Waiting for Hachiko

“How long we’ll have to wait here, Master?” Disciple shattered the silence long-pervaded among him and master, disturbed occasionally by the rustle of leaves or some bird chirping far away.

Master threw Disiple a questioning look: “Do you find this silence intolerable?”

“Errr… yes Master it is…”

“Come on young man, this is not what I call ‘silence’. Can’t you hear the gush of wind, the songs of birds? Tell me at least do you have the patience of mind to listen?”

Disciple stood recollecting himself for a moment. “I think I’m okay now, Master. I was just too excited to see our visitor.” He explained himself.

Master sat on the bank of the river and put his legs into the shallows. Disciple followed him.

“My mother had lots of pets.” Master reminisced his mother. “Most of them were stray cats and dogs…” Disciple was puzzled. Master perceived his bewilderment, but continued, “… some of them stayed in our house and the rest only came to have their meals. Mother used to read them quite well. Whenever…”

“Excuse me master, I thought you said ‘mother read the cats and dogs’….”

“Yes, she did! She interpreted them very well. If a rain is to come, mother knew it beforehand. She said she just learned it from her pets.”

“How wonderful..!” Disciple mused. “I think that skill can only be achieved through familiarity.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking. Besides, mother used to talk a lot with her pets. When we grew up and came off to cities, and when father went to work, mother said she didn’t feel how the day goes in the company of her pets…”

“I think we all need such a retreat, master.” Disciple said soberly. “This universe is full of togetherness and every kind of beings has some kind of thing to share in common.”

Master merely smiled at the disciple’s philosophical outpouring. Disciple interpreted it as an encouragement and opened his mouth to add something more.

But he saw somebody behind them: an old man with a vigorous puppy. Disciple thought he looked either Japanese or Korean. Just then master turned around.

“Hello my friend, Ueno!” Master stood up and bowed his head to him. He was readily greeted in return.

“Son, this is Professor Eisaburo Ueno of Tokyo University.” Master made the introductions. “And this is Hachiko, his very faithful companion.”

“Woof!” The Atikas-bred said, and held out a paw solemnly. Master bent and shook it. Disciple followed suit.

“I also wanted to meet you Master.” Ueno said, “I heard that they made a westernized English movie about me and Hachiko. Is it true?”

“Of course!” Master replied, “An American one. But they have captured your story remarkably. You’ll burst into tears if you watch it. So poignant, truly heartbreaking!”

“That’s okay then,” Ueno heaved a relieved sigh. “I just wanted to make sure if they had done Hachiko justice.”

“Yes, they had.” Disciple said. “I watched it too. I never thought it was about you and Hachi.”

“Hachiko!” Ueno corrected him.

“Oh sorry!”

“I remember teaching my students a lesson at the university and fainting down. When I woke up, Hachiko was licking my face. He told me that he waited nine years at the railway station for me to return. Only by that I realized we both were now in another world. Most importantly I understood soul-mates never part!” The professor stopped for his breath.

“Woof woof….” Hachiko chattered something looking at Ueno, and he listened intently. Master passed disciple a victorious look. Disciple nodded.

“Hachiko says the people around the station were very kind to him. He asks you to give them his thanks if you pass that Shibuya train station. Give mine as well please!”

“Oh we will!” Master agreed, despite knowing that all the people concerned are long dead. “By the way Eisa, they have erected a monument for Hachiko as well. Quite a grand one it is!”

Ueno smiled in infinite happiness. Then he translated it to Hachiko. He whined in pleasure.

Ueno looked at the sky. A worried expression passed into his face.

“I guess I have to go now, master,” he said apologetically, “or I’d be late for the lecture. Will you excuse us…?”

“It’s alright Eisa… great pleasure meeting you!”

“Same here!” Ueno uttered and bowed his head. Hachiko woofed again delightfully.

Then they turned back and retraced their steps to the wilderness.

Master and disciple looked at them leave the woods. Hachiko’s tail was wagging all the time as a fan. Disciple relished in the thought of having a dog.

“What a combination - two soul-mates!” Master told himself. And disciple nodded to himself as if he had heard what master said. Sachitra and Samodh

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