Searched NP, Chiragh Dilli and Sheikh Sarai

Yesterday I went again to the Nehru place area. Met a man inside the park who feed a large number of dogs in the park.

Today I decided to look in the area opposite to Panchsheel. This was Chirag Dillli. Too large a place to walk through, too many lanes etc since its yet another market area. But could not have driven through the lanes either. It's so easy for you to get lost here and I would never be able to find you. Then i drove around the Sarai area past an Apeejay School.

Searching resumed

I've been searching again since the last couple days. Today, I once again checked out the parks behind the BRT corridor and the large DDA Panchsheel park. Yesterday, I got my care fixed in the afternoon, and before that it was the forest behind our house.

I am just beginning to wonder that someone might have picked you up and taken you with them. There is a male dog just like you in the BRT park, near the entrance. Stockier and a male, was barking at me quite a bit. His ears also fall down like yours.

I've become a little withdrawn from the other three dear ones of late. EIther it is the pain of losing you, or maybe the fact that there are complaints of them barking a lot at night. I am hoping a little less affection might make them less possessive/defensive. Also their barking at people and chasing -- I am hoping to reduce it. I go to feed them at almost 11pm, i don't play with them in the evening as that makes them bark at people a lot. After feeding them I take them to the Mandir Park so they can run around a bit and tire out. How you would have loved sprinting around with Sher Singh in the park.

I will never forget you little one.

Temporary suspension

Beloved little one,

I've been sick for a few days. Been bedridden, was unable to continue the search.

Am still hoping you will find your way back to me, or me to you.

Searched Masjid Moth area

In the morning, I walked through the Archana Cinema complex, then the park, and then the back road of B block that runs parallel to the main road.

In the afternoon, I parked outside R-block and walked to the road between GK-1 and GK-2 (Ho Chi Minh Marg, i think), i walked on the side of the road past TCIL and the other buildings and complexes. I could not go in, you could have run in there. I will have to put some posters outside these complexes. There was even some forest area that was inaccessible. I don't know how I will check that. Then the Masjid Moth area comes. Again I did not go in. Will put posters outside. I walked around the bend and came all the way to Krishi Vihar where i walked in a bit. I put some posters on a lamp-post outside the entrance, and some back near the TCIL and other buildings. I had only 3 with me. I then came back, coming through the GK enclave service lane.

I guess the only hope i have is to put posters on that road, and other places and hope for some response. 

Searched Andrews Ganj and SE

Today was a wet day. I first checked the C-block Gurdwara. I checked the black dog I had seen last time. I confirmed that it was a male. I just kept standing and looking and whistling hoping it would suddenly be you, even though it was a male.

Then i drove to Andrews Ganj, near the nullah on the main road, and wandered around. Went into the Police Commisssioners Licensing Cell. Then walked around the area surrounding the nullah and the slum. Then walked to South Extension, crossing the road and walked around in the areas close to the main road.

One part of me knows you are no more. You probably did not survive that night. Another part is sure that we will be reunited. It just doesn't make sense any other way. I will keep looking for you beloved one. I will never give up hope.

Last night I came across an article that said a lost dog would not come running to its owner. It would be frightened, hungry, lost and on the run. It might even run from the owner or anyone approaching her. That is why I  went back to the Gurdwara to ascertain that it wasn't you. That means you would not react to the car horn either. I've sort of hoped you'd see me from some hiding place and come running out.

Searched the NP Park

I am no longer able to decide where to search for you. So today, I went back to that huge park opposite the R-block District Park, which is next to the Nehru Place metro. I had earlier done one round of it.

I was surprised to find that there was a huge part I had missed out. When one takes a right from the part which opens out to the ISKON temple, there is a path going further down (or up). As one goes down that path, (it actually goes up, iirc) its almost as if one is in a different world, or one has stepped back in time a few centuries. There are paths that are not paved, but are quite wide, and are lined with bushes. With the greenery around it, it's almost how paths and roads may have been ages ago. 

It goes past the Lotus Temple (which is on the right). I kept following that till it finally seemed to come to some government or municipal office which looked like it could have been in some remote region. And there was a broken exit into some colony or area. I retracted and then went around the Lotus Temple part and once again the path led to some exit. It was now paved at some parts which was disappointing.

(I had the PON audio on)

Searched Nehru Place and DDA Park

Sunday. I drove to Nehru Place before noon, took a round, and then walked through the place. It's quite large with a too many levels and an underground parking etc. I walked through the ground level areas. Just some hawkers in one place and some eateries open, otherwise mostly shut and not many cars. 

In the afternoon, i once again went to the DDA Park (Panchsheel) which I had earlier mis-identified as the Jahanpanna Park. This is the park next to DDA Squash and Badminton Club, oppo the Sama Hospital at the BRT corridor. I parked at Sadiq Nagar and walked through an alley. Way ahead I saw someone who looked just like you outside someone's house. Someone was bringing their dog out, and this dog was excited outside, same behaviour, same tail action etc. I thought it was you! But when i approached, the dog was older and had teats hanging, so had been spayed late. Rather plump dog.  

The DDA park was huge, there were many stray dogs there, so you could have come here. Last time, I did not walk through the whole park, thinking that you would not have stayed in such a desolate area. That section was desolate. Today, i found more populated parts, and a lot more dogs.  

When i came out, and was walking along the park, I looked across the road and there was another dog just like you, again i was sure it was you. I crossed over to the central divider/barricade. I looked at the dog and she looked back. But i could see the feet were slightly whiter. She stared back. I got over to the other side. She was a bit too white, but did stare at me and even growl. This was before some Hotel Forest Green. I put up some posters outside Nehru Place near the bus-stop. The posters I had put outside the DDA Park at the bus-stop had been taken off.

Will I ever find you, dear one? 

Or will you one day become a distant memory and fade away. Like everything else. Like all the pups of the previous litter who died one way or another. And like beloved Sheru and Dolby.

Searched Pamposh, Hemkunt, Chirag etc

Dear one,

Today I walked through each lane of Pamposh Enclave, Hemkunt Colony, Chiragh Enclave and GK Enclave. I reached the opposite side of Nehru Place, and thought maybe I should do a round of that place next week, preferably the day NP is closed.

Where are you? I can not believe that you are no more. That just cannot be.

Searched W and E block

Today, walked through each lane of W-block, then went through M-block market back lane to E-block and walked up and down each lane. That finally led me to Kailash Colony market, walked again through it. Finally walked back to the C-block park.

Outside the C-block Gurdwara there was a dog much like you, black tail, ears unclipped, but s/he did not recognize me. S/he was curled up sleeping. I stood there thinking my search was over! Finally i noticed that it was a male.  

I just cannot accept that you are no more. What happened? Did you get run over on Diwali night? 

Did I tell you that someone has hit your sister Sher on the eye. She hasn't been able to open her eye fully but it's getting better. She's barking away right now outside. She isn't eating bread nowadays, I have to get her to drink milk at night. It's been a severe winter this year. The cold started in November itself which hasn't happened in a long time. If you are alive, you must be starving and shivering somewhere.

Searched GK-2 and CR-Park again

I did another round of CR Park, one side I had not looked at earlier. That led me to GK-2 so i wandered around there. Came to the park near the market (around S-480 etc) and took a couple of round there. Then walked through the market and some of GK-2 near the park.

It is hard for me to believe you are still alive my dear one, but impossible for me to believe you could be gone from this world. I feel like Orpheus. What must be your state, dear one.  

On every street, at every turn I keep imagining that i find you and carry you back. You leap at me and hug me madly. Your sister Sher Singh is not eating, she has a little milk at night. So i go to the forest behind and feed that litter of pups. They are famished and attack my fingers like piranha.

Searching for you in LN-IV

Opposite to Bluebells School is a road that leads into some colony called National Park. I walked down that road. It led me to Lajpat Nagar IV. I took a left to (I think) Amar Colony. I trudged around there. Then after a while of going left and right reached the road going to NHI. There I turned back and walked all the way to Ring Road. Took the turn around where Vikram Hotel is. There's a Vikram Nagar there. From there I walked back and came around some dispensary (peeked in), past Frank Anthony School. A man was feeding some pups outside a house (oppo the Moolchand metro station) before the dispensary.

Everywhere during these daily searches I keep thinking or imagining that I come upon you, you come running up to me, and I pick you up and carry you back to a rickshaw and bring you back. I dream of our reunion, beloved Gabbar. What a day that will be .. if it doesn't happen in this life it will happen beyond, as I've promised you. Always, we will be together once these bodies fall off.

Searched more of N Block and Jamrudpur

Today i thought i'd look more in Andrews Ganj where I was yesterday, but midway i changed my mind and parked at the C-block park. I walked through more lanes of and landed walking through Jamrudpur, then through N-block market and parts of the colony. Also once again did M-block market and the lanes behind it.

When i returned I found that your sister Sher Singh had one eye that was not opening. There was some fluid, so seems someone has hit her on the eye. Later she was barking at some workers going thru the gate, and he hit her with a large-ish rock. I had a talk with him -- but the usual "you can't trust an animal".

Dear Gabbar, I remember when you were small, around 3 months or less, you had a discharge from eyes all the time, I got an ointment from the vet and used to put that on your eyes for a few days. I was also remembering how whenever I'd approach you to play, you would immediately roll over feet up. 

Yesterday, while going around Defence Colony, I came upon a dog very much like you, but a male. He growled at me but then sniffed my hand and calmed down. He was lying sprawled on the center of the road just like you (or more so your sister) do. There was another one outside a meat shop on the main road of Kotla (facing Def Col) that has a white leg. I thought it was a bandage and came over, but it was a white leg.

There is one section behind the Jamrudpur market where there are banks and offices, must check that.

Searched South Ext, Andrews Ganj etc

Today morning, i went through a lot of South Extension. Both sides. Finally, on the other side, i landed in Kotla, and so went through there too -- but only the main lane of Kotla. Seemed like a maze. Then I went around the Def Colony market.  

In the afternoon, I drove through Andres Ganj and Sadiq Nagar and walked through some of it too. On the way back from the AG Safal store through AG, on the right is a large garden/park along what looks like some college (red brick kind of). I think this is behind the Ansal Plaza. It said Hudco Udyan in several places.

I seem to have gone broadly through all areas, colonies and markets. It's impossible to do a detailed search since there are too many lanes criss-crossing, too many bastis/slums etc. 

Searched GK-II etc

Dearest Gabbar,

I don't know if you are even alive. Or where you are.

Today morning, I searched GK-2. From there I went to CR-Park, and after that I reached Kalkaji market and did some rounds there.On the way back I once again drove through M-block market and N-block market.  

In the afternoon  I couldn't decide where to look. Finally, i parked at R-block District park and walked through the blocks on the other side... C/J/H/E etc. Finally came back to R-block and walked through that and the district park.

It is more than 15 days since you vanished, dear one. I wonder how you are. Are you safe, are you getting food. Are you still running about or have your found some place, or someone to care for you. Are you distraught? I can't imagine why you are being punished in this manner. You loved me so much. 

How must you be !!

Your sister, Sher Singh ji, hardly eats nowadays. In the mornings she won't even look at food or milk. So in the mornings I go to the nearby forest and give some food to the little litter there.

Searching NP, EOK, etc for you ...

I walked from C-block park down Jamrudpur and took a round of the park opposite LSR. From there i crossed the road and walked on that side. Somewhere there I took the road in and walked through quite a bit of EOK. Then I walked on towards Nehru Place. Before Nehru Place, just after the crossing, there's some green you can see below the NP metro. I walked in there and saw that there was a route going deeper. This route unexpectedly led to more parks or just grassy stretches. It's all one big, shapeless, unstructured park going all the way to ISCKON. It's quite a long walk and I went around it.  

Then i came out at the same place near the crossing and walked on the side of Kailash Apartments, cutting into Kailash Colony Market and then coming through C-block to the park where I had parked the old grey Zen.  

Still no sign of you. Where are you, little Gabbar? How could you just vanish like that. All of a sudden. If only i had some hint, some sign of where you are. Next stop probably is GK-2.

Searched Panchsheel etc

Today I drove through most of the Panchsheel Enclave area looking for you. Then I parked the car next to the petrol pump on the main road, and walked on the opposite side of the road outside the Gas agency and nursery towards the intersection. then returned and took a round of the large park whistling for you.

Crossed the road and walked past the car, there's a kuccha road (on the left of the petrol pump) leading to a Madrasa. The road goes by the nullah.

In Panchsheel there was one dog whose face was just like yours. But his tan was too light, and he was older. He ignored me totally as I bent over and inspected him/her and talked to him. I was hoping against all hope that suddenly it would turn out to be you.

Beloved one, wherever you are, may you be well. I hope there is someone taking care of you. In the large park, near the entrance is the gardener's shack, or maybe a taxi stand. There was a female who had given a healthy looking litter. I think those people are taking care of them and giving her some food. I was thankful that people do take care of pups, although all that changes once they grow up.

I don't even know whether you are dead or alive. I will never know unless you come back. What a heavy punishment this is for me!

Searched for you in CR Park, Kalkaji, Kailash Col, M/N block markets ...

I decided I should try checking in the early morning, since the roads may be empty and my car horn will be heard easily by you. But at 7:30 am, the roads were full of hurtling, blaring school buses, taxis etc. Anyway, I drove to CR Park, and slowly inched at 20 kmph, I landed up in Kalkaji, and then at Nehru Place. I went through Nehru Place, and then onto Kailash Colony market, which led me to Jamrudpur, and then N Block market, and then M-block market. I also swung around the BRT area and the area next to the nullah.

If only I had a clue where you are. All these places are huge, with myriad lanes and alleys. You could be anywhere. I might have driven or walked within a hundred yards of you and not known.

I still have to check Panchsheel, maybe Andrews Ganj, South Extension market, and maybe GK-II.

(Pic of the three of you when you were a month old. The one unable to climb out of the ditch is Sher Singh, who is still with me.)

Searched NHI area

Today I went looking for you in the area around the National Heart Institute. The market next to it. The road leading to ISCKON, and some of the road inside the market facing the park.  I realized by the end that the search is massive, there are far too many lanes and by-lanes for me to explore. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. 

And yet, you, my dear Gabbar, are one needle that is more precious to me than this whole universe.

 (Pic of my beloved Gabbar Singh, along with Sher Singh, when they were only 3 months old, in the GK-1 area, next to the transformer opposite S-522)

Searching N and other blocks

Today afternoon I walked through N block, parts of R-block, Kailash Colony market and the road going around, which faces Nehru Place. I noticed to my dismay that posters I had put up in R block have been taken off, while all the political posters are still untouched. There are still so many lanes I could not walk through. I left the car outside the C-block park and then walked through N block. Then left it outside the R-block district park and walked through the other areas.

Your sister, Sher Singh, is not eating well nowadays, even the mother doesn't eat well. Sher Singh has lost her companion and play-mate and just sleeps in some corner. Even I am getting irritable and disheartened as hope diminishes day by day, I hardly spend time with the three. I still can't believe that this universe could have given you to me, and then suddenly taken you away like that.

(Pic taken on Feb 7th, when you were all 3 months old. Sher Singh looking at me, while you (Gabbar) wrestle with your brother)

Searched beyond BRT

Yesterday afternoon I put some posters around the C-Block park, and I think the Raman Munjal Park. Today morning i crossed the BRT and checked Sadiq Nagar, and walked through some of the Jahanpanna (?) forest/park (that is opposite Sama Hospital/Nursing Home). It's a huge place, and quite desolate. Not likely you would have stayed there, You would be looking for a market or crowd where you can get some food.

On the way back, i drove past N-block market and inside i spotted a dog looking just like you who seemed to look up. I ran in, but it was a male, older and quite fat. The face was slightly different and he seemed puzzled at the attention although he did wag his tail slightly. But for some moments, I thought it was you. I expect you to spring up with joy upon seeing me.

Attached is a pic of one of you, not sure which one, but could be you when you were one month old (in December 2011). This is where you were born, inside that ditch, which to me has always been a holy place, the place where i found my heaven, and the greatest joy this universe afforded me -- you.

Putting posters up

Walked around R-block near the park, and the main road leading to Pamposh Encl. and outer-ring road.  Put some posters of you near the parks and where the walk-way/cross-over (the main road) starts. Where could you be?

Above is a pic of when you were small, along with your sister (Sher Singh), your mother (the brown one) and your older brother Raja (white, sniffing his own tail). The one with the black tipped tail is you, my beloved missing Gabbar. Where are you, Gabbar, my little one?

I need to put up some posters in M and N block markets, as well as the area near the BRT corridor where you might have come out.

Gabbar playing with brother (old)

This is an old picture of the brown brother playing with Gabbar (I think). Usually he played with Sher Singh ji a lot. Those were the days when I could pick up both of them together when they wandered off. There were even times, when I could pick up all three together. Then they grew larger, and one would slide down, so I had to do two and one separately.

The other day, I picked up Sher and found she was really heavy. Sher isn't much into hugs or jumping onto me. The missing one, Gabbar, was the one who came running up to me and would jump onto me. Then Sher would come running and jump on Gabbar. I would usually have to search for Sher. She would always be sleeping in someone's house or under some parked car. Gabbar was always around and quick to come when I called.

The slightest sound of my car (the remote opening) and Gabbar Singh Ji would come running from the other lane. Oh, Gabbar, how can you possibly live without all this, without your family and me.

Or are you no longer alive, watching all this from "above". Watching me searching for you. Whatever happened that night, that fateful night. If only I had known, I would never have gone anywhere on Diwali. Diwali shall always be a black day for me ... unless you return.

Dear God

Dear God

Please protect my dear little one. All day long I wonder where she is. And how she is. Is anyone ill-treating her. Is anyone feeding her? Is she starving?

Is she being hounded by dogs? Is she hurt, is she badly bitten? How I long to hug her. I remember how a week before her running away, I came back from Noida. She was sitting there on the sand opposite our flat, staring at me as I took stuff out of the car. I put everything in, and then came running out and smothered her. Both Gabbar and Sher were sitting on the dhobi's table. I hugged you both at the same time. Even being away for two hours was like a life-time.

God, I don't know why you separated Gabbar from me. But please take care of her. She is your child after all.

Searching Pamposh and R Block

Today I searched R-block, Pamposh and those areas (Chirag Enclave, Hemkunt Colony).  There's a large park when going down the road from R-block Safal towards Hansraj Gupta Rd. that leads to EOK (District Park).

Last night I was coming out of Nizamuddin E. and there were three dogs that looked just like you, one a male, another had a bushy tail and a collar and the third was older and had a cut ear.

I just can't believe that this could have happened.  Ten days without you!

(Pic taken in March, the last pic of you, outside S-530/532).

Searching the jungle behind GK-1 ...

Today I walked in the jungle. I've never really followed it to the end. If I walk up-stream in the direction of R-block, after some time, the embankments stop. If you had fallen into the nullah on Diwali night and waded up-stream, you could have crawled out the this point. I hopped over the stream but there was no walkable area there. Just lots of undergrowth. If you have come out here, you would have gone very far from there by now.

Then I walked back and continued upstream. Again had you waded downstream, you could have climbed out where the large park next to Krishi-Vihar starts. You could have gone in there, or run down to the road leading to the BRT corridor. I walked down that road where they are covering up the nullah. I did walk down this road last week. So once again, R-block and Pamposh Enclave is an option.  You could have reached there either from behind, or from the side road. At night the gates would have shut, so even if you tried you could not have come back. Similarly, if you had run to the mainroad and come out of Gate I, you could have gone somewhere to the BRT corridor area or crossed over to the park (I think Jahanpanah park).

However, i think it's more likely you ran somewhere to M-block or C-block and then went running further. It's even possible that you from the nullah you waded downstream, and then took a left, and got out, and crossed the road into Panchsheel.

I need to put posters in C and M block, R-block, Pamposh, Panchsheel, and even outside that other park.

Visited Frendicoes and Animal India Trust

Today I went to Frendicoes and the Jal Vihar Animal India Trust. I gave them a poster with my contact and a picture of you when you were 4 months old (the same pic in the previous post).

Outside of Frendicoes was a dog that looked very much like you except that after much examination and prodding revealed a white tipped tail. She was fast asleep and groggy and showed no interest in me. I still had to make sure it was not you. Her nails were white and her ear was cut. Her face was slightly different too. But as I drove by, and as I approached her, it almost looked like it was you.

(Picture showing both missing one (left) and sister)

After how close we have been, it is impossible to imagine that you may not be alive. Twice I gave up Raja for dead, and twice he came back. Once when he was run over and a neighbour took him to the hospital. I found him 2 days later bandaged up in someone's driveway. Then recently during the mating season when he twice vanished for 5 days. The second time he was nowhere to be found. He came back neutered, so he had been picked up by MCD and taken to their shelter for those days.

Will I be as lucky with you, dear little one? I am hoping someone will report you to MCD and you will land up at one of these 2 places. And see the poster.

Searching for you ...

This is a blog regarding my little one-year old black (and tan) dog who ran away on Diwali night. She was terrified by the the crackers and was mostly hiding inside a drain-pipe nearby on Choti Diwali (day previous to Diwali)...

Her mother gave birth to a litter near my house 3 years back. All drowned in the heavy rain -- my lane is a low-lying lane in GK-1. Two years ago, she gave birth to another litter in a parallel lane with speeding traffic. Most of her pups got run over, one by one. We managed to save just one, Raja (a large white dog with patches of tan), who is now 2 years old, and has a limp in one leg. Two survivors died of distemper or parvo-virus. I nursed him through parvo, too.

Mother gave birth to her third litter last November. This time i resolved not to let a single one get run-over or die of parvo etc. All were vaccinated. An enclosure was made in the ditch they were born in. There were three beautiful black and tan females. Despite all our precautions, and keeping them in an enclosure, and escorting them while they were outside, one still got run-over on the night of January 25th, 2012. So I brought up these two remaining ones, got them spayed at Maxvet along with the mother when they were six months old.

They would sit outside my flat, waiting for me to come out and feed them, or to accompany me to the milk booth. Their sweet faces were always looking at our door or gate. Whenever I stepped out, they would come running and jump on me. We were inseparable.

They had just turned one on November 6th, 2012. The night before Diwali they were hiding in a drain-pipe when i came to feed them. They would not eat, so frightened were they. They kept looking up to the sky every time a rocket went up. Their mother and older brother, Raja ate. On Diwali day, I fed them in the evening and went visiting some relatives.

When i returned at 11 pm, I whistled and only one came out of the drain-pipe. I thought the other one would come out in the morning. But she never came out. The drain-pipe connects to the nullah behind GK-1 S-block. I searched the nullah area and the forest behind it, just in case she may have fallen in there.

In the days that followed, I have looked through the nullah and adjoining ground all the way till Moolchand. I have walked through all of S-block, and the parts of C-block, the markets, driven through R block. No where is my little one to be found.

All I know is that if she is alive, she is cold and hungry, and scared. Probably mauled by now. Everyday she would be running further and further, hounded by other dogs.

She and her sister used to race each other down the lane, and wrestle together. The two sitting together were the dearest sight to behold. Now the sister sits listlessly, or just sleeps under a car all day. These two are not aggressive females, very docile, and easily frightened by dogs from other lanes. They are fussy eaters and have to almost be force fed. Usually, I hand feed them bread and milk otherwise they would go hungry.

Both look quite alike, I believe I am the only one who can tell them apart. The one remaining has a white tip on the tail, whereas the missing one doesn't (as you can see in the adjoining pics). Their faces and personalities are quite different too. Of the two, the lost one was more fond of me, I would say.

Life never was easy for this family of four. They got food to eat, medical help when needed, and lots of love. However, they were never aggressive and so have always been bullied by stray dogs from other lanes. Raja got badly bitten every night during his first year, and mauled a few times too. So has the mother during the mating season. Raja chases cars and cycles, and both he and his mother tend to bark at delivery boys and often workers. Thus, there have always been complaints and threats from some residents, and many people walking through (our lane is like a thoroughfare between Krishi Vihar and GK-I). People have often hit these 2 with sticks and even bricks injuring them badly. So when two more joined in a year back, life has been even more difficult for them.


Somehow, between the resident's, dogs, workers, and fast cars, we managed to survive and make our little world. In the midst of the maddening construction, fights over parking space, and generally aggressive lifestyle and uncaring attitude of GK-I, their loving, playful life flourished.