If it was hard to welcome you home,

it was hardest to let you go.

Each one of us at home have our own experiences with you and many a story to tell,

This is a peek into my experience and some kutti stories to share.

Four years and six months have passed since you came home,

and it seems like just yesterday.

You came home when you were a puppy of a month and half,

to a family which was mostly a similar bag of eagerness in welcoming you,

the only exception was me – petrified of having you and the work that maybe involved in taking care of you.

I put out a list of conditions of ‘what I won’t do’, before saying yes to bringing you home,

and yet, every one of the ‘won’t do’s’ I have done a minimum of once atleast,

not because I was choiceless, but somewhere I felt happy to ‘do it’,

so much to my conditions!!!

If the first six months were many a groan and exasperation from me, of not knowing how to be around you,

or of doing all the cleaning of the pee and poop three times over (just wiping, then wiping with dettol and then wiping with a scent neutraliser), seeing you gnaw most furniture, laptop adaptors and phone chargers and scratching of the walls.

The next four years were a playful and joyful time.

So much fun and so many laughs.

Some moments were like – you irritate me and I irritate you,

who irritated whom more, is anybody’s guess 🙂

People who saw you in pictures or face to face had many a compliment to give,

What a handsome guy!!

Hunk he is, isn’t it?

Such a shiny coat he has!!

He looks fierce but is so friendly!!

Oh, he looks big!!

You were every one of these compliments!!

Your tries at your sneaky eating were annoying and would make me furious then,

gobbling four big boiled potatoes.. lapping up a big bowl of curd clean and leaving not a trace to know that you may have done it,

jumping on the kitchen platform to take a piece of paneer or taking your favorite dental stick packet that would have been left open on the table and finishing a few.

today when I reminsce on these moments, I can’t but have a big smile.

You were my Ninja buddy in the terrace when I would practice my martial art,

my running buddy when we would run around the table and sofa, in a figure of 8.

You are a soulmate to one at home,

a little brother to another,

a third son to the father,

To me, what are you?

Someone I love? Not able to really say,

Not able to put a single and specific word to it

Whatever it is, would like it to stay that way..

The last few days, you have shown the warrior side to you,

and what a warrior you have been!!

enthralling to see it, awe-inspiring to experience it,

fulfilling to talk about it,

goosebumpy to hear about it!!

It is but natural to grieve your moving on and feel a sense of moroseness,

However, reliving every moment of joy and smile you have given us

is truly a celebration of the way you lived your life.

Much you have taught each one of us,

which we are sure to carry forward in our own little and big ways.

Sure there would be a time and place when we would come back to each other,

until then…

Love ya, my dear Daxu..

NOTE: Any responses to this blog to be in joy and cheer :-).. NO condolences and sympathy pls