The Boy Who Wanted an Injection | A Ponmanipudi Story

The Boy Who Wanted an Injection

Saturday was bath day. Nobody in Ananda Neelam enjoyed bath day in equal measure...

Sita..... loved it. The moment Dr. Chari carried the big blue bucket out of the shed, she came running, tail wagging so hard that her whole body joined in....happy to play.

Arjuna wasn't far behind. He stood proudly like a soldier waiting for inspection and the happy "good boy" and a vigorous rub.

April...looked offended. She sighed dramatically and walked away with the expression of someone betrayed by her own family....

Only Mylo...vanished into thin air.

"Where's Mylo?"

asked Chami.

Dr. Chari smiled...

"Look behind the hibiscus."

Two frightened eyes stared back.

"Mylo!"

Chami laughed.

"You're scared of water!"

A muffled growl emerged from the bushes.....Not a real growl. ......The kind brave people make when they are actually terrified....a helpless child....

Dr. Chari crouched.

"Come, Myloooo, no scare..."

Nothing....no sounds came..

"I have biscuits."

One ear twitched.

"I'll still find you."

A pause.

Then Mylo slowly walked out. Tail at its lowest, every step looked like a farewell to happiness....all over..

The first mug of water splashed...Mylo froze...

Then shook so violently that Chami got wetter than the dog.

"Ayyo! You idiot."

Chami shouted.

"My clothes!"

Mylo looked apologetic, licked Dr. Chari's hand.

Then stood perfectly still...As if to say...

"If this must happen... let's get it over with fast. God save me!"

Even April looked impressed.

By the time everyone was dry...the courtyard smelled of wet dogs and shampoo.

Four happy tails wagged lazily in the morning sun.

Chami sat beside the towel basket, thinking...always dangerous....

"Appa..."

"Hmm?"

"I want a real injection syringe."

Dr. Chari looked up.

"What for?"

"I want to give an injection."

"To whom?"

"I don't know."

He shrugged.

"I just want to know how it feels."

Dr. Chari smiled.

"Fair enough."

The next afternoon...Chari returned from the clinic carrying a sealed syringe without a needle and a small orange used for practice.

Chami's eyes became enormous.

"For me?"

"For learning."

First came the orange.

"Hold it gently."

"Not like a spear."

"Poke, gently...45 degree...! Chari whispered.

But, Chami....too hard.....

Juice squirted onto Mylo's nose.

Mylo sneezed. Everyone laughed.

Ok again....slower....steadier...ah!..

better....

Then Dr. Chari called...

"Arjuna."

The big Labrador walked over immediately....

Tail wagging.....trusting without question.

"Can I?"

asked Chami.

Dr. Chari nodded.

"But only because he needs his medicine."

Chami's hands suddenly became very small...very careful.

He touched Arjuna's shoulder, patted and parted the fur...

And looked at his father.

"Here?"

"A little higher."

Arjuna didn't move...not even once...

The injection was over in seconds.

"Done!"

Chami grinned.

"I thought he would cry or bite..."

Arjuna simply leaned forward...and licked Chami's face.

That evening...while feeding the dogs...Chami became unusually quiet....

"What happened?"

asked Dr. Chari.

"I know now."

"What?"

"I wanted to know how an injection feels."

"And?"

"I didn't feel anything."

Dr. Chari looked puzzled.

Chami scratched Arjuna behind the ears, softly, very softly.

"I was watching my hands."

A pause.

"I forgot..."

"...he was the one receiving it."

Neither spoke for a while...then Chami walked to Mylo, knelt down, wrapped both arms around his wet neck.

"I'm sorry I laughed at you yesterday."

he whispered.

"You were scared."

Mylo wagged his tail once, licked Chami's cheek......Forgiveness...as dogs usually offered it...without speeches...just presence...

That night...before going to bed...I noticed something....

The opened practice syringe still lay on the windowsill. Beside it...was a dog biscuit.

The syringe remained exactly where it was.

The biscuit...was gone.🌿

Welcome to Ponmanipudi... where nothing is as it seems.

About Ponmanipudi

Ponmanipudi is an original village created by Sriranga V.N.

Every story reveals another life, another memory, and another quiet mystery from a village where ordinary people live extraordinary lives. Walk its streets long enough, and you'll meet curious children, wise elders, loyal dogs, forgotten temples, and moments that stay with you long after the story ends.

Author's Note

This story was inspired by a childhood memory that stayed with me for many years.