The sun's golden rays streamed through the window casting illuminated shadows in the cosy living room where Timmy lay curled up on his favourite rug.  He woke up to the sounds of a sudden din in the house. How unusual, he thought. His tail thumped lazily against the floor, his nose twitching as he snuggled in his little blanket. Orienting himself to his surroundings he realised that something felt disparate. A strange energy lingered in the air that Timmy couldn't quite grasp. His ears perked up a bit, his nose trying to grab a hint of a familiar scent. Timmy padded around the house, his keen senses picking up on the unusual bustle. He glanced at the stream of unfamiliar faces that were beginning to flood his home. Their whispers and presence unsettled him. He trotted from room to room, searching for his beloved hooman, Ruchi, who was nowhere to be seen. The last he had seen her in the house was when she was being wheeled out of the porch in a white van with a cherry light on top, and a nasal alarm breaking through the still of the night. He wondered if she would be back, since there were so many of her friends and family here to meet her.  Timmy's heart paced a little as he darted through the house, his paws skidding on the smooth floors in a desperate quest to find her. He nudged open her bedroom door, peered under tables, and even attempted to sniff out her scent among the lingering aromas in the kitchen. “Where is she?” he woofed. He paused by the dishwasher, gazing up at Anusha. "Hey there, little buddy," Anusha greeted him. Though the words were cheerful, yet her tone was disconcerting.  She bent down to stroke his fur. Cupping his face in her hands, she planted a gentle kiss on his snout. "Mama's not here, sweetie. I understand how tough this must be for you." What? What does ‘Mama's not here’ mean? Timmy's thoughts raced in confusion. Where did she go? Why hasn't she come back yet? It's almost breakfast time, and she’s never missed our morning meal together under the oak tree. Where could she be? “Do you want me to take you for your stroll, Tim? Where’s your leash?” Anusha said, through her despondency. Timmy let out a lazy bark. This girl knows nothing about me! I’d rather wait for Mama to get back. Timmy retreated and headed towards the garden. Watching his pace around, Anusha followed him. "Com’ere, Timmy. C’mon boy!." The more Anusha would approach him, the further he would pace away. Timmy picked pace and begam running around the compound, from the garden and into the dining room and off to the porch and up till the gate, and back. He kept his flint going till he got tired and walked under the old oak tree in the garden and slumped on the ground. Anusha had already given up the chase.    "I thought Anusha would be thrilled to see me after so long, but her eyes seem so empty. Why are her eyes red, though? And why does she keep sniffling?" he pondered. "What am I missing here?"  The sun was up by now and the warmth was comforting for Timmy. Tired from his scuttle around the house, he closed his eyes, hoping that when Ruchi would be back,. He’ll get back to his day’s routine. As they stepped out of the gate, they crossed paths with Tania, the neighbour, walking towards them. "Taking him out for a walk?" Tania inquired, indicating the obvious, prompting a nod from Ruchi. A sudden sorrow washed over Tania's face as she spoke softly, "I'm so sorry, Ruchi. We really thought you’d stay more with us." Sensing the sombre atmosphere, Timmy let out a woof, signalling Ruchi to continue the walk. "I'll catch up with you later, Tan. I’ll be back in a while," Ruchi said. As they ambled through the neighbourhood, Timmy noticed how everything was as it should be. The familiar sights—a row of lamp posts, the trees adorning the walkways, the sun filtering through the summer trees lining the walkway, the world bustling with its usual activities. As prompted by the time of the morning, Mr. Sinha waved goodbye to his grandson who just hopped onto the school bus. At the corner of the street, the delightful aroma of fresh pastries from Smiley's bakery wafted over making Timmy salivate. Everything remained unchanged. Yet, a certain strangeness lingered around him. Why does everything feel so odd? Timmy wondered. He looked up at Ruchi for answers, but her face was all awash. He could not spot her eyes, nose, or mouth.  He let out a soft bark, and then a bit louder.  “What happened, Timmy boy?”  Yes, that’s her voice, but what’s with her face? Why can’t I see her?  Timmy opened his eyes, agitated. Disoriented but agile, his attention moved across the garden and into the dining area where he spotted Anusha sitting at the breakfast table with her face in her hands. One of her aunts was standing by her side, her hand on Anusha’s shoulder.  Timer perked his ears up to listen to the sounds coming from there. Was Anusha sobbing? Timmy looked at Anusha and felt helpless, unsure of what was wrong with her. Why is everything so muddled? Ruchi is gone, the house is crowded with both familiar and unfamiliar faces, Anusha can't seem to stop crying, and my routine feels disjointed. Just then he noticed Arhan as well, who stood beside the couch in the living room engaged in conversation with someone. Timmy padded over and nestled by Arhan's leg, seeking reassurance. While continuing his discussion with the person in front of him, Arhan spared a moment to stroke Timmy's fur, a silent gesture of comfort. It seemed whatever was being discussed couldn't be interrupted. Timmy sensed the urgency and guessed that even Arhan didn't know where Ruchi was.  What kind of children would not know the whereabouts of their mother? And why were they here, and not out and about looking for her? He soaked in the sobriety of the house, pacing from one room to another. Unbothered and unhindered, he aimlessly ambled back to find solace beneath the sprawling branches of his favourite grand oak tree. Immersed in his thoughts, he tilted his head upwards, squinting against the sun's rays, feeling a pang of disappointment. "No breakfast today, it seems," Timmy murmured to himself. "I'll be quite cross with Ruchi when she returns," he resolved with determination in his tone. As if she had anticipated his displeasure, Anusha walked up to him and placed his food bowl in front of him. What? No Chimken? I always have Chimken for breakfast.  He sniffed the contents. Oh, this is Chimken. But why does it look so insipid? Anusha can’t do one single thing right, it seems.  She sat on her haunches by his side to stroke his head gently, "Come on, Timmy boy; eat!" Timmy lifted his chin to meet her gaze. There was a resemblance between the sadness in her eyes and the furrow on her brow that reminded him of Ruchi. Anusha's features mirrored Ruchi's in certain ways—beautiful yet somehow melancholy. Their eyes were the same colour, but Anusha wore her hair quite differently. Timmy felt that Anusha's presence, though comforting in its familiarity, carried an unexpected weight. He couldn't recall her looking quite like this the last time she was around. Or perhaps, his attention hadn't been drawn to her in the same way back then. Anusha seemed disheartened by Timmy's non-response and walked back inside. The bowl of food sat there, ignored and untouched. Timmy couldn't bring himself to eat a meal served with such evident lack of enthusiasm and sadness. What Mama could do for him, no one else could anyway. He’d rather wait for her to serve him food. At that instant, a luminous figure danced across the garden, catching Timmy's attention. It glowed softly, unlike anything he'd ever seen. He heard a familiar voice, gentle and soothing, echoing from within its radiance.  "Timmy," the ethereal voice whispered, "it's me." Timmy's ears perked up, his heart pounding with excitement and confusion. Could it really be Mama? He barked tentatively, his tail wagging in hopeful anticipation. He sniffed trying to catch a familiar scent.  Ruchi greeted her furry companion, enveloping him in a loving cuddle. Timmy's tail whipped back and forth with excitement, expressing his sheer delight, emitting joyful sounds of contentment.  “What took you so long?” Timmy retorted as he continued licking her face.  “Oh my baby,” Ruchi let out a throaty laugh. “I am so sorry. I was on my way but I thought I’d linger on for a bit to meet you before I go.” "Go? Where to? Are you headed to Grampa's?" Timmy's questions came rapid-fire. "You always take me along when you visit. Why would you go there without me this time? Grampa promised me a special treat for my next visit. You're not thinking of taking that away from me, are you?" Timmy rambled on, without waiting for Ruchi's response. Ruchi sat cross-legged by his side. “I am going where Gramma is. And Ajit is.” Timmy became sullen, waiting for Ruchi to continue. “Ah.” Ruchi sighed. She paused, searching for the right words to convey the situation to Timmy. Timmy tilted his head, trying to grasp the gravity of her words. Ruchi met his gaze with a gentle smile, “I won’t ever return, my boy.” Timmy squinted his eyes, the weight of her words thumped on his heart.  “I know what you’re thinking.” she continued, running her hand affectionately from his head to his tail. “Just a day before I was happily preparing soup in the kitchen while you nuzzled around my feet. And now, I'm telling you that I'll have to leave you. Forever." She concluded, her voice catching on the final word. "But..." Timmy's voice quivered. The light in his eyes that was so evident a minute ago, dimmed with the weight of realisation. "You can't leave me alone," he whispered. The disbelief in his voice slouched his shoulders. Sitting close beside her, he continued in desperation. "We were meant to be together, you always said that. We were supposed to spend our golden years by each-other’s side," Timmy repeated himself, as if the repetition somehow might make the situation different or more comprehensible. “I know.” Ruchi said. “But see how far we’ve come. It was like yesterday when we’d brought you home as a month-old pupper. You could barely keep up with our pace and look how handsome you have turned out now.” The reflection of the memory glinted in her eyes. Timmy did not seem amused. He had said what he had. Ruchi could not leave her and that was that! "You haven't had your meal yet," Anusha spoke through her sniffles, holding the bowl of food within Timmy's view as he glanced up at her. He hadn’t noticed her approaching him, while he conversed with Ruchi. “Why aren’t you eating?” Ruchi asked.  “I can’t. I was waiting for you to have breakfast with me.” Timmy nagged.  “But now that Anusha is offering, you should take it. See, it has your favourite chicken.” “I don’t like this Chimken. It looks sad and smells weird.” “What a brat you are! Have your food buddy. She’s offering you with love.”  Timmy glanced up at Anusha's frustrated expression. Disheartened, she took the bowl away, leaving Timmy to stay engaged in his thoughts. "Now you've lost that too!" Ruchi chuckled. Timmy resigned, lowering his chin onto his paw. “Anyway, do you remember when Arhan got a fractured foot and he stayed home for about three months?” Ruchi tried to amuse him. “Of course, I do. I used to be his cheerleader, always egging him on to move, so he could get some exercise. I wonder why he was always so cranky at the time.” “It’s because he thought you did not know any better than to trouble him.” “Trouble? Me? Wasn’t he the real troublemaker?” “Oh yes, he sure was.” “Isn’t it because of him Daddy left us too?” Ruchi was stunned! Was that what Timmy was thinking all along? Is that why he never made friends with Arhan? “What now?” “It's true. If Arhan hadn't insisted on taking his bike on the freeway, we'd still have Daddy with us. Daddy wouldn't have followed him; he was just heading to work, anyway. But because of Arhan's stubbornness, Daddy didn't see the truck coming his way.” “Timmy!” Ruchi reprimanded.  Timmy realised he had overstepped a boundary. But he was hurting. Everyone he had cherished seemed to be slipping away. First, Ajit's passing, then Anusha leaving for college, and now Ruchi. Arhan had left home soon after he finished High School too. The heaviness in his heart was palpable. “Is that why you resent Arhan?” “I am sorry, Mama. There are some wounds that never seem to heal, no matter how forgiving we may act.” “Oh Tim! I did not know this was something you were holding on to for years. I am sorry I never knew this before. I just didn’t realise why Arhan and you were never friends like you and Anusha were. You do know that he loves you.” “Of course. I know he does. And I love him too. But I guess I loved Daddy more.” Ruchi was touched by Timmy's honesty. She had always believed furry ones to be forgiving and free from grudges, which made Timmy’s reaction seem unusual to her. Timmy felt his world collapsing around him. His uncharacteristic outburst left him feeling embarrassed. Why had he let this negativity get the best of him? Truth be told, he held no ill will against Arhan. So why did he hurt Ruchi by exposing his wounds? And now? - When all of this doesn’t even matter. Timmy looked through the glass window inside at the crowd that had almost settled now. He did not realise that while he was conversing with Ruchi, a number of people filled up the room and sat around a pall. Ruchi led Timmy inside to have a closer look.  “Is that you?” Timmy asked. Ruchi nodded. “It’s time for me to go.” “Can’t you just stick around with me like this while they take your body away?” Timmy lifted his snout upwards.  “I wish,” Ruchi chortled at Timmy’s wishful thinking. “It is impossible for me to stay here forever. I need to go and I will be waiting for you on the other side.” “Well, then you can take me along.”  “Oh…Timmy,” Ruchi cupped his face, “you still have so many more years to spread joy and love to the family.”  “What’ll become of me? Can’t you see that without you I have no family? Anusha will return to college and Arhan gets back to New York soon. And who’s going to stay here with me?” Ruchi realised that Timmy had a valid point. But she wouldn’t let him believe that he had no future here. “I am sure they will find a way for you to be with either of them.”  “Mama,” Timmy woofed. “Our fates are tied. Whenever we sat on the porch in the evenings, you always said that you’d want to grow old with me like that. We’d go shopping together. We went for long walks and ice-cream. We’re meant to take care of each other. Just take me with you.”  Ruchi’s attention had now moved over to her kids. Anusha leaned over on her aunt’s shoulders, sobbing still. Arhan stood grim at the head of the pall. A few men discussed with him the proceedings from here on. Timmy noticed how the air in the room had changed considerably. He walked over and sat by the pall looking at the body lying in front of him and compared it to what he was seeing standing with him alongside. The sleeping Ruchi looked nothing like her own self. But Timmy wouldn’t care any less. He could hold on to her for a bit more, now that she had returned for him.  It was soon time for the cremation and the room quickly set in motion. Timmy observed all the people in the room. Everyone’s eyes were damp. “So many people loved you.” A feeble smile played on his face. The pallbearers carried the pall out of the main door and off to the porch. Ruchi smiled back at him at this declaration. She was pleased to see all her family and close friends there to see her off. “I feel blessed.” She lowered her head to gaze into his eyes. “I think it’s time for me to go now, Tim. I had to see you one last time and I am glad I got the chance to.” Ruchi walked over to a corner of the hall, as the people followed the coffin out of the room and away for the burial. “Will you come to see me often, Mama?” Timmy asked in all innocence. “I guess not.” Timmy’s heart heavy with sorrow allowed Ruchi to transcend as he stood watching her vanish into the air. “I’ll miss your comforting presence, reassuring touch, and the unconditional love that you gave me.” “Good bye, buddy. I’ll wait for you.” These were her last words for him and he held on to them. In the next few days, he kept to his routine that he was used to with Ruchi, as Anusha and Arhan managed to help him around, though, his zest for life had waned. His playful spirit dulled, his once bright eyes dimmed with gloom.  Soon enough the question of Timmy’s responsibility fell onto his ears. He was curled up on his day mat, when he heard Anusha talk to Arhan, who was stationed on the kitchen table, his eyes shuttling between his phone and the papers in front of him. “So, perhaps, we leave him at Grandpa’s then. He likes him.” “Grandpa is too old to take care of him. And his nurse would not be too glad about taking on additional responsibility either.” Arhan reasoned. “Then we’re only left with one option. We have to put him up for adoption.” “How heartless, Anusha.” Arhan admonished. “Heartless? I am being practical here. Soon enough I will be off to college. And you’re taking up a new job in New York. With your new life and my life in a dorm, what other options do we have?” Anusha’s pitch went up a notch. Arhan considered, not looking up from his phone. “I’ll figure something out.” He typed furiously on his phone.  Anusha turned around to look at Timmy. Her eyes were warm with concern as she called out to him. He didn’t stir a bit. “He seems so sad all the time now. I miss the playful Timmy.” She said to nobody in particular as Arhan was still busy with his phone. The emptiness in the house continued to linger.  Timmy got up from his mat and walked up to the oak tree in the garden. Finding his favourite spot, he sat in the shade hoping that Ruchi would return, seeking him.  “Do you not see what’s become of me? I no longer have a home. I don’t seem to have any connection with Arhan or Anusha. No one wants me. Why could you not have taken me along with you, Mama?” Over the next few days, Timmy refused to eat all his meals. Dragging his paws around the house, he displayed weariness that belied his age. It was the day Arhan was to leave. Anusha was to follow the next day.  “His health seems to have declined so much,” Anusha picked up a tonic, the doctor had given, and mixed it in Timmy’s water bowl. Arhan was busy checking his documents and packing his last few items. “Wasn’t the pet carrier supposed to be here yet?” Timmy perked up his ears. What was that again? Where am I going?” “It’s already here.” Anusha pointed towards the porch door.  “Ah!” Arhan said. “Okay Timmy, time to go now.” He waved a hand encouraging Timmy to jump into the pet carrier that he’d carried inside. Timmy looked at the carrier and let out a soft growl. His face slumped back on his arm as his eyes kept shuttling from Anusha to Arhan.  “What’s up?” Arhan asked him. “We’re leaving, buddy. You’re going to be living with me in New York. See, I got all the paperwork done as well.” Arhan waved a set of  papers that rustled in front of Timmy’s face. Timmy was not amused.  I ain’t going nowhere. I am not leaving Mama back here. What happens to my home now? Timmy woofed. Anusha went behind Timmy and nudged his back for him to stand. Bothered by her pestering, he got up and ambled towards the carrier and sat inside. “Good boy!” she smiled at him and locked the carrier. “Alright, so it's go-time now.” Arhan picked up his satchel and wheeled his suitcase out to the porch. Anusha carried Timmy and followed him. As Arhan placed the luggage in the taxi’s trunk, Anusha placed Timmy on the back seat. Timmy’s face peaked out of the grill and out towards the house. The only thing I ever wanted was to live in my home happily with Mama. What’s the point of this life now? He barked as Anusha waved.  The further the taxi drove, Timmy noticed the house diminishing in size. Anusha’s form changed to Ruchi, as she waved. Timmy looked at Arhan who was busy on his phone and implored him to stop. “Shhh, you’ll have to behave yourself till we reach. I know it’s tough these few hours, but you’ll be out soon.” Timmy cocked his head sideways, trying to comprehend what Arhan was onto.  Why don’t you get what I am saying, you brat! Timmy scowled and returned his gaze towards Ruchi, who seemed to be standing still.  Timmy’s eyes drooped and tears trickled from his eyes. As the distance between him and the house grew, he retreated and shut his eyes, not wanting to torment them any more. “Timmy! Timmy!” Ruchi spoke through the smokey white luminescence. “MAMA!” Timmy jumped from his spot and onto the grass. The familiar surrounding of his home’s backyard soaked him in. “You came back!” Ruchi smiled through her tears. “No, my love. You came to me.” And even before she could say any further, Timmy took off with the wind, wildly across the garden, till he stopped to catch his breath in Ruchi’s arms. “Are you sure?” Timmy smiled through his teeth. “Does it mean that I don’t have to leave this house?” Ruchi nodded multiple times, as she gathered her little buddy in her arms and hugged him.  Timmy happily licked her face all over. This was all that he ever wanted.