I am not the one to narrate tragic incidents because I rarely find consolation in doing so, but this trip to Naukuchiatal holds a special place in my heart. Wait, don’t be alarmed; the sad part precedes the journey, which is why I ended up going there. But since I am sharing my experience, I will do so with an open heart. Last month, I lost my dog, Luna. She was only eight months old. Luna was the brightest star in my room, a fluff ball filled with energy and resilience. Even on her deathbed, she fought hard, wagged her tail and licked my fingers. The trauma of someone dying in your family is not just damaging, but it leaves a void that can never be filled. You must be thinking about why Naukuchiatal above all places? I had asked the same to my parents, who wouldn’t disclose anything to me. But the question lingered on.

“My parents told me…..”

I had to know – my parents soon filled me in on the details. My parents adopted Luna while I was away. They had a friend staying at Kathgodam, which is near Nainital. The friend rescued Luna during his visit to Naukuchiatal. But he was not able to keep her since he was ill-equipped to look after Luna. So, Luna found her way into our hearts when my parents agreed to adopt her. So, my parents thought of scattering her ashes on the Naukuchiatal Lake.

“The cost of losing a star.”

“Stars Die” was playing on my playlist as we parked outside uncle Rajeev’s house. Ironic how the song sprung up on my playlist, I said to myself – “the brightest of the stars often die, they expire but leave a severe trace on the cosmos.” Luna had the entire cosmos wrapped around her, so I keep telling myself that she’s always around.

Rajeev uncle had made the arrangements and booked us a reliable Kathgodam taxi service. He insisted that we stay over for dinner and call the cab off – we were emotionally and physically exhausted.

“Naukuchiatal helped us heal.”

The ashes had to be scattered – it almost felt like the serenity of this town made this ordeal less taxing. But in a city so silent, we could practically hear our thoughts mourn. Rajeev uncle had accompanied us; he insisted that we look around the place. The Lake itself looked like a piece of glass placed on a plain. It was bright and almost conscious; I had almost hoped for the Lake to talk back.

Since we had availed a reliable Kathgodam taxi service, I felt like seeing around; Luna would’ve loved it too if she was here. We went to Sattal. My father is a bird watcher, so it was delightful to see him spot and describe each bird. Sattal holds its ecological heritage and is also a confluence of seven lakes. The surrounding hills of Sattal stood erect like a proud mother who has sheltered nature. The vastness of this place only reminded me of Luna’s energy. I inhaled the serenity Sattal had to offer and exhaled a part of my debilitating sadness, observing the situation in oblivion.

From Sattal, we drove down to Ranikhet. My mother seemed off throughout the journey since we booked our cab from Delhi to Naukuchiatal. She didn’t even step out of the car. She has never been quite expressive of her feelings. But after reaching Ranikhet, she stepped out of the vehicle – cried her eyes out, and looked at me. She said – “Our lost luna will find her way someday.”

We were exhausted, we wanted to return, but before we did, we saw a barking deer cross right in front of us. Ranikhet is famous for its wildlife. Rajeev uncle had once seen a leopard – he still brags about it.

“The Last Stop”

Bhimtal was our supposed last stop. My mother, being the religious person she is, wanted to visit the Bhimeshwar Temple. Usually, I would object to this idea, but I couldn’t this time. She tried to pray for Luna so that she has a safe passage into the dog heaven. This 17th-century temple stood there beside the Bhimtal Lake, a reminder to its inherited spirituality.

The cab took us back to Rajeev uncle’s place. We stayed the night there. Our family returned to Delhi with a little less burden over our hearts. My mother still waits for her to return home.

This is a Guest Post

Published: 2020-02-27 22:32:37