For Vicky

On March 5th 2006 at 1:00pm Vicky, Dog and companion extraordinaire breathed his last in Sarita Raghavan’s arms. With his liver finally giving up on him, the death was quick and fast. Buried in the PFA pet cemetery in Kengeri, he now shares a living space next to Richie. Dog and companion of another grieving owner.

When I started writing this it was originally turning out to be something that if anyone, who knows me read would cry. But for the first time in my life I want this to be about Vicky not about me and how I feel. I want this to forever be the way I’ll remember him. The way he deserves to be described. The way he left his life.

Sixteen years ago when he wandered off the streets and chose to live with us, I remember how small he was. A little mutt that always knew what he wanted to do. He wagged his tail when he wanted, he ate when he wanted to, he ate what he wanted to. We got him in a crowd where no one else had a dog. At a time when we all had a lot of time. This is a Dog who has seen us through lots of kinds of transportation. From a BSA SLR to a Hero Puch to an Auto to a Bajaj Scooter and through the Maruti 800 I drive now. He’s loved been in any one of then. He sat calmly, let the wind ruffle his hair and watched the world whiz past. He liked the open roads and finding newer ways to get places. He liked rain water puddles and to run through them. He likes long walks and the rests in between. He liked to chase bikes and catch up with us. He jumped off terraces if we were leaving him behind. He bit Pomeranians that dare cross his path. He fathered many doggies most of who turned psychotic and bit people at some point. He bit and practically crippled all of us at home. He fell ill and fought it furiously so he could live longer for us. He let me hold him though he hated being petted. He ate if you forced him to. He drank medicines even if he didn’t want them. He had a doctor he had known his whole life.

Sharath says when animals die they go to the happy farm. So I hope, Vicky you are there. And now that you have new friends I hope you can run wild with them the way you always wanted to. Know that you have been more loved than most people are in their lifetime and that you will always be missed.The important thing is not just that you've lived long but you've lived well.