My mind being very productive tends to go off on its own endless trips when left idle. Needless to say, such trips can leave me totally exhausted, mentally and emotionally. So, some time back, I decided to keep it engaged in some more activities, apart from writing and art, so that it would stay happy despite all the chaos that life can be.
I began baking, seriously. I did bake earlier, too, but this time, I decided to really take efforts in working on my baking skills with the help of my dear cousin, who is an accomplished baker herself. I began with different types of cookies and cupcakes and, fortunately, they turned out quite well! Chikoo would drool when those babies were getting baked in the oven, so I know. His drool spoke a lot about their goodness!
And, these are the love bites I am talking about! 😀 I mean, who doesn’t love to have a bite of such sinfully tasty things, haan?
I have been baking like a woman possessed, baking being such a therapeutic activity. Moreover, people buy the stuff I bake, so thankfully, I don’t have to pile on the calories all by myself! 😜
I remember how Chikoo would begin howling no sooner the aroma of the cakes would reach his highly sensitive nose and beg me to give him some..
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Chikoo demanding his share! |
“For the love of God, stop torturing me, woman, and just bring me some of those goodies, will ya?”
he would say. Never was he satisfied with a bite or two. He would demand a lot more and made sure I gave him all he asked for. I knew it wasn’t good for his health, but I felt that he had lived his life eating all the healthy (and boring) food I gave him, day in day out, without grumbling even once, and now that he was old, he ought to enjoy in every way.
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Chikoo by the oven, when he could walk. |
These days as I bake, my thoughts invariably take me to the not-so-distant past, when Chikoo would keep loitering around the kitchen (or insist I help him move to that favourite spot of his when he couldn’t walk) and keep staring at me as I worked. His olfactory organs on high alert, waiting to catch the first whiff of the oven baked yummies, his tongue drooling puddles as he sat in anticipation of his favourite cakes and cookies.
Nowadays, I place his picture frame on the dining table that’s right across the kitchen, so each time I turn around, I find him staring back at me from the frame, inundating me with those sweet memories of the past. It brings a lump to my throat as I realise he isn’t here to demand his share of my cakes, anymore, but I know he is there, somewhere around, drooling at the heavenly aroma!
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Today, it’s two weeks since my little fella crossed the rainbow bridge. There are moments when I smile – giggle, too – as I reminisce about our past. But, there are also moments when the tears, they gush out unannounced, and leave me completely drained. But, then, so is life, isn’t it? We all miss our people when they are no more with us. At times, their memories make us laugh, at times they make us weep, and then when these moments pass us by, we get on with life, all over again!
I do have a bone to pick with Chikoo, though. It’s been two long weeks, and not once has he visited me in my dreams! I mean, I have a whole lot of people who do, but this little guy seems to have forgotten me completely!
Hey, Chikoo, are you listening?
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Chikoo: Chillax, mom! Yeah, that’s one of the new and cool words my buddies here taught me. And they are so much better than those boring words you drilled into my head every time you went clickety-click at your laptop!
Anyway, woman, just ‘coz I haven’t visited you in your dreams does not mean I have forgotten you, okay? Don’t you know I reside in your heart? The thing that goes thud-thud in your heart isn’t your heartbeat, it’s my tail, wagging against your chest, you dodo!
Oh, and I am also very much around you…all the time. Those vanilla cakes you baked today..those smelled like heaven. Ah, I wish they baked those things here, too. Then, I would have my cake and eat it, too! Bwahahahaha!
Oh, by the way, mom, I am gonna be busy for some time. Psst..there are some really sexy girls out here, and, they hardly leave me alone! So, ya see, I will come visit ya in your dreams once those chicks give me a break!
Until then, ciao, mom!
Take care!
Awww what a sweet post Shilpa!! A big hug from another dog lover who has seen so many of them just go by; not just my own but my cousins and friends too!! I have baby sat so many of them that I grieved for them like my own when they went!
I can smell warm cinnamon love wafting from your words as I read them and yes your little fella is gamboling in rainbow heaven – I bet he gets cakes and cookies there plus unlimited frosting to lick too!! Hugs!!!
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Awww.. that is so sad! But it was such a sweet and different post to share the loss of Chikoo. Hope he is happy where he is 🙂
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This warmed my heart and I want to give a BIG tight hug to you, Shilpa! ♥
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Such a bitter-sweet post! Sweet, for the memories it must bring flooding to you everytime you bake and bitter, because the object of your affection isn't there anymore. Love and hugss.
Shubhangi @ The Little Princess
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The last paragraph brought a smile on my face. Btw, heard Chikoo is looking at you from the sky. Your love bites are really yummy. Decided to be off sweet for a week and will only have sugary stuffs once in a while. I have such a sweet tooth that carves every single day and time to pull the trigger:)
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Big hug to you, Shilpa. Chickoo has left you with loads of memories, cherish them. Glad you are baking , I find baking very therapeutic and I hope you do too 🙂
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Awww….thank you so much, Shalini! These babies, they do give us a tough time when they go away, don/t they?
I too hope he is having a lovely time up there! 🙂 ❤
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I hope so too, Reema!
Thank you so much! 🙂
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I felt the big , tight hug, Shilpa! Thank you so much! ❤
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Thank you, Vishal! 🙂
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Thank you so much, Shubhangi! ❤
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His memories are what I cling on to now, DA!
And, yes, baking is such a therapeutic activity! 🙂
Thank you for visiting! 🙂
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