Shamika Nair
Roll no.2231
SyBa – divA (psy.spl)
Thea and the greatest weapon
A few light years away, there is a planet like earth which NASA or ISRO can
never find. But the “Earth-II” is a little different. This was a planet where
humans and dogs co-existed with each other. Not as each other’s pets, more
like each other’s friends. Long time ago, dogs of Earth-II learnt the human
language and started adopting methods of living from the human lifestyle.
After numerous researches, it became evident that dogs are as smart as
humans and co-exist with them. Soon, there were “canine-skill building
institutes” where adult dogs would learn a skill based on which human career
path they want to take. They constructed new buildings in hospitals which was
only for dogs. schools started accepting puppies and so that puppies and kids
could learn how to co- exist together. However, dogs took up the bad qualities
from humans too like discrimination among other dogs, envy and arrogance.
In a city named Hodu, there lived a dog named Thea, Thea was from the stray
breed. Stray breeds were never treated well, they were mostly never given any
kind of support. Since the time dogs and humans started co-existing, very few
donated financially for stray dogs’ education, for building common shelter, etc.
although they had basic facilities it was not that great. But there are dogs from
the stray breed who are well-known. For example, Destiny was the first female
dog to travel to space, Moti was the first dog to become a canine police
commissioner and Thea’s role model Kyra, she was the first female dog
journalist.
Thea loved to write. She used to write about every minor inconvenience she
has had or sometimes every little thing that made her happy. She wrote about
atrocities happening with her, the discrimination against female dogs too. She
was taught how to write by her beloved elder sister “ Lola” . Lola used to
always tell her that “make your pen your greatest weapon”. But the only
drawback was she never published her stories. Whenever she went to her local
newspapers published her articles some said coming from stray breed, she
shouldn’t be writing such liberal thoughts while the others were just scared of
the government.
Thea was so heartbroken that she started thinking her sister was wrong and
she should probably just stop writing. Then one day she saw a poster which
said that Kyra’s news company was organising a contest where all dogs and
humans can participate in. Thea howled with joy but the only drawback was
that it was in the most expensive area of the city, where most dogs and
humans looked down upon people coming from the underprivileged part of
the city. As much as she saw in the newspapers the pictures of strays and all
the privileged dogs or humans playing and learning together, she knew that in
reality most people are just pretending so that they can get validity and
thought highly of in the society. So, Thea decided to participate in the
competition anyway.
Thea took the homo and canine public transport to other part of the city. She
dressed herself in her most costly dress, that was bought by her father on her
birthday. she thought she looked the prettiest in that dress however when the
crowd started staring at her in a judgemental way, she began to feel inferior
and a little isolated from the society. She somehow managed to reach Kyra’s
company and sat with the other dogs and humans .
Each one of the participants was called in a room where renowned writers
working with Kyra and Kyra herself were evaluating the stories. Soon it was
Thea’s chance, Thea went inside the room and she saw her role-model for the
first time. Thea was in Awe with after seeing her inspiration. While she stood
there being mesmerized, all the writers were handed out her story.
Kyra read the different stories of stray dogs being ill-treated. Some were
shooed away from their houses so that the government could build new
buildings for co-operate companies. She read about how a stray dog with a
tumour in his leg was not allowed to get treated at a hospital because of the
breed he belonged to. She read about how a stray puppy lost her father to
euthanasia(a kind of injection that puts dogs to sleep forever) because her
family could not afford other expensive surgeries for his stomach. Kyra was
disheartened after seeing the tragic but realistic incidences happening on the
other side of the city. She had forgotten what she once used to grow up with.
She had forgotten that her dream was not only to make her self successful but
also to pave the way for the breed that she belongs to.
On the other hand, Thea seemed quite nervous, she could not understand that
if the writers liked her writing or were disapprove her stories. Then something
unpredicted happened , Kyra got up and stood in front of Thea. What she said
next was something unexpected by Thea. She told her that they absolutely
loved Thea’s stories and wanted to start a column named “the other side” that
featured all the discrimination that the stray dogs have to go through.
Thea’s column was very popular among the dogs belonging to all breed and
humans too. She was even featured in the woof magazine as the youngest
famous canine writer. The column became so popular that the newspaper
company decided to start a charity named “The other side” where humans and
dogs could donate some money for new schools, healthcare centres and other
basic necessities required in the area where stray dogs lived. Thea was
delighted to see the changes she could make with her weapon.