with yummy Jalebis and home-cooked butter Naan! For Casper it was all about the car ride!