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Pets
Oasis on Al-Ahsa Street has housed some
beautiful amphibians, reptiles, birds, and some
forest and land animals. Their refuge is nicely
maintained with the state of the art technology.
A vet is there to look after the health
condition of the animals, and the animal keepers
in blue uniform can be seen who are trained
enough to keep the animals under control at Pets
Oasis. They are responsible for dealing with the
customers. Their main task is how successfully
they explain the qualities of these animals who
have been laced with business tricks. Sometimes
they can be seen as taming the animals even with
electric shock, the ultimate treatment given by
human beings to those unruly creatures. After
all they are animals. Disobedience is a serious
crime in case they don't care about the valued
visitors. They are for sale!
One small colourful singing bird costs 80 Riyals
while the South African blue parrot is on sale
for 55,000 Riyals. It sings and talks, and to
our astonishment, it understands human language.
It seems that stereotype training given to it by
a man might not be that expensive and is always
available at low prices The parrot talks with
the customers regardless of their position or
status, race or culture. It doesn't care who is
who amongst the visitors. Others appeared mute
with no physical gestures.
The patched and bright skinned dog was howling
and struggling to run away, but of no use. In
fact, nobody cared about the dog except for his
somersault that delighted the visitors and
particularly the children. The clapping were
more on the repeat actions. Perhaps dog's
faithfulness was sometimes at stake as it didn't
respond to the visitor's onomatopoeic behaviour.
A common impression on the dog was that better
its jaws be locked as howling doesn't sound
good. And the salesman out there did the same.
In the refuge is an igloo. Well equipped, still
the baby bear appeared to be much restless. The
vet with his assistant tried hard to feed the
baby bear. The onlookers took notice of the
beastly behaviour which later turned into an
amusement. Even after several efforts, the baby
bear did not respond to food. It was a good show
and a nice pass-time for the visitors. Someone
asked about the price but declined as the price
was not affordable. That cost really too much.
Materialism, perhaps, is a threat to the comfort
and freedom of the refugee animals.
Nevertheless, the ignominious bear continued to
keep it's eyelids closed on them.
Why not then framed pictures of those expensive
animals in the play room of the babes or they
may be allowed to play with other children
though lower in status, in the open garden?
Nobody cares about the stray animals in the
street but the same are too expensive while in
cage. Visitors might have thought this way
because money matters in our fast changing
modern society.
That shawl magnificently hemmed with raw silk
and embroidered was everyone's attraction. This
art of a craftsmanship was done on an extracted
skin of a deer. On the other hand, children were
trying to get an eye contact with a tender dear
who was fearless and mowing fodder. How good if
that child gets in touch with and could share
the best of their secrets of the refuge and
murmured with a substantial degree of grief?
Guardians out there, weren't that jestful and
were careless of such animal. But they guessed
that the child would ask to buy that. Oh... it's
too much... what is the use of it...? It will
die sooner or later. Forget it! Sheer waste of
money.
The child was not in a mood to leave. Perhaps he
liked the young dear while the careful father
was in hurry. The game of love couldn't last
longer between the two. That was the time to
close the business and eventually everyone left.
What was left behind were the refugee animals.
शक्ति जो चेतन थी,
अब जड़ हो गयी है।
बचपन में जो कुंजी मेरे पास थी,
उम्र बढ़ते बढ़ते
वह कहीं खो गयी है।
- दिनकर
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