Ayan came home from school, his heart in his mouth. He had not wanted to go today, because his four - legged brother, Bonzo was very ill. Mama had promised she would stay home from work, or rather, to work from home, to take care of Bonzo. That meant it was serious. Otherwise, their help, Chandni Didi, was quite capable of managing Bonzo and any issue he might have.
In dog years Bonzo was older than Ayan. But they had both come into the world more or less together, eight years ago. Ayan remembered the fun times they had had together: going to the park; learning to swim (though Bonzo had never really learnt!); even their holidays together. The family didn’t like boarding Bonzo out to a kennel service. They preferred to go only to pet-friendly places.
Bonzo raised his head and wagged his tail weakly when Ayan came in. Until recently the beagle would have jumped on the boy, licking him everywhere, his tail practically a whirring fan.
“Did he eat, Mama? And his medicines?”
“Yes, sweetheart, he is a little better,” his mother, Leela said. “We will take him to the doctor to get him checked again, as soon as Papa gets back, OK?”
Ayan patted Bonzo and sat with him for a while, then got down to the worksheets he had been given. Then it was time for him to go to chess class. Chandni Didi took him there, while Mama and Papa took Bonzo to the vet.
“Where is Bonzo?” Ayan asked his parents when he saw that Bonzo was not with them.
Mama’s eyes were red. Papa looked extra tired.
Papa sat down with Ayan. “Bonzo is very weak, na, beta? The doctor said he has to be outdoors to get lots of fresh air and sunshine. Other dogs to be with. So, we have agreed to send Bonzo to a farm, where he will get all this. Today the doctor is letting him rest at his clinic. Tomorrow we will say goodbye to him.”
“No, no! Bonzo should be with us. We have air and sunshine, don’t we? I can’t say goodbye to him!”
“Just for a while, beta; let him get better—"
The next day, Mama didn’t send Ayan to school. They went to the vet’s where Bonzo was lying on a table, breathing weakly. They all patted him and hugged him and kissed him. Ayan felt like crying but he didn’t want Bonzo to be sad. So, he was brave and said, “We will see you when you get back from the farm!”
Then they sat in the waiting room. The vet came out and nodded to Mama and Papa.
Mama began weeping and Papa looked grim. Ayan asked the vet,
“What is the name of the farm? Can we visit him there?”
“Sorry, it is for dogs only,” Doctor said, “It is called Waggy Tails Farm.”