After a whole week of hustling, Diya was eagerly awaiting a relaxed weekend. Living in a city far from her family, spending her weekends with friends was all she often looked forward to. But, just as she was thinking about her plans, the phone rang.
“Diya, Pluto is lost!” her mother cried, panic evident in her voice.
Tears welled up in Diya’s eyes. Pluto was her beloved dog, a cherished member of their family. Without a second thought, she made an excuse at work, grabbed her essentials and headed straight to the bus station.
Meanwhile, her brother, Shiva, who worked in Mumbai, received the same distressing news. Worried, he booked the earliest flight home as well.
Throughout the eight-hour bus journey, Diya sobbed quietly, thinking of all that could have gone wrong with Pluto. As her bus finally pulled into Mangalore, Diya wasted no time and hopped onto an auto-rickshaw. When she reached home, she flung open the gate and there, to her relief and joy, was Pluto, wagging his tail furiously.
Diya rushed to him, tears of joy rolling down her face as she hugged him tightly. Her mother stood nearby, a look of relief on her face too.
“He just got here an hour ago. I tried calling you, but you didn’t pick up,” her mother explained.
An hour later, her brother arrived, breathless. As he saw Pluto, his mouth dropped open. “What on earth happened, Ma?”
Over cups of tea, their mother recounted how good ol’ Pluto slipped out of the house, frightened by the bursting of crackers in the neighbourhood. She started searching for him as soon as she realised he was missing. She looked at the grocer’s, inside the local park, at the streets nearby. When there was no sign of him, she decided to call them for help. Miraculously enough, Pluto found his way back home, sometime at the crack of dawn.
The siblings gave a sigh of relief as they petted their beloved canine brother who was sprawled between them. What had started as a nightmare turned into a heartwarming reunion. They spent the rest of the weekend together, enjoying each other’s company and, of course, showering Pluto with all the love he deserved. This unusual incident brought the little family closer and strengthened their bond in the face of adversity.
Back at work the next week, Diya silently offered gratitude for everything, but mostly, she thanked god for being blessed with a loving family. A family that also included an abundance of four-legged love.