The word ‘Dog’ if reversed, spells ‘God’. And I truly believe that these soulful creatures are the best creation of the Almighty. They are nothing but a synonym of love, care, and fierce protection.
I have always longed for a dog. I used to see people taking their dogs out for a walk and had no choice but to get jealous of the refreshing lives of those dog parents. Being an irresponsible individual, persuading my parents to bring in a dog had to be tough. Of course, the first question that popped up in their mind was of cleaning the dog’s poop. However, after all the customary arguments I finally managed to win over them. Mom was the first one to surrender while my father still had some fight left in him but did not last long.
Now, the first hint of life you would get while climbing up the stairs to my room is of ‘Leo’. A white colored fur ball, weighing about 9 kilograms, staring at you with utmost curiosity. The youngest of the three of us (yes we call him our brother) and definitely the cutest too.
I would be lying if I say my life has not changed since then. This little soul has completely turned it over for the good. I do not return to the same old empty gate every day. Instead, I come back to a three-year-old puppy waiting for me with a million questions in his eyes. How can you not love that?
I do not wake up to a ‘good morning’ text from my girlfriend or my parents shouting at me to get ready for work. I have someone who keeps those scoldings away by waking me up every day, licking the hell out of my face. Perhaps that is what you call love in its authentic form.
The way he hops around the house on his four tiny legs keeps the atmosphere alive. He would not let the mood in the house drop a bit with his cutest of activities. We find ourselves running after him throughout the day trying to get hold of the object he managed to pick up fooling our eyes. You will find all the innocence of this world in the face he makes after the firing that follows. I bet, it will make you fall in love with him all over again.
For Bengalis like us, Sundays are incomplete without mouthwatering food and a long afternoon nap. Whereas, my Sundays are a little offbeat and starts with the struggle to make Leo take a bath! And of course, our session of lunch comes to an end with Leo manhandling a cup of Vanilla ice-cream which he finished in less than a minute.
But have we ever thought, what does he want in return? Why is he pouring so much love and joy without any reason? Let me tell you, these are animals which love unconditionally. They never ask to be praised or rewarded for their actions. Their love is pure and much more faithful than what you will ever get from a human. But, what they need is a little bit of your time, trust and probably a few belly rubs. And that is nothing compared to the selfless services he has to offer, right?
I have never seen Leo complain when I Netflix and chill for hours. No, he did not enjoy the season of ‘Stranger Things’ I was hooked on to, but his ability to be content with everything I do, made him rest his head on my lap and give me the much need company. If this is not love, I don’t know what is.
Quite surprisingly, this tiny creature has also taught me to be more responsible. The fight to keep him alive when he was intensely sick, the pain of watching him go through the daily dose of saline, made me realise the value of life and how much he means to me.
If you are still on the page, you might be thinking that I am exaggerating. Trust me I am not. With the most kind of hearts, dogs have the unmatched ability to forgive and love you all over again. I firmly think that every individual must every experience this pleasant feeling of owning a dog at least once. They are much more than a best friend, they are a genuine example of loyalty.
To wrap it up, if you want to feel the worldliness of true love, get a dog. Yes, right now!