For those of you who are wondering who Bruno is, he is ( technically was ) my pet dog. He is such a darling. He is the long hair dog types, with a nice, small, forever wet nose. His hair had a tinge of brown and hence the name Bruno. So cute. So pretty. So stylish.
You know, one day, when he was young, my dad was carrying him and walking towards the car.. and one neighbour's kid excitedly tugged on his amma's saree and exclaimed, ( out loud ), "Amma, lion lion lion." My dad couldn't hide the smile escaping out of his pride exuding face...
Bruno was actually a birthday gift for my dad, years back. My mom went to pick him from the pet store, and apparently, he was the quietest puppy in the store. She said, "He seemed unperturbed by the fact that there were visitors in the shop. So, he must be the nice, cuddly types and quiet types." She sure was in for a big surprise!!
The day he came home, exactly a day before my dad's bday, was what we celebrated as his birthday all these years. Over the years, he even learnt to wag his tail as soon as we sprang a " happy birthday to you , happy birthday to Bruno" on him. My brother decked him up with gogs and a cap on his birthday and he loved it.
It so happened that I wasn't present when Bruno was brought home. I still remember my dad used to say that he resembled a small tennis ball. So small. And after a week to settle, he started walking slowly.. and he looked like a toy dog that could be keyed to move. Some said they had mistaken him for stuff toy, and were totally surprised when it moved towards them. ( he was too small to bark at visitors back then ) and back then our house used to be filled with small circles of his pee here and there. And mom used to follow him everywhere and clean up immediately ( owing to her obsessive compulsive disorder for cleanliness )
So I was in a hostel when he was brought home. And when I came for my holidays, he was already 6 months old. And just the opposite of what my mom thought him to be. Very naughty and an extremely alert watch dog who wouldn't let anyone enter. His first sworn enemy was our maid who paid a visit to our house from 9-12. And at that time it looked like his second enemy was me. He didn't know me at all, so he treated me like an outsider. I was greeted by ferocious barks when I came home for my break. I was scared. Then my dad took him aside ( you've got to believe this... ) and spoke to him and said ," She is my daughter. My family. Our family. You have to stop barking at her." And he brought him closer to me.. I was so scared that I wud've (undoubtedly) been the reason for another puddle in my house !! But to my surprise, Bruno sniffed my hand and then wagged his tail and let me go. However, just to be sure, for one whole week, he followed me everywhere , and I heard a growl every time I got near the music system, or went to the kitchen to get a plate. I was shattered. I went to my dad and said ," This is my house. He cannot treat me like that". My dad smiled and said ," Give him a chance dear. He is just doing his duty." I still remember rolling my eyes at that comment. Oh, what a long way we've come after that!!
So much so that, when I was preggy, I practised carrying a baby by carrying him.. I have a photo to remember that thought, u know!
My mom toilet trained him, taught him the native language. She spoke to him like she spoke to anyone else, and he understood it all. So much so that my mom and dad used to spell words out when they didn't want him to understand. Any parent of a toddler would relate to that completely. He was never treated as a pet, leave alone dog. He was a member of our family. He considered my bro as his bro/friend, ( owing to the fact that I was never at home ) and there was so much of sibling rivalry between them. (You would see them fighting for who gets to lie down next to my mom.) You should see both of them run around and play too.. they were best buddies.
Cooked chicken and rice was his staple diet. No pedigree. Nothing else. Morning walk for morning duties, barking at the slightest noise he could hear, ( loud playing kids, newspaper wala, milk man, security, maid, any vehicle that went by) and following my dad everywhere he went inside the house.. were his daily routine/duties. He could actually sense my dad's car from way beyond the street... when we see him wag his tail non stop for like 5 mins, standing near the door, we would know my dad is almost here.
After my son was born, again, the Bruno who didn't like kids, the Bruno who hated anyone apart from us, invited my son with open arms. I still wonder how he knew, how he understood. And we call them 5 sensed!! He was utterly loyal to us, kept awake and vigil in the night, was always eagerly at the window waiting for us to come back when we stepped out for daily errands. How could anyone love anyone so much.
All of us loved him, he loved us. We took so much care of him. He left us on the 17th of this month, and we are all devastated. He was so much a part of our lives that the house suddenly felt empty. I live away from home now and when my mom called me and informed me that he passed away, it felt like my heart was getting sucked into a black hole. I came home and all I could see was a mound of earth. Our lovely dog, our friend, our lovable companion was no more. He left a permanent hole in our hearts. It's still not settling in you know, why do dogs get to live so less ?? My son believes that Bruno would return as a crow ( it is common in our culture to believe that the ancestors come back as crows to see us). He wiped my mother's tears and tells her ,"Ammachi, don't worry, I will pray and meditate to lord Brahma and when He appears before me and grants me a boon, I will ask God to wake Bruno up". My mom pulls him closer and hugs him tight, with tears streaming from her eyes. If only that could happen !! Sigh. Sad sigh!! May his soul rest in peace. We love you Bruno!
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