It was a quiet, cool evening in Malibu Towne—perfect for an outdoor movie. The air was still, almost too still, and Angoori, Nanha Sher, and Banshi couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off. But who cared? Tonight, they had something special to look forward to—the screening of their favorite movie, Bhaunk On, at Central Park!
Pilpil was, as usual, pestering Strawberry for a better spot while Raspberry lay sprawled out lazily. The dogs of Malibu Towne had gathered, wagging their tails in excitement as the massive screen flickered to life with images of heroic dogs, barking bravely in the face of danger. Nanha Sher, the young, gullible dog, barked loudly as the movie’s first action sequence unfolded. “I could do that! Look at that jump, Angoori; I’m telling you, I’d nail it!”
Angoori raised an eyebrow. “Sure, Nanha. Just like you nailed the garden hose last week.”
Banshi was already sneaking glances at the snack bowls. “Do you think they have any… refreshments?” He gave a sly smile, his nose twitching at the faint whiff of leftover human spirits. “I could use a little sip to really enjoy this movie, if you know what I mean.”
“No Banshi,” Angoori said firmly, side-eyeing him, “we’re here to watch the movie, not see double halfway through.”
The movie was in full swing, and the dogs were completely absorbed in the epic bark battles on-screen. Even Banshi, momentarily distracted from his drink-seeking mission, laughed loudly at a slapstick scene. But then, just as the dogs were caught up in the climactic chase scene, BOOM—a massive explosion shook the park.
Chaos Strikes: The sky lit up with fireworks. Nanha Sher jumped a foot in the air, his bark cut off mid-sentence. “What was that? Are they bombing us? Is this part of the movie?”
“Relax, Sher,” Angoori said, trying to stay calm, but his fur was standing on end. “It’s Diwali… though it sounds more like they’re trying to blow up the moon!”
Banshi was already darting toward the nearest bush. He squeezed himself between two shrubs, his eyes wide in terror. Pilpil, shaking, yelped, “Strawberry! Raspberry! Why are they attacking us?” He closed his eyes tightly, hoping it would all disappear. Strawberry rolled her eyes. “Close your ears too, Pilpil! That’s what humans do when they can’t take the noise,” Strawberry said, covering her own ears with her paws. Pilpil did the same, and the trio huddled together. The noise was relentless. Fireworks cracked overhead, sending dogs diving under benches, into bushes, and anywhere they could hide. Nanha Sher, always eager to protect, stood tall for a moment, barking bravely at the sky. “I’m brave, but I’m not….. stupid!” Nanha Sher said, panting as the others looked at him in amusement.
Ulukh’s Take: High above in his attic perch, Ulukh, the wise owl, watched the chaos below with a smirk. “Ah, Diwali, the annual event where they think they’re lighting up the sky, but really, they’re scaring the wits out of anything with feathers, fur, or a decent sense of hearing.”
He shook his head, amused but also concerned. “Gone are the days when owls like me were revered as the vahanas of Lakshmi. Now, I’m just a ‘spooky bird’ to be avoided during their greedfest. They expect the Goddess to visit their houses, but her ‘vahanas’ are all “outta here”. He chuckled to himself. “Maybe it’s time I filed that public interest litigation I’ve been thinking about. ‘Save the vahanas,’ anyone?”
The Great Escape: Meanwhile, Angoori, Nanha Sher, and Banshi huddled together in the alley. Nanha Sher was still panting, his ears flat against his head.
Banshi, slowly recovering his usual bravado, peered out from the bushes. “You’d think humans would come up with quieter ways to show off their money. But no, it’s all ‘BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!’”
Nanha Sher still couldn’t put two and two together. “Why don’t they hit each other’s cars again and again? It makes the same sort of noise without the smoke.”
At that moment, Pilpil, Strawberry, and Raspberry appeared, squeezing into the narrow alley. Pilpil, eyes wide and trembling, piped up, “Is it over yet?” “Not yet, kid,” Angoori said with a wry smile. “But don’t worry; we’ve got Banshi here to keep us entertained with his… ‘hero-hic’ tales.”
“I’m not scared!” Nanha Sher barked his tail betraying him as it tucked firmly between his legs. “I’m… just strategically retreating.”
The noise raged on, but at least they had each other—and Banshi’s not-so-secret stash of “refreshments” he’d miraculously discovered behind the bushes. By the time the fireworks finally died down, the dogs were exhausted but grateful to have survived another Diwali.
“Next year,” Pilpil said, “I’m staying inside. Maybe humans will finally get the hint.”
Ulukh, watching from above, chuckled softly to himself. “Not a chance, Pilpil. Not a chance.”
And so, the dogs of Malibu Towne limped home, their movie night ruined, but their spirits not entirely broken. After all, with friends like these, even the loudest Diwali couldn’t keep them down for long.
