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Pran can’t do anything but stare in utter disbelieve at the sight in front of him. Why is there a pig in their kitchen?
At first it doesn’t seem to notice him, occupied with sniffing around. But when it realizes it is being watched, it suddenly starts squealing and comes running in his direction, where, on arrival, it presses his nose firmly against his leg, eager to inhale his scent. For a moment he is reminded of Pat.
Which begs the question “Where is Pat?” and “Why is there a pig in their home?”
While Pat sometimes has very stupid ideas, adopting a pig without informing Pran seems quite extreme, even for him.
Maybe it is revenge for comparing him to a pig the other day. But Pats table manners had been especially horrendous that day. It had been a fair comparison, nothing that would warrant such an extreme reaction.
The pig lets out a grunt. And then another, like it wants to get his attention back.
As if Pran could even let his attention go anywhere else, after all there is a pig in their kitchen and Pat is nowhere to be found.
He had tried contacting him through phone, only to find Pats phone lying on the kitchen counter. It is very strange. Why would Pat go anywhere without taking his phone?
If only he could ask the pig.
The pig.
A strange and almost hysterical thought makes its way into his mind.
Nonsense! That’s a way too illogical and inconceivable explanation. And yet.
When he is looking back at the pig it excitedly wags his tail from the left to the right. Looking at him, as if it is waiting for something. It’s cute, he must admit reluctantly. It does resemble Pat.
Still, he feels silly just thinking about what he is about to do next.
“Pat?” he calls out hesitantly, feeling like a crazy person.
The pig starts squealing. Then it suddenly falls on its side and starts scrubbing its back against his legs.
Pran shudders. Could this really be Pat? If it IS, he’s gonna hear a handful afterwards.
But people turning into animals? This seems like straight out of a movie! But still, what if? What was he supposed to do then? How could he get his Pat back?
What did people in movies do about it? Solve some underlying unresolved conflict?
But what conflict? If there were one, they would talk about it.
But what if his comment had triggered this? Pat sometimes still had this tendency where he would stay quiet to not burden Pran, thinking he had to keep it together and bear everything on his own. So maybe, the comment had hurt Pat more than he had thought? At least it would explain the pig. Could this be, could this be the reason Pat turned into a pig?
As avoidance is no option, he decides to face pig Pat face on.
This turns out to be a mistake!
The moment he gets on his knees, the pig decides the floor is boring and it jumps up and puts his front hoofs against him.
As the pig is quite small, Pran had severely underestimated just how heavy it is. Thus, he is not at all prepared for the impact, loses his balance, and ends up lying on the floor, one pig trampling all over his body. Before he can recover, its already over for him. The pig -Pat?- arrives at his weak spot, presses his nose against his neck and starts licking his neck. It tickles and he can’t help but burst out laughing.
“Pat, don’t! Stop it!” he manages to get out in between laughter.
It’s to no avail. The pig grunts and just continues on its way, seemingly even more spurned on by his laughter. He’s gonna kill Pat.
Doesn’t even matter if the pig is indeed Pat, it certainly behaves like him.
He is annoyed.
“I said stop!”
After a felt eternity, the pig finally does stop, dropping his head on his torso and looking at him with sleepy dark eyes.
He is endeared.
“I’m sorry, Pat! Okay? I did not think this comment might hurt you. But it’s not a bad comparison. You might eat like a pig, but you are a very cute pig, even when eating like that.”
And he is indeed very cute, though Pran really has to stop himself from thinking too much about where his snout might have been before.
The pig seems to be content with his answer, nuzzling up against him.
But still no Pat.
He sighs and is about to start petting the pig, when loud laughter rings out from behind him.
Pran almost gets neck pain from moving his head around so fast.
There, standing in the door, is Pat, looking far too amused for Prans liking.
“Shia, Pat! What the hell?” he curses. “Where were you? And why is there a pig in our home?”
Pat, looking slightly sheepish now, turns to remove the pig from Pran, probably an attempt to appease him.
(Ineffective, of course. As if Pran could be swayed that easily!)
“Ah, it’s a participant in Paas new movie. It will be gone in an hour” he says. But with the pig gone, Pat somehow ends up replacing it, sitting above Pran now. “Aw, did you think this was me? You are so cute” he coos and tries to poke his dimple.
“Pat!” Pran pushes him away with a glare.
He is not amused. And really, mistaking Pat for a pig, could have happened to anyone!
Pat just chuckles, not at all intimidated by Pran giving him the evil eye.
“It was a spontaneous thing! Today some stuff didn’t quite work out and they needed a place where the pig could stay for a few hours. So, she asked me. It was so hectic, I forgot to tell you and I thought it might be gone, before you are home. I’m sorry.”
Pat is giving him his best puppy look and Pran can feel his anger slowly melt away.
“But why would she ask you? You don’t know the last thing about pigs?”
“Well, she said,” here Pat coughs slightly and in an awful imitation of Paa he adds “Pat, you are basically like a pig yourself. You will surely get along. Can you take her for a few hours!”
Pran can’t help but smile.
“I probably should have said no, but look at this little fellow. Isn’t she cute?”
Pran knows Pat never would have said no. As much as he likes to tease and annoy his little sister, he would do anything she asks of him. Pran is pretty sure Paa knows this, but mostly doesn’t take advantage of it. Well, there are exceptions.
Pran sighs. “Yes, she is.”
And you are too. This, he doesn’t say.
But he doesn’t have to. His eyes say it all, lovingly watching Pat as he picks up the pig and slowly starts rocking it from left to right.
This is the man he loves, the man he chose to love. And in any universe, in any form, he‘d still always pick Pat!